Is there a way to simply add out-of-the-box asp.net controls to a dnn page?
I am not interested in adding custom user controls, just basic (like rotator, textbox, etc) asp.net controls.

Thanks
Mark

Simple answer: no.

You can add Modules to a page, and modules have to be developed to inherit from the appropriate DotNetNuke classes in order to work.

Can you expand on this topic?
Because to me it appears you can for instance use an objectdatasource.
All you have to do is implement and invoke an appropriate method in the various layers of the module to query the database. (which is probably what you said).
Was wondering if it can directly access a stored procedure.
Is this technically impossible or just not advisable because it breaks dnn architecture?

What I meant to say was ... if you want to use ASP.NET controls, you need to do that inside of a module.  You can do absolutely anything that you want to do (and that is permitted by DotNetNuke and ASP.NET) inside of a module.

That includes using other data sources, executing SQL commands, running stored procedures, etc.

While this is technically feasible, the advisable part depends on you, and on the use of your module.

If you are creating modules for your own use and don't intend to distribute them widely, you can break any of the "rules" subject to good software design. 

In this regard, I would suggest that you make it a habit to visit adefwebserver.com and study all of Michael Washington's material.  In particular, Michael has advocated use of DAL-less, DAL+, LinqToSql, and other tools to simplify module creation.  I belive that much of this material will be in a book to be published in the next month or two.

And somethat on this topic, Michael posted a blog entry just a few days ago (Look at the DotNetNuke blogs on dotnetnuke.com) that begins with these sentences:  "We plan to work on the Survey module over the next 6 months. The biggest change is that we will use the DAL+. There will be no stored procedures. The code will use parameterized sql."

Well thanks very much for taking the time to reply my questions.
Yup I started to to visit adefwebserver.com regulary.
But I keep posting here for 3 reasons:

1 - adefwebserver is a bit of one man show. You go there and read what Michael has to say. But I couldn't spot any blog or forum where you can provide feedback or ask questions there.

2- I'm very new to dnn and not very experienced with asp.net and even though I'm decently versed in general programming concepts I find sometimes hard to follow what he says there.(Basically I lack some dnn specific terminology and architecture concepts)

3- I like this site

I'm glad that you like this site. Don't be shy about posting your questions!