No comments about Ole 2 Programmer's Reference: Creating Programmable Applications With Ole Automation (Microsoft Professional Editions).

4 comments about CNE Update to NetWare 6 Study Guide.

1. Clarke hits every topic on the exam without all the silly 'Super Hero' metaphors (thank you, DJ). If you're not familiar with the utilities (iManager, Migration Wizard, ICE Utility, etc...) there are whitepapers on the Novell Support Site you'll need as well. Also keep in mind that the NW6 support pack (currently 3) will supply minor discrepancies with the text in the book (really not a big deal). Armed with this book as well as the info above, you can probably pass this exam without STS or Transcender (I bought Transcender anyway 'cause it was cheaper than taking the exam again: insurance).

   So, for what it's worth, I HIGHLY recommend this study guide!

   Rob Huelga,
   Netware 6 CNE




2. I've never read a technical book that would contain so many inaccuracies and even false information, not to mention numerous minor incorrect or doubtful statements.
   I'm now just in the middle of the book but I feel fed up with having to go to Novell's official NetWare 6 documentation in order to verify accuracy or just to make sense of what the author talks about in his book.
   In some cases like, for example, in the section called Solving eDirectory Migration Problems (p.129-133), it's obvious to every educated, experienced NDS/NetWare administrator that the author speaks non-sense. God forbid you to follow what this "NetWare guru" advises !
   I can't believe that Mr. Clarke is a Certified Novell Instructor who wrote so many books about NetWare and that Novell approved them with the "Novell Authorized" stamp. Well, I'm not so sure about other his books (I guess, I was lucky not to buy them) but I would definitely never recommend this one to anybody.

   Whoever is going to use this "Study Guide", either to prepare for an exam or, even more importantly, in real life projects and daily administration, be sure to double-check correctness of all the info it provides that sounds suspicious or makes a little sense.




3. Since the purpose of this book is to teach the reader what is necessary to upgrade their Novell CNE 5 certification to a Novell CNE 6 the review is rather simple and to the point. I read through it, skimmed through it a second time, looked at the included CD and reviewed the questions at the end of each chapter, took the exam and passed it the first time. That makes it pretty clear that all the information is in here to pass the exam, all you have to do is study it. Since it made upgrading my certification a snap I would have to give it a very high recommendation to anyone seeking to do the same.



4. I used this book and Self Test software together to pass the test on Oct 22nd, just in time for the deadline. I liked this book better than his past super hero comic strip CNE guides. He covered the topics completely and provided good lab scenarios that were useful for the exam.

2 comments about The First Week with My New Digital Organizer: A Very Basic Guide to Palm OS PDAs (Capital First Week).

1. I received this book when I got a digital organizer as a gift. I don't know what I would have done without Pamela Lessing's book! She gives easy to understand instructions to everything you need to know to get up and running with your digital organizer. Most importantly, she doesn't talk down to you.



2. If you're looking at any more than the absolute basic info, don't waste your time. I wish the author had spent a little time and effort on how to manage files, how to use expansion memory, how to display spreadsheets, etc.......nothing!!
   If you already own the PDA, and have a user's manual, you should be able to turn the unit on without buying a "Very Basic Guide".

No comments about The .NET and COM Interoperability Handbook (Integrated .Net Series from Object Innovations and Prentice Hall Ptr).

5 comments about WAP Development with WML and WMLScript (With CD-ROM).

1. In the computer trade journals that I read, a common topic over the last year or so has been the progress (often lack) of Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). The common phrase always seems to be "poised to take off." However, despite the problems with bandwidth, valuable applications and security it does appear that it is the next area of rapid expansion of the Internet. The English speaking North American market is leveling off in the advent of new web users and while the market for the rest of the world continues to expand, it seems likely that will do so at a slow rate for the near future. Therefore, it is a good idea to learn at least the basics of what WAP can and cannot do.
   When I received a request from a corporate client to offer a short course in Wireless Markup Language (WML), I looked around for a book with an adequate coverage of the basics of WAP. I chose this book because it was filled with basic examples that demonstrated the fundamental topics and moved on to some more advanced topics that were reasonable uses for WAP. This was of course necessary, as some of the hyped potential uses for WAP are pie in the airwaves. I cannot conceive of any circumstances where a large number of people are going to want their cell phones to constantly broadcast their geophysical position so that they can receive coupons from merchants in the area.
   In working through the projects in preparation for the courses, my reaction was one of the best possible. My thinking through the exercises led to additional thoughts and ideas for teaching projects for the course. This is a solid introductory book in the basics of WAP, WML and WMLScript and I recommended it to the students.



2. This book from Ben Forta is a real guide for beginners as well as a reference book for advanced users. I bought this book and Professional WAP from wrox both of them helped me to come out in flying colours in my bachelor degree thesis.



3. I've searched a lot for a good book on how to make WAP pages with WML and interactive wireless applications for mobile phones and PDA computers. This is the one - you will learn everything ther is, with this easy writen and well arranged guide. You need some knowladge on HTML and how Internet and client/server model works, but as far as WAP, WML and WMLScript is conserd, from a total begginer, you'll become an expert in a week.



4. This book is by far the best!!!The author explains all the important details of WML and WMLScripting. This book is easy to read. Great for the experienced developer. A great reference. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants learn WML andWMLScripting. Knowledge of JavaScript will help the reader termondously. Knowledge of HTML and XML will also help. The authors assume the reader has knowledge of HTML, XML, and JavaScript. A great investment!!!



5. I really enjoyed reading this book. The examples are clear. Programming experience will help you. If you know JavaScript, WMLScript will be a breeze. Chapters are easy to read. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn WML and WMLScripting!!! It is probably the best book on the market.

4 comments about Admin911: Windows 2000 Registry.

1. I buy any book about enterprise networks that has Kathy Ivens' name on it. Her writing is intelligent, clear, and a pleasure to read.

   This book is beautifully designed to be helpful. It explains the registry generically and specifically. The most helpful registry fixes and system tweaks are included, along with references to Group Policies that affect the registry item she's discussing.

   All Windows administrators should keep a copy of this book at hand, they'll use it constantly.




2. This book is essential if you admin SMS



3. Many IT books either address the absolute beginner or the advanced developer and completely ignore the implementer. No so with this book. Kathy Ivens wrote it for those who support networks and end users. Her writing style is straightforward and easy to comprehend. While containing no "fluff", she gives the reader plenty of useful information. She discusses how to backup and restore the registry, various registry tools, and countless tips for tweaking the registy. I used one of those tips the very day I received this book. I had just upgraded a user's operating system from Windows 95 to Windows 2000 Professional and she asked me if there was a way for the NumLock key to stay on when she was logging in. Sure enough, one of the tips in this book discusses that very thing. It took me a few seconds to modify the registry and gain a happy user! This book is a must have and I wish there were many more like it.



4. This book has no information that can't be found with either a quick search on MSDN or Google, books like that just make me upset.

2 comments about Writing Windows Virtual Device Drivers.

1. At the time I bought this book, it was the only one available in my local bookstore. I had a project that required me to write a VxD in less than a month, and having never written a VxD, I hoped that this book would gain me quick and dirty insight into the basics of writting one. I found it extremely difficult to follow with not enough explanations of the basics. It seemed to be written for the x86 expert who had already written numerous other types of drivers. I was forced to reread it numerous times while researching other sources of information so that I could understand. There is too much appendix, and not enough examples. It is also chalked full of little annoying typos. The project presented by the author should have been more verbose in the explanantions - I sure would have appreciated it at the time.



2. This book assumes you already know a lot.

No comments about Operating Systems : Design and Implementation - Textbook Only.

5 comments about Dan Appleman's Win32 API Puzzle Book and Tutorial for Visual Basic Programmers.

1. There's something fundamentally wrong with the concept of a puzzle book for an application programming interface. A book about an API should yield clarity, not puzzles.



2. When I was researching how to access HID-class USB peripherals from VB applications, I learned from the Windows 98 docs that I needed to call a series of API functions to locate the device and learn about its capabilities. Many of the calls involved passing and returning complex structures. I could find no documentation on the calls for Visual-Basic programmers. Although I had some experience with API calls, my initial attempts at calling these functions didn't get far.

   Then I bought this book. First I read it straight through (though I do admit to reading each solution after the puzzle, rather than waiting til the end). Then I went back to my code with the book at hand and eventually got it all working. Plus, I understood exactly why the code had to be the way it was in order to work.

   This isn't a cookbook. Thinking is required. One sentence I took particular comfort in when things weren't quite working yet was, "It is ultimately possible to handle any structure, no matter what type of data it contains." (p. 363)

   This is an excellent and useful book that will enable you to do any API call that Windows might throw your way.




3. You cann't programming a good VB without it



4. As a VB programmer you should have at least 2 books on yourshelf: Dan Appleman's Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to the Win32 APIand this one. The former teaches by showing - serving as a reference book when you are trying enhance the functionality of your VB application. The latter teaches by doing - allowing your mind to actively grasp the concepts behind API calls, structures, and pointers, instead of mindlessly hacking through APIs, tossing in variables, hoping for success. The puzzles in this book allow you to learn from your mistakes. Mr. Appleman explains his own logic as he works through the problem. For me, this is more valuable than just being told the answer as many books in this genre do.

   This book is vital to help train a VB programmer to become a designer, rather than a developer. It helps you understand the importance of visualizing the solution to the problem before writing a single line of code. In sports they say that you need to visualize the goal before you actually play the game. I think the same goes for coding. This book is the ideal companion for that exercise. If you are a technical team lead, go ahead and assign these puzzles to your developers so that they can not only hone their skills, but also sharpen their minds.

   In addition, Mr. Appleman's writing style of light bantering and humor is a nice relief from the dry technical-journalistic writing of other Visual Basic authors.

   ...this book is not a cookbook...it can be better thought of as Ingredient Book. By understanding the fundamental ingredients towards cooking up a VB/WinAPI program, it helps you become a better chef. You need to understand what goes into a creation before you can anticipate what comes out.

   ...this book is not meant to serve as a comprehensive reference guide to the API. For that try Mr. Appleman's API book or Bock's Visual Basic 6 Win32 API Tutorial.. END




5. If you use API's, or want to use API's, then I suggest getting this book. There are so many API calls out there, that no book contains them all.

   This book helps you solve the API so you can use them in your applications. Definately a "must have" for any programmer out there worth his salt.

4 comments about Sams Teach Yourself ATL Programming in 21 Days (Sams Teach Yourself).

1. Kenn Scribner's Teach Yourself Atl Programming In 21 Days provides would-be programmers with the fundamentals of using the Active Template Library system for programming. From using its many features to applying them to real-world business solutions, this provides a chapter-by-chapter study program of lessons which can be either followed methodically or browsed for maximum impact.



2. This book provides a tight, insightful introduction to ATL programming for the windows programmer moving to COM via ATL. Its also extremely useful as a reference tool.

   A won't regret purchase and addition to the programmer's bookshelf.




3. I have recently started learning ATL (having read Inside COM by Dale Rogerson and some of Don Box). Teach Yourself ATL was my first ATL book. Bad Move...

   His overall approach is, in my opinion, inappropriate. After having read 8 chapters I found myself thinking what do I know? I understand how to use the Wizards, but I still have no idea how the IUknown interface is implemented, or how objects are instantiated. In my opinion the only way to COM/ATL success is to understand what the Wizards are doing. Sure they're great in incredibly speeding up the COM development time but if you don't understand what their doing, your hardly any better off.

   Kenn gives you the concepts well enough but concept after concept after concept eventually becomes meaningless unless you can see the dirty detail in action. The book is not a write-off but as a beginners text it didn't suit me.

   Personally I found Tom Armstrongs "ATL Developers guide" much better. Instead of developing clients in MFC with all the extra messy details, he used bare-bones console apps which allow you to focus purely on COM/ATL. He talks about what ATL is doing and how the basics of COM is implemented. ATL at this level is dirty, messy stuff but its fundamental.




4. Very good good book. It's really tech you the basic block of the ATL programming and the background that you need to move from Regular Visual c++ applications to ATL. The writer is going step by step How ever this book it not for Visual c++ beginners or if you are looking to become an expert in ATL. I was more interested in the DB and IIS aspects using ATL but it only give you the general idea.