5 comments about Beginning C# Game Programming (Game Development).

1. This book is not for anyone who hasn't done programming before. After a nice introduction and history report, the author suddenly starts showing you charts with things like "ushort 2 0 is 65,535". And says stuff like "Using floats, you can represent the numbers 1.0 and 1.00000012, but you can't represent any number between." What?! What does ushort mean? What are floats?! I must be just stupid, because when I read "This book approaches the topic of C# for a total beginner", I thought it meant it was for a noob like me.



2. This book is intended for the beginner C# game developers only. In fact, the title of the book pretty much justifies the content it provides. It does a good job providing a good introduction to the C# language and how it can be used to for the game development.



3. This is a nice basic introduction to game programming but, as mentioned before, there are mistakes. The version of Directx code is out of date.
   
   Usually, one can go on-line and get updates to the code from the developer that fix the mistakes and get the code working with later releases.
   
   Unfortunately the author has not updated the code and it doesn't look as though the web site has been touched for a couple of years. It is riddled with missing links and php errors. For that reason alone, I just can not recommend this book to people who don't have much experience as developers.



4. DON'T listen to those retards when they tell you that this book is not good.
   
   The first 5 chapters will basically show you most of what you should need
   to know about C# in order to get on your way into game programming.
   
   The rest are Game Programing, Setting up a framework, DirectX9 etc...
   
   I've found this book very informative and very entertaining as well, the author always try to use humor when making points which is a good thing..
   
   I've learned a lot from this book and I recommend it to everyone else interested in learning the basics of Game programing...



5. If you're a beginning programmer, or even a seasoned programmer, wanting to learn C#, then this book isn't for you. This book is riddled with errors that no programmer learning a new language should be told aren't errors. C# has never been able to drop-through in a switch statement, and the break statement in a default block has always been required. And, you can't have multiple type specifiers in a for-loop header. It amazes me that this book made it through technical review, if it even went through at all. I'll admit that I didn't read through the entire book, but after seeing the switch and for-loop statements that were presented in this book, I almost felt sick to my stomach. I've been using C# since version 1.0, and I have to recommend staying as far away from this book as possible, maybe even burning it if you see it. If you really want to learn C#, try C# 3.0: A Beginner's Guide (Beginner's Guide (Osborne Mcgraw Hill)).

5 comments about Beginning Visual C# 2005 (Wrox Beginning Guides).

1. good book with nice presentation.. for beginner to understand the next advance topics..



2. This book provided the support I was looking for. Topic very well presented.



3. Even though this is the beginning book it's better than the Pro C# 2005 book written by some of the same authors. I read this book first and the Pro version second. I found that it explains many of the concepts in a more effective way with less words.



4. Well presented. The code compiles and runs flawlessly. You can figure out the details on your own if you know a little bit about about basic programming--VB, etc. A HUGE time saver.



5. The book is great for those who have a base knowledge of c# programming but also want to improove their skills. Although it says beginning C# 2005, this book is not for those who want to write their first program.
   In covers all basic needs of a junior programmer in order to allow him to experiment and create new programs.

5 comments about Beginning ASP.NET 2.0 with C# (Wrox Beginning Guides).

1. Book arrived very quickly and in excellent condition. Would definitely purchase from this seller again. Thanks!



2. Sorry, this book is great if you are a drag and drop type of web programmer. I think it is great that visual studio allows the ability to virtually drag and drop and entire data driven website. But my problem is that if you don't understand the code behind it, when something breaks you can't fix it since I am unaware of any drag and drop tools that do that for you.
   
   
   
   My point being this book should have been titled. "asp.net with c# only using the free visual web developer IDE for people who don't want to know what the c# code really looks like or how to write programs with it."
   
   
   
   The only reason I gave it 2 stars and not 1 is because my gripes aside, they do enforce a lot of Best Practice in the excercises.



3. As hard as I tried, I just couldn't connect with this book. I prefer either a straight ahead reference book or a clear, step-by-step tutorial-style book in which the reader learns by building a complete project. However, this book didn't seem to fill either role.
   
   Though there is a project (the Wrox United web site), the examples at times seem a bit muddy and without context to the complete project. I can't say this is a bad book, as I did glean some useful information from it (good coverage on themes and data controls, but almost no code until chapter 9). But after finishing the book, I didn't really feel that I came away with a good grasp of what I had read as a whole. In comparison, "Build Your Own ASP.NET 2.0 Web Site Using C# & VB" is a book I feel delivers a clearly written step-by-step tutorial.
   
   My overall impression of the book my be due to my learning style not matching the style of the book, or due to the fact that I'm not a "beginning" programmer. In any case, "Beginning ASP.NET 2.0 with C#" might make a good second book, but I'm not sure that I'd recommend it as a starting point.



4. At 700+ pages this text contains way too much fluff and filler to be a useful guide to the beginning ASP developer. It's basically a "Visual Web Developer for Dummies" kind of book, only heavier and more wordy. Its target seems to be the totally clueless "developer" who doesn't even know enough C# syntax to save his life. Now, it's true that Visual Studio will allow you to generate a mediocre web site without having to write a significant amount of code yourself, but does it really makes sense to encourage someone to try ASP web development before he has a decent background in C# or VB? I think that is forming code monkeys, not programmers.
   Anyhow, to be fair this book has some qualities that I liked, apart from a general vagueness the explanations are quite clear, the "try it out" sections detailed enough, and I especially appreciated the fact that the book uses both small standalone examples and a more comprehensive example website developed piecemeal along the book to illustrate the various ASP.NET aspects and features. Finally what really puzzles me is, I know Wrox has an unhealthy love for multiple author's book, but did it really take 4 people to write an ASP.NET intro for dummies?



5. This is a great book for getting started with ASP.Net. Every chapter is filled with codes to try along with the CD to help you out. Does not cover everything but that would be impossible in one book.

5 comments about Programming Microsoft Windows with C# (Microsoft).

1. This book was a huge disappointment. It seems that Mr. Petzold thinks that GUI is all that Windows programmer should know about. Well, surely this is all you will learn from this book - almost 1300 pages on how to draw shapes and display various kinds of buttons.
   
   On the other hand, people who really code GUIs for living might find this book very interesting as it contains a LOT of information on this topic.
   
   I give it 3 stars for being comprehensive on one topic (GUI?). Took two away for the misleading title.



2. Avoids using the .NET environment, wich is a bit silly.
   But that way you learn and understand more about C#, you have to do it all by yourself(if you wish). Everything you ever wanted to know about text and grafics with forms and C# is in there.



3. I was a Microsoft Visual C++ programmer for more then 5 years. I am currently writting a program that involves heavy graphics in C# and needed a book to learn from quickly and provide extensive details on graphics (drawing to the form; not simply placing buttons and code on it). I went to Borders and looked at it, then ordered it. It is a very good investment if you are doing heavy drawing to the form. As for the people who do not like C# or this book, all I can say is, you do not understand C# as well as you think you do, it is a great program; as for the book, you need to be able to take the pieces of code and then put all of the pieces together (a concept called learning) and stop expecting others to provide every detail of a problem.



4. The last reviewers described all, so I decided not going too deep in my review. At this time I didnt had finished this one yet but for what I already saw its a classic C# for sure. The book price is also very good and if you are thinking in getting knowledge of C# on Windows you will not get this book content in other book so easy, this one you must have in your shelf. Very good book from the Master Petzold.



5. Mr Petzold covers a lot of ground here. The most fun thing is that you can use the very same concepts in VB.NET or J# with no loss in the material. Sometimes I found the book a little bit long winded in its explanations, but in the end you always know that Petzold will deliver. The book seems oriented toward beginners, but experts can benefit too.

5 comments about Beginning Active Server Pages 3.0 (Programmer to Programmer).

1. This text is so packed with information, it even goes beyond asp and introduces XML and COM+....so well written, so concise, publishers throughtout the country need to learn from wrox' writers on how to do technical books right! Every bit of code is explained in great detail, and while there are some errors, the website covers nearly all of them. Case in point: I won't be selling my copy back!



2. This book starts by giving an overview of how the browser, server, and pages interact to deliver web-based data and pages. The first 3 chapters, and the XML intro, are worth the cost of this book. I started this book with very little understanding of how dynamic web pages are delivered over the net, and am now ready and anxious to take on my first web development challenge. Can't wait to put the info in this book to use! The writing style is great also - very seamless and easy understand, even after 6 authors compile their knowledge into one volume!!!



3. Prior to purchasing this book I had no experience with ASP whatsoever. One day at work I was told that I needed to study up on ASP, and fast. I didn't really know where to start, but I ended up with this book, and it has been a lifesaver. I took the time to work through the examples in a select few key chapters, and was amazed that after only a couple of days I had developed the skills necessary for basic ASP development.
   
   Now its been a few months, and the book still serves as a useful reference. It is extremely well organized. The examples are basic, but definitely teach the fundamentals needed to become a competent ASP developer. It will not make you an expert, but that's not its purpose anyway. It excels at relating the relevant information in an understandable and easy to learn format. For me to be developing with ASP in only 2 or 3 days is a testament to the quality of this book. I've never read a Wrox book before now, but I will definitely only purchase Wrox books in the future.



4. Beginning Active Server Pages is an all encompassing book on classic ASP web server development. The authors explain in great detail from the beginning on how dynamic web development works. No matter what technology you use (PHP, Coldfusion, JSP), how a web browser requests a page, the web server send the request to the server-side engine and/or does a database request and send the result to the browser. The book assumes no previous knowledge of web development and explains the basics very well so that any reader can start from any skill level.
   
   The beginning of the book discusses what software you will need to get started which basically is either IIS (Internet Information Serve) or PWS (Personal web Server) in a Windows environment. How to install, test and configure the web server is discussed as well as setting up user permissions and virtual directories. This is a great starter to making sure the reader has all the information to get started on creating their first ASP web page.
   
   The author continues explaining basic scripting techniques and language syntax of web scripting (VBScript) and explaining the differences between client and server side scripting and how the IIS engine interprets the request. Also covered early are the intrinsic ASP objects such as Request, Response, Server objects. A good review of some of the basic components of this very robust development technology.
   
   The book then goes into send and receiving data from web forms in showing the reader some very useful but basic examples to get you started. The book covers in the next few chapters (4 - 5), in detail the basics of VBScript language such as variables, operators, strings, arrays, control statements (if, case, loops) and functions. The next chapter (6), goes into the concept of objects, methods, properties and events which explain to the user that almost everything is an object in ASP and the importance of this fact as well. Some OOP concepts such as encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism are reviewed with some nice examples.
   
   The next two chapters cover many important ASP objects in great detail such as Response, Request, Application, Session, and Cookies. These chapters cover most of the most used objects that will be used in almost any ASP application. When you can master these objects you will have a great understanding of the fundamentals of ASP applications. The authors do a great job of explaining these important topics to the reader that it gives you more motivation to read more and learn more. Unlike other books that try to explain too much and confuse the reader, this book explains just enough in English other than techo-bable.
   
   The rest of the book covers all types of database access using connects, recordsets, cursors, ADO, locking, filtering data, SQL syntax, and much more. Among other topics covered at the end of the book are focusing on advanced topics such as XML, Transactions and COM+.
   
   The book is really all you need to learn and master ASP to develop dynamic web applications for yourself.



5. Like the others have said... this is a good starter book for those looking to learn the older ASP technologies, since you may need to know a little of this if you are messing with older sites. I would recommend this book. However, the one thing that is wrong with this book is the MASSIVE amount of grammatical errors and typing errors.
   
   Its calling out the wrong variables in certain situanions and mislabeling methods and procedures. Once you are aware this is happening in the book you just need to be mindful and know you aren't crazy, its a typing error. I hope Wrox has started taking their textbooks to the editor and getting them proofread, because it's a shame a book this good is peppered with so many errors.
   
   In closing, this is worth the read and it will surely help you on you way to learning ASP 3.0.

5 comments about Professional WCF Programming: .NET Development with the Windows Communication Foundation (Programmer to Programmer).

1. I've been using this book for several weeks now, to assist me in writing several WCF Services.
   
   This book has served me well. Coming from a standard .Net background, with some basic Web Services behind me, I've now written many services that leverage WCF Security, extensibaility, interoperability.
   
   Certain sections, while not as deep as I would like, proved an excellent primer into getting things done. For example, the section on integrating the ASP.Net Membership & Role providers with WCF services allowed the rapid creating of public facing, secure web services.
   
   Scott focused quite a bit on the extensibility of WCF, which is nice. Personally I have more use for the turn-key scenarios, and have gotten much out of that aspect of the book.
   
   I will also say I've found this book to have more depth, in the relevant areas, than many of the web site and blogs I've used as resources.
   
   Overall: Excellent book that hightly relevant to the majority of work I'm doing with WCF.
   
   Chris Mullins, MCSD.Net, MCPD:Enterprise, Microsoft C# MVP
   http://www.coversant.net/blogs/cmullins



2. I'm still shocked how a book can be this bad! I think the only goal in the writer's head was to publish this book as soon as possible to be one of the first books about WCF. The errors in the book are not only typos or overlooked stuff, the writer does not have a good understanding of WCF. In some parts of the book the writer copies some text from previous chapters as it is and forgets to change some of the words to suit the new subject.
   
   I just finished chapter 6 in which I found a shocking fact! The writer tries even to cheat to make the example about Message Contracts work! The source code of the example (provided as a download from Wrox) is different from the source code he shows in the book. This is because the source code shown in the book would not even compile. So what he does in the downloadable source code is that he deletes the lines where the compiler gives errors and then the code does not even call the service! and to make the example look like as if it worked he just sets the string that is expected to be returned from the service on a label ,all that inside the client program! This really pissed me off! A book writer with such ethics?!
   
   So up to chapter 6 I've found tens of errors (including errors about WCF principle) and a fake example! I wonder how much more is ahead!
   
   DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS "THING" (I won't call it a book)



3. Utter waste of money. Waded through all of it. Not well organized. At times incoherent. Often just a listing of classes and methods. Offers few insights. Lots of errors. Author lacks a clear understanding of the WCF or the true significance of some of the classes and methods. Read SAMS Windows Communication Foundation Unleashed, it's much better. MSDN documentation is far better than this book.



4. I am disappointed with the book as well. It has quite a few typos, errors, and many of the examples are just wrong. This book looks like it was rushed out the door with very little proof reading. Some of the chapters look like little more than rewritten MSDN reference material. Don't waste your time; better references exist.



5. Simply put, this book isn't worth your time. Even as an experienced programmer I had trouble keeping up with the out-of-order explanations, typos, terrible examples, and incorrect walk-throughs.

2 comments about Practical WPF Graphics Programming.

1. I have purchased almost every book on WPF programming that has been published in the last two years. I want to build a new look to my graphic programs and I don't want to pay the $1400 or more that some graphic library vendors are charging. I have specific needs for 3D Charts and data displays that this book meets very well.
   
   This book introduces the subject of WPF graphics better than any of the other books that I have read. It's introduction to the design of 3D graphics shapes and their projection onto a 2D plane is comprehensive and very clear. Even after reading the previously published books on this subject, I was delightfully surprised to discover that this book gave me a better understanding of XAML, shape transforms, animation, and placement of 2D objects on 3D surfaces than I thought possible.
   
   If you want to thoroughly master graphics programming or steal a few choice secrets for a custom view, this is the book for you. Dr. Xu's book has exceeded all my expectations and I'm giving it a five star rating.



2. Well like previous reviewer I have purchased almost every book on WPF programming that has been published in the last two years.
   I have seen one sample from other book, where on a 3D cube has a 2D button, otherwise all samples are original. It is a unique book and reading is to the point and simple. Only I wish that it should contain some game examples.
   
   For complex rotation please check my samples at [...]
   I have sent him email, which he replied.

No comments about Beginning XML with C# 2008: From Novice to Professional (Beginning: from Novice to Professional).

5 comments about Programming ASP.NET, 3rd Edition (Programming).

1. A good book to use both as a learning guide, and as a reference. Though some of the code examples could have been tightened up a little bit, they do a nice job of starting at the very bottom/core of ASP and working their way up -- teaching you how to use ASP to create quality applications instead of glue and popsickle stick nightmares.



2. [...]This edition has no VB.NET code and assumes knowledge of C#. All the examples are in that language.
   
   I bought it because of positive reviews and publishers description that stated the book had all examples in both languages,[...].
   
   It may be a fine book for those who know C#



3. This book is a C# book. The reviews here, along with Amazon's own review, are referring to one of the previous editions where VB.NET code samples were included.
   
   When deciding to buy this book, or not, be wary of the reviews that were posted before the publication date. I can see that this situation has already caused others some grief.



4. I am a big fan of Jesse Liberty books and rate him as one of the best and more experienced tech writers around, but this book is definitely not up to his excellent standard. To be more precise, the book starts out very well, with and introduction to the basic control of ASP.NET illustrated by many clear examples, and the only complaint I have about the first part of the book is that I would have loved to see the two chapters that he devote to webapp structure and configuration right at the start of the book. I think it would have given a clear picture of what one is doing with all those pages and controls and why things are the way they are. The second part of the book is where I was expecting to find more complete and advanced examples on how to build and configure a "real - life " web application, but here is where the book fails miserably. The chapters on ADO can be defined as confusing at best, and the remaining chapters are either a sequence of instructions fitter more to a "build a website visually for dummies" title, or missing crucial information. I have been also very annoyed by the organization of the example code. Every, and I say every example is in the format of a single website, and to make things worse these websites are not organized by chapter number but just by name.
   It really looks like the kind of book a smart and experienced tech author could write after studying the documentation throughly but having no real experience with the subject in practice. I think I understand why.. even I find myself more interested in the foundations of a technology on language structure and on general CS subjects than in the structure of the Nth API or Framwork, but still I don't go about writing books on them!
   So, a somewhat decent book, especially considering the low general quality standard of ASP books, but nothing to be enthusiastic about.



5. Just as any good large technical book should do, this gives a pretty good reference of all the basic controls and how to perform basic operations. This is also it's only fault, as it spends a lot of time on the simple controls, and not enough time on the more complex concepts.
   
   It's good for reference though, as it does contain a good amount of content to do most anything in ASP. This title is good for the beginner ASP as it covers simple to complex tasks fairly thoroughly. After you've absorbed most of this book, you might find yourself looking for more, and I've mostly found Google useful to add-in the pieces missing from this book. Overall I recommend this for any ASP guru who needs a refresher every now and then.

5 comments about Illustrated C# 2005.

1. I purchased this book about a few weeks ago for roughly $40 inlcuding postage. A few days later the price dropped to $12 and some stores are selling the book at around $8.... l0l



2. Explains more or less basic features but does it in such a way as to stick in your head (Like Head First series claim, but this is done in a way that I prefer).
   
   Even know I am a seasoned programmer, I still highly recommend this to novice and above for reference. Apress is starting to become my favorite programming publisher....



3. Probably my favorite programming book that I've read to date. I read it completely in two nights, it's just incredibly engaging (as nerdy as that sounds). I just like the way this author explains things. It's like you're sitting with a friend of yours that just tells you what you need to know in a very clear no-nonsense way. This is the very best book to learn C#. It is especially helpful for people coming from a Java or C++ background.



4. Wow, I just read half of this book. I never wrote a book review before. I don't know what say. I was so suprised. It is just so GOOD!!! I have read several other highly rated C# books before. But none of these book can give me so clear explanation like this book does. It solved many of my misunderstandings of a lot of concepts by giving simple examples with visual figures.



5. The only C# book that I have two of...
   One at home...
   One at work...
   
   You will probably need a more basic book if you are a beginer.
   But I would make this my second book.
   
   If you are coming over from C++, then make this
   your first book on C#
   
   This book is one of the worlds best kept secrets on
   learning C#. I'm lucky that I took a chance on it.
   
   Not only are the visuals great, but the selection of topics are great also.