3 comments about Outlook 2007: Beyond the Manual (Btm (Beyond the Manual)).

1. Do you want to get more from the software installed on your desktop? If you do, then this book is definitely for you. Authors Tony Campbell and Jonathan Hassell, have done an outstanding job of writing a book for those that are currently Outlook users and want to learn more about this sophisticated product's extended set of capabilities.
   
   Campbell and Hassell, begin by looking at the new features available in Outlook 2007; as well as, taking a short walk through the basics of setting up and using email. Then, the authors cover some of the ancillary capabilities Outlook provides for enhancing this messaging capability. Next, they focus on organizing email features such as search folders to create query-based folders that are virtual representations of email in your inbox. The authors also explain how you can best use Outlook's inherent ability to act as your personal address book. They continue by delving into some of the extra features Outlook provides. Then, the authors look at how to manage tasks. Next, they cover how to manage Outlook storage, focusing on the underlying data files that are used to contain Outlook items associated with each of your accounts. They continue by diving into color categories, by introducing you to this much improved method for visually assessing email messages, tasks, and appointments that are related to each other. Then, the authors show you how to customize standard Outlook functionality using profiles, command-line switches, views, and the Outlook Today web interface to shape it into a bespoke tool that services your every whim. Next, they also cover all you need to know about securing Outlook. They continue by showing you the best way to configure Outlook when you have no real fixed abode or you are on the move. Finally, the authors go further by showing you how to customize Outlook when using forms and macros.
   
   By using this most excellent book, you will immediately see the benefits of what Outlook 2007 can bring to both your home life and your work life. Perhaps more importantly, these benefits, with just a little practice, will offer not only personal and organizational benefits, but will also increase productivity and lead to considerable savings in both money and time.



2. A wonderful resource for the beginner and seasoned IT user.
   
   This book is written for the person who wants to take complete advantage of all those "neat" features" you never knew existed within Outlook. In fact, the book gave me several great ideas to streamline my e-mail communications using Outlook in conjunction with other MS products.
   
   The book was obviously written by folks who have an intimate knowledge of Outlook and Windows and is not your typical regurgitation of MS documentation. Writing is very clear and precise. The authors are intuitive about the features they discuss. No wasted discussion on features you'll never want to use.
   
   I for one will be looking at the entire series of MS book.



3. 80% of this book can be found in any basic Outlook book. I am the IS Educator at my place of business and have two other manuals that teach Outlook basics, plus I have years of experience with Outlook. I purchased this book to learn beyond the basics, hoping for more detail on setting options, configuring Outlook and solving difficult conflicts that arise during daily use. I think the book is poorly written, lacks depth and is difficult to use as a reference book for problem solving. I have picked up a few tips, but this book is not worth the money for experienced Outlook users.

No comments about Practical UML Statecharts in C/C++, Second Edition: Event-Driven Programming for Embedded Systems.

1 comments about XML Problem Design Solution (Programmer to Programmer).

1. Everybody or most of everybody that are in web design in some form or another have heard about XML or even used it a bit. But personally I feel there are a small amount of resources out there that really teach you how to use XML in "real-world" scenarios. It's nice to know what it is and know that many applications use it behind the scenes, but it still doesn't help people understand how to use it for our own web applications.
   
   This book solves that problem wonderfully by first showing you first what XML is and how to format proper XML documents. Then the author discusses how to publish XML documents in a couple web site examples (web catalog for one) and showing how to style these documents using regular CSS and XSLT, schemas as well as other technologies such as XPath and XQuery.
   
   Each chapter presents a new problem (rendering XML to print, searching and merging documents, integrating web services, RSS feeds) and goes through step by step in how to work it out with really nice code examples. You really don't need to read this book end to end to get the most out of it. Just pick a chapter and read through it since the author re-summarizes what was previously covered to bring you up to speed.
   
   So for example, if you have XML documents that you need to integrate into a database (DB2, SQL Server, etc) or want to learn how to create XML documents from a database table(s) it first shows the necessary SQL to pull the data you need, then how to use various tools to create your format.
   
   The book does use one program (Stylus Studio 2006) in particular but the author mentions other open-source programs that you can use as well (in Appendix too). A great little book (under 300 pages) that shows you some great uses for XML as well as teaching you how and why you should use it.
   
   A great buy!

2 comments about Advanced 3D Game Programming with DirectX 10.0 (Wordware Game and Graphics Library).

1. So, the title of this book is "Advanced 3D Game Programming With DirectX 10.0", which seems to imply that the text is designed for intermediate/experienced programmers who want to up their skills to the next level. This book isn't really "advanced" at all -- it's an introductory DirectX/game programming book. So, keep that in mind if you're looking to buy this.
   
   However, if you're an experienced C++ programmer, but you're a newbie to DirectX game programming, then this book is absolutely perfect. It covers DirectInput -- teaching you the fundamentals for programming input in your game in a very straightforward non-pretentious manner. Direct3D, typically daunting to newbies, is given a very lucid, clear, and succinct treatment. Walsh also covers more advanced topics like scene management (in truth, he glosses over it, so you'll need to do additional reading elsewhere, but it's a good start...), pixel/vertex shaders, and several cool graphics techniques (pre-computed radiosity was especially cool).
   Walsh also covers the rudiments of network and sound programming, so your game will be "complete".
   
   I guess what I like most about this book is that while it's not too in-depth with regard to any topic, it goes over the basics of all necessary game programming topics, so that you can start writing basic games immediately (full games, mind you...not just a flyby through a room of cubes). It's a great fundamentals book that, if you read and understand fully, will allow you to transition relatively painlessly to more advanced books/techniques.
   
   While I was tempted to give this book 4 stars for the misleading title, I simply cannot find it within myself to give a book that is so good at what it does lesser than a 5.
   
   Oh, and for those of you wondering, "where do I go next after this book?", here's a list of what I'm using as a hobbyist graphics/game programmer...I hope it helps:
   
   - The ShaderX series (advanced real-time graphics topics)
   - GPU Gems series (more advanced, scientific real-time graphics topics)
   - "3D Game Engine Design" by David Eberly (great book that teaches you how to design a professional quality game engine)
   - Real-Time Rendering, 2nd edition (all the real-time graphics considerations and algorithmic fundamentals are here)
   - Game Programming Gems (these are like the ShaderX/GPU Gems, only for general game programming, including math, sound, input, graphics, scene management, etc.)
   
   I hope this review helps anybody interested in becoming a game programmer!



2. I have read Peter Walsh's other book about Direct X 9.0 called "The Zen of Direct X Programming" (or something like that) Anyway, that was way better. Actually the previous book mentioned was awesome, that is why I bought the "Advanced version" except the "Advanced version" is by a different publisher who probably said to Peter... "Don't be funny in your book, be boring, don't explain things, anything you do explain, explain it poorly and don't give any good examples." And that is the book for you.

3 comments about Microsoft Office Word 2003 Inside Out (Microsoft Office Word Inside Out).

1. I'm a fan of Microsoft Press's "Inside Out" series and own half a dozen books (or maybe more) from it. I bought this book to become an expert at Word 2003, but I found that while the book covers a lot of ground, it lacks depth on many topics. And it's writing style is quite confusing. For example, I tried to understand how to customize headers and footers by section, and after reading and re-reading the parts of the book that deal with this topic several times, I stil couldn't figure out. In the end, I just experimented on my own. Word is a complex piece of software. This book unfortunately does a poor job at making Word easier to learn, even for someone like myself who was already quite proficient with the software at the basic-intermediate level.



2. I just ordered this book to prepare me for the Microsoft certification exams. I've just flipped through it, but I don't think I'll be able to use it. It has very detailed sections on how to do things within Word, but I need more of a workbook. I expected the CD to contain exercises, but upon inspection it's just a PDF version of the book and some "extras." If you want a workbook version with exercises to do, I just purchased the PowerPoint version of the Step by Step series, and I think I'll have to order the Word version of that.



3. I found this book to be thorough & easy to understand. A great purchase that delivers all that I've come to expect from the "Inside Out" books! Love it and I use it often.

5 comments about Macromedia Dreamweaver 8: Training from the Source.

1. This book is a great intro the basics of Dreamweaver, It will get you up and running quickly.



2. As a newbie in web publishing (I've been in print for 16 years) I have yet to find a book or forum that is 100% beneficial. The forums are mediated by experienced web designers who speak their language and not the language of the beginner. Somewhere, someone (and I'd be glad to do it with proper backing) needs to write a book that says, 'Want to do (one simple function)? Use these commands. NEXT...' That would have saved me months of grief.
   
   So I bought books and slogged through tutorials until I gleaned enough of what I wanted in order to design my pages. Tutorials NEVER cover exactly what YOU want to learn, so they can drag on forever.
   
   As for this book, I thumbed through it at my local Borders and saw that it had a few interesting tips that I might employ in future pages. I buy books such as this even if there is only ONE tip I need, and it's worth it, even at the price some of these titles command (this also justifies Amazon Prime, by the way).
   
   The book is from Macromedia which is a plus because you are learning the program from the company that created it. The bottom line is this: When learning this stuff, you need a reference library to depend on, and this book is a key player. Forums are great as long as the mediators are online late on a Sunday night when you're struggling to learn a new technique. Buy this book, buy lots of books and EXPERIMENT as you go...that's the best way to learn.



3. This is a really excellent book for learning dreaweaver software the main software for web design



4. I'll keep this short and sweet:
   This book taught me all I needed to know about Dreamweaver in order to create a couple nice websites. If you're a beginner with no previous Dreamweaver (or any other website builder software) like I was then you'll have no problem reading this well written book. After a few chapters and following along with the tutorial you really will be able to create simple websites. Keep reading and you'll master all the aspects of modern day website building. Hands down this is one of the best learning books I've read in a long time and the tutorial is great.



5. The lesson files really did come very helpful except for the instructions on the book - I find it somewhat confusing.

5 comments about Photoshop Elements 3: The Missing Manual.

1. I'm quite computer literate and have learned to use many computer programs, some of them quite complicated, just by exploring the program. Photoshop Elements isn't like that. You will barely scratch the surface of this powerful program if you don't get this book.
   
   Elements comes with very basic tutorials. If you want to unleash some of the power of this excellent software, you need to get this book. To really did deep, you'll probably need to do some digging yourself, but this book gets you started and shows you what direction to dig in.



2. I am not a total newcomer to photo programs so a book that goes beyond basics was what I was looking for. This book fills the bill. It is well written and fairly easy to understand. The book discusses most of the capabilities of Elements 3 and has great photos as examples for the text. I had a lot of fun applying the lessons to my photos. The only 'con' I have is that I would have liked greater explanation and detail for use of some of the features, for example historigram and gradients, but as a primer to a more advanced book it can't be beat.
   Adefinite "buy".



3. Since Adobe abandoned providing a written manual following Version 2, Brundage's book not only fills the missing manual need but also, provides an expanded guide with a wealth of helpful hints not found in most manuals. Adobe should use Brundage's style for any future manual they might provide, if they change their mind. Elements is too extensive and complicated an application to learn how to use it from the 'How-To' palette or Help button.
   Brundage begins by showing the reader around Elements, and then covers the setup, use and features of the Organizer. Recognizing that some Elements users don't like to use the Organizer or its associated Photo Downloader, she provides details of how to eliminate these features of the application.
   Moving on, the next sections cover the Tool Box, the art of Quick Fix, Selections, and Layers (the jack of the many trades in Elements). Other sections cover Retouching, RAW image adjustments, Filters and Artistic touches. The final segment of the book exposes the best procedures of Printing, Web authoring and Web Galleries and Slideshows. In addition, three appendices provide menu guides for the Organizer and the Editor menus and installation/troubleshooting this application. The author provides an insight in to how to stretch Elements towards the capabilities of its much more expensive parent, Photoshop.
   I consider my self a knowledgeable Elements and Photoshop editing user but have to admit I picked up some interesting tricks going through this book. It should be a must for any serious user of Elements. (Reviewed by MiltK)



4. This book outlined Photoshop Elements 3 very well. The writing was very understandable. If you want to do more with Elements 3, this book will definitely help.



5. Most of the reviews I've read were very positive. Unfortunately I did not find the book all that useful. It talks a lot about what Photoshop can do, but very little about how to do it. As far as a user's manual is concerned, it is still missing.

5 comments about Beginning Databases with PostgreSQL: From Novice to Professional, Second Edition (Beginning from Novice to Professional).

1. This book will get you started quickly and painlessly, regardless of your previous experience with other SQL engines.
   
   For complete beginners there is a short but sound chapter on general database design. If you are migrating from "some other open source relational database system", this book will teach you the basic peculiarities of PostgreSQL and get your server up and running in the shortest possible time.
   
   This book is not a "complete refence", nor does it pretend to be. And that's fine. After you've got a basic overview, you can get the rest referring to the online documentation.
   
   P.S. There is a syntax reference in the end of the book, of course :).



2. This book teaches a huge amount of information on building PostgreSQL databases. It teaches some theory/history behind many features and can be read straight-through unlike other books I have tried for learning SQL. I am learning about the capabilities/concepts much of Databases more then I have with other beginner books I have read, with none of the try our 5 examples BS to figure out what we are trying to explain...
   
   It also introduces many more advanced ideas and does not hesitate to recommend resources (including free ones) for learning more while it goes on to the next concept.
   
   Definitely recommend if you have no-beginner knowledge of Databases and want a thorough introduction that will give you a sound basis for making a database application.



3. I ordered this book because amazon.com bundled it with « Beginning PHP and PostgreSQL 8 ». I must admit I was happily surprised. It's definitely more than a copy of the PostgreSQL manual. Explanations are simple to understand.
   
   There's a chapter on database design, something really important to me.
   
   Something that surprises me too is the big part on languages. The PostgreSQL manual focused on C with libpq and there's not much on other languages. This book brings a lot of informations with PHP, Perl, Java, C#.
   
   This book also brings informations on new PostgreSQL 8 functionnalities (tablespace, $$ quoting). Unfortunately, there's nothing on release 8.1 (CREATE ROLE for example).
   
   Finally, a great book to begin with, a reference for the rest of us.



4. I really wanted to like this book, but, unfortunately, after the first 100 pages, can't endorse it at all. I'm a "poweruser" of MSAccess and a general fan of databases in general. I have read enough books on SQL and know enough about database theory and implementations to know disorganized and poorly introduced subject matter when I read it. This book suffers from what a lot of database books suffer from, a smattering of this concept and that concept, mixing in a little SQL syntax with database schema design with a little snippet on good table design then off to the multi-user access features of PostgreSQL.... whoa Nelly! Sadly, the authors try to be too many things to too many audiences and the result is a mess. Understandably, the subject of databases (from theory, to implementation, to end user) is huge, writing a book to cover it all is a daunting task, and this one fails like the many that have gone before it. My apologies for not providing a list of other books I feel succeed, but time doesn't permit.



5. This book would be better labeled "Beginning Databases with Postgresql - From Novice to Amateur with a few Provisos."
   
   This book is good for getting you to the stage where you have some basic confidence in using PostgreSQL (an excellent database). Do NOT expect to be able to learn what it is you are learning Postgres for without a great deal of googling, hanging out on the #postgresql irc channel (hint: type ?? and topic, VERY useful), searching the mailing list archives, reading the online documentation (which is very useful), and of course, liberal use of \? and \h in psql.
   
   After you have some basic familiarity with Postgres you will still use Matthew and Stones from time to time, looking up syntax etc. For that it is useful.
   
   One of the most annoying things is that it promotes bad database design through the "bpsimple" and "bpfinal" sample databases. Anyone using such a database would be constantly having to clean out garbage data in their database. Take for example their customer table. Their only unique constraint is the primary key, customer_id. If they don't have either a multiple column primary key or some other unique constraint, they will constantly be getting duplicate customers.
   
   At least when I was learning MS Access the books I used taught me good principles such that I am not having to deal with duplicate values years later.
   
   Unfortunately due to the dearth of Postgresql books this is still one of the better offerings. I would give it 3 stars if there was more competition.

No comments about Essentials of System Analysis and Design (3rd Edition).

5 comments about Expert C# 2005 Business Objects, Second Edition (Expert).

1. This is an exceptional book. It provides both the examples of how-to use the framework and how it is built. This internal view of the framework provides invaluable insight into the internal workings of reflection and gives real world perspectives to using objects consistently in a distributed architechture. I like the book!



2. This book has a very good discussion of frameworks and includes the details of the CSLA (Component Scalable Logical Architecture) framework. However, I don't believe the book is worthwhile for the discussion of frameworks alone. If you're required to use CSLA, then this is the book for you.
   
   I give the book three stars because its contents can't be separated from the design of CSLA. The problem with CSLA is the layers. The use of "fat", fully encapsulated business objects has fallen out of favor recently and is not the best architecture for enterprise applications. Despite what the author says, I don't believe CSLA is truly a layered architecture, either.
   
   The book lacks a discussion of when CSLA is a good choice and when another architecture is better. Choosing to use CSLA pre-determines your architecture (the "A" stands for "Architecture", after all). You should always choose your architecture based on your requirements and never select an architecture in advance.
   
   That said, CSLA can be a good architecture for smaller projects. New developers often have issues understanding true multi-tiered architectures. Because CSLA uses an encapsulated architecture that's similar to the OOP training they had in school, those developers may find CSLA a good choice because it's easier for them to understand.



3. Author spends too much time in theory and less time showing real examples. Author wants you to down load code and spends time discussing bits and pieces of each section. Very, very, very steep learning curve. Not a good investment - wish I could find a CSLA book that teaches you step by step....



4. The book itself is somehow disappointing. Sounds like the old vb6 bo book, rather outdated.
   The main concept involved as a guideline on design is the fat table module object arbitrarily called business objects by the author, when the market is more oriented to model domains. Why should we choose fat objects instead of other solutions? It is not discussed on the book.
   A big issue is the way the book is written. He assumes you are a vb6 person. The author is not fully aware of the asp.net architecture. Look at this paragraph about keeping state on the page:
   "There's no automatic
   mechanism that puts all state data into each page; you must do that by hand. Often this means creating
   hidden fields on each page in which you can store state data that's required, but which the user
   shouldn't see. The pages can quickly become very complex as you add these extra fields.
   This can also be a security problem. When state data is sent to the client, that data becomes
   potentially available to the end user."
   
   So he's completely unaware of viewstate object which address all these issues. I think asp.net has gone a long way now and this guy don't even know one of the basic revolutionary concepts brought up by as.net.
   I have constantly the sensation that he is addressing a vb6 developer, but vb6 is long gone.



5. A good written book, it's a step by step trip in the author's mind: from idea through design to coding of his framework. You may not agree with all choices (such as heavy reflection use) but you always know why he did. A good start point to build your own businnes objects and a rich bag for your developer's toolbox.