4 comments about Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 with ASP, ColdFusion, and PHP: Training from the Source.

1. I have quite a bit of experience building static sites and pages and realized the importance of expanding my understanding of building dynamic sites. I have a pretty good understanding of using Dreamweaver but am just getting started on using Dreamweaver CS3. I was hoping to get a better idea of how to use all of the new features in CS3 while also specifically learning php. I got more than I bargained for. Specifically, I was not aware of the differences between ASP, ColdFusion and PHP. Now, I have a much better feel of which one to use for different situations.
   
   One of the things that struck me right away is that anyone, regardless of your current level of experience, that is interested in using Dreamweaver can start out with this book. For those of you who already have Dreamweaver experience, you can speed through a few of the first parts but it is always great to see how someone else approaches things.
   
   The tutorials and sample files were great and very easy to use - very intuitive and the sequential steps made lots of sense. I am still in the process of implementing all of the things I am learning. As a result of using this book, I am now planning to revise an existing static site and launch a new dynamic site. I love the way the book is written - very practical. I almost feel like the authors are having a dialog with me all along the way.
   
   I would strongly recommend this book to anyone that wants to learn how to use Dreamweaver CS3 to build dynamic websites and applications.



2. This is truly the missing book that belongs on any up-and-coming web designer, or someone who would like to learn how to design dynamic pages. This book walks you through the necessary steps of static website creation and then beautifully aides you in the setup of a webserver and related technologies to run dynamic content. Then the reader is taken through all necessary steps to create asp, php, and colffusion pages. I have MANY books on php, mysql, asp and coldfusion but NONE are as useful as this. This book is more for someone who has some web designing experience and some dreamweaver knowledge. The sample files are beautifully constructed so that you can start on any chapter or work from the beginning, and the files all build upon each ther toward a single website which will reinforce good techniques. I would recommend this book to anyone who has NO experience in writing programming code or someone with a lot of experience but needs help using it in Dreamweaver. Perfect Book!! Well done.



3. I found the book to be so superficial that it is essentially worthless to anyone who needs to use Dreamweaver CS3 dynamically. The book is well written and the tutorials are thoughtful but there is so little understanding of the material covered (server side scripting, XML, databases, AJAX, etc) that any designer who is asked to build a dynamic website will look to other sources. Use this book if you are already familiar with backend development. However, the tutorials presented are so limited in scope that if a designer/developer's only experience of backends is this book, you're in a LOT OF TROUBLE.



4. Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 with ASP, ColdFusion, and PHP: Training from the Source
   
   I've used other Jeff Bardzell books before and found them very good for beginning code.
   
   The latest edition, covers Spry somewhat, which is helpful. And, as in the previous edition, Bardzell conducts tutorials to build an application in ASP, ColdFusion, and PHP for the fictious company Newland Tours.
   
   However, there are abundant code typos, which can be very difficult for beginners. The book should have an errata site/blog somewhere; this is a major disappointment in this new edition.
   
   Guido T. Sarducci

5 comments about Programming Video Games for the Evil Genius.

1. Programming Video Games for the Evil Genius
   
   If your goal is world domination or to design the hottest chick in the world of video games and you are older than 15, this is NOT the book for you. While the title is catchy enough to warrant a read-through, the information is thin, at best, and the writing style is clearly meant for someone who is looking to enter the wonderful world of game programming.
   Ideally, this would be a great book for one of those computer camps that so many kids seem to end up in every summer.



2. To teenagers ready to conquer cyberspace: this book reveals the secrets to making video games happen your way through programming tips anyone can master with a little practice. If you're the type of game player who always has ideas about how to make video games better - or even create your own games (with the possibilities of financial rewards) - Ian Cinnamon has the right stuff to help you make your game ideas happen. This is someone who's been turning computer skills into video gaming reality for almost half his life, so he gets it, inside and out.
   
   To parents of future digital explorers: this book teaches young minds how to think critically, how to think digitally, how to plan, how to strategize, how to create rapport with others through a game's computer interface and how to command attention while commanding computers -- all in the context of having fun helping others have fun. It's an excellent introduction to programming, even for novices. Those willing to spend some time with Ian Cinnamon's clearly written book will gain enduring lessons in the art and science of digital communications through games. But this isn't just a book about programming or video games; it's a book that can foster the critical skill of motivating others through entertainment.
   
   "Programming Video Games for the Evil Genius" is one door into the future -- a world ten or fifteen or twenty years from now when competitive advantages are synonymous with computer mastery. And there is no better way to grow in computer literacy than to have fun creating and modifying video games.



3. There are other books that use game creation to teach basic Java. This, in my opinion, is by far the best. I came across it at the Stanford book store and was taken by many of the retro games and hooked by Cinnamon's elegant programming.
   
   After my first CS course, I wanted I a resource to "stretch" my knowledge. Programming Video Games for the Evil Genius spotlights 8 games,each divided into segments. Once assembled, the real fun starts with variations and more complex AI.
   
   I am impressed the range of experience the book provides. I finished the the "racing track" project in a few hours, but have spent over two weeks on the bomb diffuser game, creating my own version from Cinnamon's basic instructions.
   
   This book is on-spot for new to moderate level programmers. In fact, I think it would be an excellent supplemental text for high school or college CS courses.
   
   I recommend Programming Video Games for the Evil Genius without reservation.



4. Considering Cinnamon has such an in-depth grasp on gaming at his young age, I certainly recommend this book. I also recommend continuing to keep an eye on anything he produces in the future.



5. This is a great book if you know what you are getting - a text that teaches you the basics of Java in parallel with simple game programming. In that sense it is somewhat mislabeled. This is great for high schoolers and up who are interested in both subjects, and is particularly good for people who don't have the patience to go through Core Java(TM), Volume I--Fundamentals (8th Edition) (Sun Core Series), which is the best book on Java programming on the market, in my opinion. The games are pretty simple, so you won't get bored with the details, but there is enough meat here that you will learn something. However, don't expect to get excited by the results of the simple games that you write either. When you're through, you'll have some idea of how to think like a game programmer and have a basic understanding of Java. Once you do understand Core Java and this book, you might want to check out Killer Game Programming in Java, which is the best book out there on game programming specifically in the Java language, even three years after it was published.

1 comments about Blender 3D Architecture, Buildings, and Scenery.

1. Blender 3D Architecture, Buildings, and Scenery
   Compared with a other Blender books in this price range the book performs rather poorly: the images are only BW and it has NO CODE associated with it (though the announcement on Amazon says so)- neither .blend nor .py files and the book's download page offers only a .zip files with a color version of the images for which you have to hand out your E-mail address ....
   The level of expertise is for beginners; it gives a short introduction to Blender's interface which is too short for newbies and unnecessary for the more exprienced user.
   Then it details the steps to model a simple multi-floor building as well as some "modern" furniture with UV mapping and radiosity. The animation part gives hints for the video sequence editor and logic bricks to produce a walkthrough as well as using the Gimp for postproduction.
   The book seems to be written for an older Blender version,as there's still mention of the old UV/Face Select mode, though it could have been updated as the publisher seems to "print it on demand".
   As this is the ONLY book about doing architectural modeling in Blender it receives two stars - one for its uniqueness and one for the instructional part.
   
   I would consider buying the book again only at less than HALF the price considering the quality of print and the missing code mentioned already.

4 comments about The Art of the Metaobject Protocol.

1. This book is the first so far to completely discuss the mechanisms of the Metaobject Protocol. This is an advanced treatment and will be of value to the experienced Lisp programmer. The book covers all aspects of the MOP in great detail and when the reader has finished it, he or she will be very comfortable with CLOS mechanisms, and even more importantly, why these features have been implemented in the ways that they have.



2. This was a disappointing purchase for me, as I read some of the book on-line (in CMU-CL's "Encycmuclopedia") and was rather stunned at the beauty and possibilities of the MOP (which, in short, is defining the core object system itself in terms of the object system, allowing you to use the full power of the object system class hierarchy/relationships to control your object semantics). The book is a pretty straight forward implentation discussion, which is certainly nice as a case study in implementing such an interrelated system and boot-strapping the MOP into use, but it is only that. The MOP is one of those perfect ideas with such vast potential that I would much rather have seen actual expressions of that potential instead of mere inner working details. If I'd know that, I would not have bought it--but then neither will I be selling my copy.



3. As a presentation of how to implement the Metaobject Protocol, this is about as authoritative a presentation of CLOS as can exist, short of being a formal (dry!) standards document.

   Unfortunately, it falls way short in motivating the USE of the MOP. It shows how it is implemented, and has some examples of how to modify its behaviour. Which is wonderfully useful if your interest is in building your own implementation of MOP. It is not nearly so useful if you're trying to figure out how to apply it to less extraordinary purposes.

   To that end, Keene's book on CLOS, which demonstrates quite a number of usage examples, is a vital companion...




4. Although I am mostly a C/C++ programmer, I still found this book to be an interesting read. If you, like me, have an interest in programming language design and implementation I highly recommend it. As other reviewers have noted, however, the book has little material for Lisp programmers who just want to use the MOP without looking under the hood. I don't consider this a shortcoming - understanding the design and implementation of your language and tools helps in using them effectively.

5 comments about Data Structures and Algorithms in C++.

1. Although I have bought this book for its C++ emphasis for DSA, I have found it very good at teaching DSA itself. It has very clear explanations, well chosen examples, and depth enough coverage with along clear and easy to understand code illustrations in C++. The book teaches the topics in an incremental manner by making connections among different related DS and algorithms, which are helpful in understanding the theory.
   
   Its layout for teaching a topic consists of three parts: 1) Introducing the data structure or algorithms with an informal language. It relates it with other similar ones, and explains the differences. 2) It shows C++ implementation (it does not have C++ codes for all DS and A's; however, I think what it has is enough for such a book) and explanations, even some alternative implementations. 3) It has complexity analysis for the algorithm, and any drawbacks. Drozdek has concluded the each chapter with an case study and provides full implementation in C++.
   
   I have extensively studied Cormen's book of "Introduction to Algorithms", which I really like, however, this book is much better at teaching the fundamentals of the DSA topics and has better figures although Cormen's book is more in-depth and has more topics covered, and more academic. If you are looking at more implementation of the DSA with some in-depth theory, Drozdek's book is more useful. If you need more academic study on DSA, Cormen's book would be more helpful (in fact, I suggest both of them).
   
   Another thing I like in this book is its chapter for Memory Management. Although this is an OS topic, it covers it since many DSA requires dynamic memory allocations, and I think it is good at teaching the basics of data structures and algorithms used in memory management.
   
   In short, I strongly suggest this book to programmers who wants to understand DSA and CS students, and also the ones want to have a reference book. I think C++ codes are extra for those who are programming in C++.



2. On my bookshelf right now I have 13 books on DS&A using C++. Every time I am in need of a new type of data structure or algorithm, and quickly scan through each of them to determine which seem to have the most relevant information, and also which have useable source-code. Drozdek's book is almost always the book I end up selecting to learn a new topic.
   
   Without a doubt, Drozdek's DS&A book is the most complete and well-written of its kind. It includes a chapter of graphs, which many books surprisingly omit. Also, as of the 3rd edition, it includes a chapter on string matching. As far as I know, this is the *only* C++ DS&A book to dive into this subject.
   
   Surprisingly (because of such a broad-scoped book), the material presented in the string matching chapter is modern and incredibly useful. I found the coverage of suffix tries to be excellent. According to Professor Drozdek (via email correspondence), this chapter is actually a compressed version of what was to be an entire C++ book on string matching. Apparently no publisher would touch such a 'specialized' book. How short-sighted of them!
   
   I work in a research-intensive company focused on developing cutting-edge algorithms to solve difficult modern problems. We do the majority of our coding in C++, which is what originally attracted me to Drozdek's book. Since then, I have referred several colleagues to this book, all of which now use it regularly and are loving it.
   
   My only complaint about this book is that it doesn't discuss primality or random-number generation at all. So many algorithms rely heavily on one or both of these, so I find it strange that this book (and most others) completely ignore them.
   
   As for the reviewer who negatively commented "worst written educational book I have ever read", this person obviously bought Drozdek's book expecting to learn C++ and not DS&A. If you're looking to learn C++, I recommend "C++ Primer Plus (5th Edition)" by Stephen Prata (ISBN: 0672326973). Despite its awkward title and oft-maligned publisher, it really is an excellent book for learning C++ (and also as a reference for an experienced programmer).
   
   Depending on your needs, you might look into supplementing Drozdek's book with Robert Sedgewick's books 'Algorithms in C++'. His books do not go as deep as Drozdek does, but he provides an enormous number of fully implemented algorithms that don't exist in any other C++ DS&A book. Be sure to get the 3rd edition; it is much improved over the 2nd.
   
   Here's a complete TOC of Drozdek's book (3rd edition):
   Table of Contents
   1. Object-Oriented Programming Using C++
   2. Complexity Analysis
   3. Linked Lists
   4. Stacks and Queues
   5. Recursion
   6. Binary Trees
   7. Multiway Trees
   8. Graphs
   9. Sorting
   10. Hashing
   11. Data Compression
   12. Memory Management
   13. String Matching
   Appendices
   A: Computing BIG-O
   B: Algorithms in the Standard Template Library
   C: NP-Completeness



3. I bought this book due to the other reviews and targeting the string matching chapter. But when it arrived, I was able to directly apply tree other topics in my current work (skip list, recursion parser and expression tree). It saved me a lot of research, so I'm very happy with it.



4. I saw a different picture when i order it but got a totally different book from what I expected, but it was only $6.95 so i just kept it.



5. Mr. Drozdek must be creating false accounts and giving himself good reviews; that is the only way to explain this book's high rating. This is without a single doubt the worst text I've ever had to use. If you are a professor or someone looking for self-study, pass this one by! If you are a student taking a class with this as a required text, have a good secondary text handy. D.S. Malik has a decent C++ DS text that I used as my real 'study' text for my DS course. Again, STAY AWAY from this book at all costs!!!!!!!

5 comments about MCAD/MCSD Training Guide (70-315): Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Visual C# and Visual Studio.NET (Training Guide).

1. This is the 3rd Amit Kalani book that I have purchased and used to prepare for Microsoft certification exams. Very easy to understand and follow. Good exercises.



2. This book is designed for the intermediate level developer who wants to learn how to develop web services using Microsoft's C# in the .NET framework, and for those who want to pass the 70-320 examination. This is not a 'cram for the test' type book but instead gives you the information you need to do the job, and incidentally pass the test. It is not a complete book on C# or .NET or even the Visual Studio IDE software. It is on how to use these to build real life systems.
   
   Tied in with this, of course is information on passing the test. There is information about the test itself, and practice examinations (one printed in the book, one on the CD included).
   
   If you are just interested in passing the test, there is a shorter book in the Exam Cram2 series. It's written by the same author but is significantly smaller as it is test only oriented.



3. I used just this book to pass the test with a score of 900. My only disppointment with the book is the exam that comes on the CD. The quality of the questions are not very good; although, I think it is only there to entice you to buy the full set of test that they market on the publisher's website. Other than, though, the book does a great job of covering all the relevant topics on the exam and I found the large amount of exercises extremely useful at driving home the material.



4. I'm sure Amit Kalani knows his stuff but there are several issues that I have with this book which make me wish I had bought another one.
   
   Firstly, and this is the most annoying fact, it is hopelessly out of date. I am using Visual Studio 2005 and it is painfully obvious to me that the book was written for an earlier version, which means that following the instructions given is sometimes impossible. This means I miss out on valuable experience that I could have gained through those step by step code examples where the procedures in the book clash with the current reality.
   
   Secondly, there are a number of small niggling typos present throughout which undermine my confidence in the authority of the book as a whole.
   
   Added to this is my suspicion (though I am not sure, given I'm not the expert) that some code examples given contain small mistakes or inconcistencies. Again, this is just a suspicion, as of this moment I have not actually tried to implement those examples where I have noticed such possible errors. Overall though, given the previously outlined gripe I have, my suspicion is very strong.
   
   So you can see, I am not very happy about this book. The fact it is out of date is the major contributing factor to this. I wish I'd checked the publication date before spending my money.



5. This series is for sure the most popular training guide for Microsoft's MCAD/MCSD certification exams. Even after the release of a new generation of certification exams there are still folks (like me) who are still taking the 2003 exam for their own reasons. Let's see the most important pros and cons for this book:
   
   Pros:
   * Text: the text is well written and easy to understand. Very simple and clear vocabulary. It is not a boring reading.
   * Guided Practices, Review Questionsand Exam Questions: there're plenty of exercises on every chapter, including 15 exam-like questions and some other review questions. I like books with exercises. It's a good way for the reader to measure what they've learned.
   * PrepLogic software: gives a good idea of the kind of software you'll have to deal with on the real exam.
   Cons:
   * Code examples: as in most programming books code example tend to leverage for the beginner, sometimes lacking in code design.
   
   All in all, this book is a sure shot if you're going to take the 70-315 exam as well as a good reading for ASP.NET newbies so don't hesitate to buy it.
   
   Exam tips:
   * be confident
   * know your strengths and weaknesses
   * don't rush the exam! there's plenty of time! in my exam there were 43 questions and 150 minutes for me to answer them!
   
   Good luck in your exam!

2 comments about OpenGL(R) Programming on Mac OS(R) X: Architecture, Performance, and Integration (OpenGL).

1. This book has a lot of shining points. First, all its explanations are crystal clear, focused into the concepts and techniques OpenGL developers really need. Furthermore, the book comprises OpenGL architecture and configuration on OS X, and the various APIs we can use in order to create OpenGL applications, specifically, CGL, AGL, Cocoa, (our old buddy) GLUT, and X11 APIs. A chapter focused into API interoperability is also included. But there is much more information in this book: history notes, a germane review of Mac's hardware, OS X programming, compatibility between Mac platforms, and a discussion about OpenGL extensions. Appendices contain an useful Glossary and notes about Cocoa API for OpenGL in Leopard. Last but not least, the book is the OpenGL/Mac companion we were demanding.
   
   This, however, is not a book for starting to learn OpenGL (use the OpenGL SuperBible or the Red Book instead). This is a book aimed at two categories of programmers: Mac developers in general, and those with OpenGL foundations who want to explore the enormous benefits of OpenGL development on Mac OS X. I do strongly believe that any OpenGL developer will benefit of studying this great book.
   
   Personally, Chapter 11 is the one I've enjoyed the most. The technical wisdom revealed in such chapter almost justifies by itself the full cost of the book. It's such a fine chapter. The almost 5 pages covering the "Axioms for Designing High-Performance OpenGL Applications" are very interesting, particularly the care we must have when doing our OpenGL drawing in Object-Oriented programs; we could easily incur considerable glVertex overhead, if our code is not properly structured. The little tutorial section "Putting It All Together" includes a detailed optimization of an OpenGL program, "Please Tune Me". Delicious. Very Recommended.



2. The text describe the nitty gritty of coding or porting your OpenGL applications to the Mac OS X environment. To a limited extent, the book has a general treatment of programming in OpenGL. But it is not meant as a text on the latter. Instead the focus is on the "issues" that making for possible problems on OS X.
   
   One of which is that OS X has 2 types of windows, Carbon and Cocoa. It might perhaps be nicer if there was only one. But this is what you have to deal with. The Apple OpenGL (AGL) is the interface to Carbon, while you need the Cocoa OpenGL for Cocoa. It is slightly unusual that a major platform would have 2 types, and you may want to code just for one type. The book gives many details about both APIs, as well as the GLUT API. An evenhanded discussion. Different readers might well have different preferences.
   
   Some of you should check out the discussion about multithreading, if intensive graphics performance is needed in your applications. The OS X OpenGL engine is said to have much better performance due to its multithreading, than typical serial engines.

5 comments about Foundations of Microsoft Expression Web: The Basics and Beyond.

1. The format of the tutorials are not consistant throughout the book, but I have been able to follow them and complete them. I do like the definitions and tips in this book.



2. One of the few times I wished I could return a book after reading it.
   
   I found no direction or vision about the product. The largest part of the book seemed to be simply going over the menu items one by one and giving a brief description of their function. No Imagination from the author here. The CSS section seemed worthwhile, but again it was a dictionary. The author did not tie the principls into design.
   
   I really felt like the author "phoned" this one in.
   Kerry



3. If you are using expression web for the first time, this book is overwhelming. Way too many words. Now that I have been using expression web for a couple months, I am able to make use of this book and expand my knowledge base but it is not a book to get you up & running right away.



4. Overburdened technical manual - not a user-friendly guide for Microsoft's Expression Web that was released to replace Frontpage. Laborious, tedious, and difficult to wade through - if you're looking for a book to actually help you design websites using Expression Web SKIP THIS ONE. If you want something that you can flip through to answer specific questions regarding CSS and other technical questions regarding Expression Web's design and functions then this would probably be it... considering the author is one of the utmost expert's on Expression Web and answers questions on Microsoft's Expression Web help site.
   
   Still waiting on a decent book on developing websites in Microsoft Expression Web - not the technical definitions and aspects of CSS, ASP, etc.



5. I bought this book to help me transition from FP 2003 to Expression web. The book is a big disappointment. She explains everything in code... I want simple explanations, like most people moving from Front page would...She assumes that you will be writing your own code I guess...very sorry that I bought it...The book covers very little and the examples that she wants you to download are ridiculous. I'm not sure who this book will help, definitely not me. If I could give it a "0" star rating I would.

5 comments about Murach's CICS for the COBOL Programmer.

1. An uncluttered layout and clear text make this the best textbook I've read in a very long time. You can see the code (or list of command options or diagram) on the right page, and read the explanation of the command on the left page. It's much easier than going back and forth trying to find a code example.

   I was looking to fill in gaps in my knowledge, so I liked the way each topic stands alone. You can just look up VSAM browses or SQL commands or MRO without having to read the chapters leading up to it. I'm going to use this as a reference book. It has everything I need.

   It was funny that the last two chapters were one on using CICS with web browsers and another on obsolete terms, like BLL-CELLS. I guess it's a reminder that CICS is still a developing system and we have to keep our knowledge fresh!




2. Murach's CICS For The Cobol Programmer is a complete training manual for CICS so well written and presented that the novice will rapidly become proficient in designing, coding, and testing CICS programs. All the features programmers use regularly on the job are featured including those for VSAM file handling, editing input data, controlling the display of data at a terminal, DB2 data access, error processing, and debugging. Programmers are also provided with an overview of how CICS can be used for web-based applications, including the design and coding considerations involved. Murach's distinctive and "learner friendly" paired-pages style is followed throughout with the illustrations and crucial coding details for a single feature or function on the right-hand page, while the left-hand page offers extra explanation and perspective. Murach's CICS For The Cobol Programmer is a "must" for anyone wanting to learn CICS programming and operation.



3. As always, Murach has provided a real working programmers text. This is a combination of the older volumes 1 and 2 with lots of new stuff thrown in. Beware - this is a full instructional text. It goes into depth on just about everything you would really want to know. I use it when I have questions as well as an instructional text for my junior staff programmers. The examples are also plentiful and well presented. Now that I do engagements on the road, I ship this text everywhere I go - wouldnt be without it as I still refer just to be sure I got it right.



4. I bought this back when I was trying to learn CICS. It was one of the best I found. I keep it at my desk at work and my co-workers use it on a regular basis too.



5. I recommend for all programmers and System Analist that needs to learn everything about COBOL CICS.

5 comments about The Web Developer's Guide To Amazon E-Commerce Service: Developing Web Applications Using Amazon Web Services And PHP.

1. I just got done reading and hacking the book and have found many new ways in which to interface with amazon.com web services. The book delivers on its title and does so to a broad audience in a clean style. You will need to understand XML technologies at a beginner's level and be proficient in PHP in order to fully utilize this book. Novices can also learn from this book.
   Thanks Jason Levitt



2. I am relative novice when it comes to using web services but I have some experience with PHP. I found the examples in this book very useful for illustrating how to get up and running quickly while giving a good foundation for more experimentation. The Author does not give away all of the answers to building a complete Amazon app which I found to be be nice because it made me think of other more imaginative ways to use them.



3. The info doesn't do a very good job explaining bits of the code. They just give you a few pages of code at a time and then shows you what the end result looks like. I would have preferred it covering less topics and explaining them better. This book is good if you already have a high traffic site and want to add another feature. Amazon web services may not be the best place if you are wanting to make some income from selling their stuff. The book says it is better if you have something to sell through amazon web services. I also couldn't get one example to work so I emailed the author but didn't get any reply.



4. Some of the reviewers seem to be wishing for a "..for Dummies" book. This aint it. What this book is is an excellent overview of the entire Amazon e-commerce platform from the perspective of a web developer. It is written by a web developer for web developers, full stop. And as far as that statement is true, this is an excellent (and inexpensive 8-) resource.
   
   That said, there is most certainly an opportunity for some author out there to write a down and dirty guide to Amazon e-commerce for folks with mom'n'pop websites. Indeed, how about a down'n'dirty guide to amazon/ebay/google/yahoo services..as well as RSS..you name it? A gaping hole in the market IMHO.
   
   Well, I digress: the current book is excellent and heartily recommended to developers and tech-savvy website managers who don't mind skipping some gory details to read a very good overview of what Amazon has on offer.



5. I think this book is great, first time I have seen it advertized I thought: "I have to get this". Have not finished reading it yet, I am about one third through, but I think one of the big flaws (if not indeed the author meant it that way) is that it dives into XML / WSDL / SOAP too soon or too sudden... at least for me. By the time I have started understanting how everything is organized in the scheme of things, it was all about that, and I personally don't have experience --- a lot with these things.
   
   Another thing I don't particularly enjoy is the presentation is intertwined -- PHP 4 and PHP 5. At times this is confusing and if you just browse trough trying to find something randomly, you always have to read back a little bit to find out whether it's about PHP 4 or 5.
   
   Otherwise, I am pretty happy with it and can't wait to actually start implementing some things I heave learned in this book in my own applications.