5 comments about JavaScript and Ajax for the Web, Sixth Edition (Visual QuickStart Guide).

1. This book gives some nice examples of usable code for a few common uses but doesnt give a very good explanation of what is being done and why. if you have great programming experience and a excellent knowledge of the DOM this book would be good way to get some javascript going, but for the average person looking to learn how javascript works and apply it in other ways than those shown in the book you are better off elsewhere.



2. I'm an experienced procedural php, xhtml and css developer with litter foundational knowledge about javascript. I purchased this book to fill that gap and was a little disappointed. It's not a bad book but it assumes a lot and has little instructional flow. The book scrolls though one example after another without much explanation for the actual language constructs behind javascript.
   
   The author states that this book is not for beginners and I don't consider myself to be one, however, I'd advise anyone looking to buy this book to have a solid understanding of object oriented programming principals before they do so.
   
   Overall it's not a bad book for a certain audience but it lacks foundational, and in my opinion vital, information about javascript.



3. I've been learning JavaScript off and on, with some success, for three months. In doing so, I've skimmed about a half-dozen books and tried the following three, so far, "graded" below:
   
   Learning JavaScript (Powers B-)
   VQS JavaScript and Ajax (Negrino & Smith C+)
   O'Reilly JavaScript Pocket Reference (Flanagan B)
   
   It's hard to find good books on this because the subject matter is new and the books are often dashed off quickly. VQS JavaScript and Ajax is essentially a collection of well-explained examples of well-organized code. It's written more to fill pages than flesh out the subject, however. The explanations are unnecessarily wordy and the broader coverage of concepts, context and how to, you would want to include in a teaching book are missing.
   
   Strangest of all perhaps is the author's choice of leaving out how html talks to Javascript or the details of how they link. Since JavaScript's purpose is to interact with html and pass things back and forth, it's sort of like doing marriage counseling and only focusing on what the woman's thinking to herself. Unfortunately, they're not the only authors that make this oversight.
   
   The VQS format is great and they do a good job of using color to highlight the portions of code they're referring to. The is a good, annotated collection of code examples. It's something I've found to be only marginally helpful in getting started.



4. The book arrived quickly. I is new quality. I intend to increase my knowledge of DOM, JavaScrip anf AJAX.



5. This is my first QSG book. I assume the layout is "feature" of the series, if so this will be my last.
   
   Bottom line first: the title is a lie, this is a book about javascript with a chapter on AJAX; this book has good content, but the presentation will drive you insane while you read it.
   
   Layout:
   The book has a good concept but doesn't execute it well. Each page is divided into two columns, the example code is in one column, the text describing that code is in the other. This really is a great concept. It's used in analytic copies of a number of Shakespeare's plays and works well there. It works because they are conscientious about pagination, include line references, and use facing pages not columns.
   Columns are a problem because each line has about three words before wrapping. The dot syntax of javascript is particularly hard to read with such short lines.
   The pagination / line reference is really the biggest problem in the QSG's execution. They let the text and code flow through the columns across pages without much attention. This means you are constantly flipping forwards and backwards to see the code as you read. Without line references the flipping is not just annoying it's really more of a search.
   They make two attempts to address the pagination problem: first, the code being talked about is highlighted in red; second, they reprint the code block being talked about in the text column. Neither of these is helpful. Half of the code ends up being highlighted red - at most you can scan the red blocks to figure out what that code is an example of, and what is just there to support the example. If they are going to reprint the code anyway why not just go over to a normal layout? My suggestion: use facing pages for the next edition!
   
   AJAX:
   This is not a book on AJAX. This is an introduction to javascript that includes a buzz word in its title to jump off the shelf at people. It's not even an introduction to javascript from an AJAX prospective. In fact AJAX isn't covered well in the book. For example there is very little discussion of how to navigate returned XML using javascript. AJAX is mentioned in the intro and then 'taught' in chapters 15 and 16. (Chapter 16 is just a discussion of available libraries!) You can't give AJAX top billing and then devote 10% of the actual book to it.
   
   So why 2 stars?
   
   I was looking for a book that assumed very little or no knowledge of javascript. I was hoping for something that would address canonical javascripting, best practices, and a bit theory behind the topics being covered. I'm self taught and wanted to see how things should be done instead of how they can be done. This book would be a darn good intro for a beginner. The theory and best practices parts were not explicitly addressed as often as I would have liked; however, they were demonstrated and covered at times.
   
   4 star content, less 1 for layout, less 1 for title.

5 comments about Illustrated C# 2008 (Windows.Net).

1. If you are like me, typically when I read a programming book or article, I feel compelled to download the code, and modify it slightly in order for the content to really "sink in". Remarkably, while reading this book, I rarely felt that to be necessary, as his code examples often fully "illustrated" the topic. The result was that I was able to read this book quickly, 2-3 chapters per sitting.
   
   I feel coverage of the main C# topics was excellent, as well as the order they were presented. His chapters on delegates, interfaces, and LINQ were especially good, with very little wasted time delving into esoteric areas that might be interesting, but not very useful. The only negative feedback I would offer is that occasionally topics were addressed to a general programming newbie audience, but I just skimmed those.
   
   In summary, my kudos to author Dan Solis, it's a terrific book!



2. Suppose you knew nothing of automobiles and wanted to know how they worked. A book using this author's approach would first tell you about every kind of screw in the automobile, it's exact size, material, thread count per inch, and type. Chapter 2 would tell you about the nuts into which the screws would be placed. Even for an experienced programmer, this book will tell you all about the trees, but very little about the forest. Why three stars:
   because it's an excellent reference text about the language, clear and thorough.



3. I now have 4 books on C# and this is by far the best (at least for me). The material is well organized with consice, well thought out explanations. In addition, the figures add a great deal of to clarify the text. To me, this book was written to inform.
   
   As I usually make numerous notes this book fits my needs very well with an ample amount of white space.
   
   Thanks to Daniel Solis.



4. You will not read a better book on C#.
   
   The first edition (2005) was great, this one is even better.
   
   If you only get two books on C# then this should be one of them.
   
   But, if you only buy one book... :) then get this one.
   
   Sorry this review is short on content, but the other reviewer will bring you up to speed. (just the ones with 5 stars)
   
   The 2008 version vs 2005 version
   
   It includes a new chapter on asynchronous programming using delegates.
   It includes a new chapter on the new LINQ features.
   
   One small down side in the 2005 version (not sure about the 2008 version)
   
   The author states that fields should begin with upper case letters and local variable begin with lower case. In 2005 chapter on Methods, the author makes the mistake of using upper case for local variables...
   
   This may have been corrected in 2008 version.



5. This is the C# book that I always keep next to me. If I am unsure about some type of class, delegates, interfaces, etc. I open up this book and get right up to speed. While concise, Dan leaves nothing out in terms of details required for effective C# programming.
   
   The LINQ coverage is outstanding! It is so good that I hope Dan does an entire book on the subject. His mastery of informative graphics would be an ideal format for help to save us T-SQL hacks from having to stand on our heads to get at LINQ.
   
   I highly recommend this book.

5 comments about MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-284): Implementing and Managing Microsoft® Exchange Server 2003 (Training Kit).

1. Before I started on my MCSA path, I had basically zero hands on experience with server. I picked up this book along with the book for the 70-290 test and these are ALL I used to pass both the tests.
   
   Just read and make sure you UNDERSTAND what you are reading and do all the exercises and practice quizzes/tests. You really need 2 computers to do all the exercises.



2. This was a great book for the 70-291 exam. Most people refer to this one as the hardest in the MCSE 2003 track so I spent some extra time pouring over this particular book. The information was comprehensive and I'd say it was one of the best in the series in terms of learning that just keeps on giving. I'm studying for the Server 2008 upgrade now and it's nice to see that a lot of the concepts covered in this book are still valid. Passed this exam using the book and a little experience with a healthy margin.



3. Probably you have heard this is the hardest windows server 2003 exam, then i will say that it is. The good news are really study this book and of course really do practice this material on a virtual machine or a test enviroment. Why may this book will not be enough to pass the exam, it is because you will get simulations (you'll have to configure dns, dhcp, etc) and that's why you will need lot of practice. But the book will help you along the way.



4. I only used this book for passing the exam and it is worth it, it covers many topics in "no deep " detail but if you have been in the field for a while you know what the important stuff is. It is good but not the best, I think they over load aa bunch of useful but useless info at the same time, beyond the exam tipics, like scripting.



5. I used thisbook as the only source to take the 70-291 Exam.
   
   I had read reviews on the exam and people were taking up to the third go to pass it... Needless to say I was nervous taking the exam.
   
   I read this book from cover to cover twice for the two days prior to the exam.
   Completed the labs and took not of all the tips in the book.
   Combined with a few years of on the job experience I passed first go. I found that the text covered all the information required for the exam (and there is a lot to be covered in this one!)
   The chapters on DNS I found very well written and also the RRAS chapters in particular.
   
   I would recommend this to anyone wanting to preapre for 291.

5 comments about C: A Reference Manual (5th Edition).

1. Compiler writers know a language the best, and H & S are compiler guys.
   
   This book is within reach every time I work with C. It treats you like an adult - you can find the terms "scope", "visibility", and "extent" in the index - and the better you are with language theory, the better the book gets.
   
   I have taught C at in-house classes at work and I gave the students copies of H & S, telling them that giving them this book was the best thing I was going to do for them during the entire course.



2. This is the best reference on C out there. Yes, it is better than K&R, despite what others say. It is better organized, and has very concise examples on everything that may need explaining.



3. Whilst I feel that K&R is a classic for C(89/90), it doesn't cover C99 at all. This is where Harbison takes over. It isn't quite in the same concise style. But it does serve well as both a clear description of the lanhuage and a reference.



4. This book contains nice layout of information on C Programming. A nice reference to have.



5. There is no comparison, this book is *it*, nothing else comes close!!
   27 years of C programming, and this is the *only* C book I refer to;
   this book clarifies the finer/finest points of C language grammar;
   not for the novice, unless the novice wants to become *very good*.
   2 thumbs up and 5+ stars.

5 comments about JBoss at Work: A Practical Guide.

1. I am most of the way through this book and so far, it's been extremely helpful and informative. It breaks all the steps down one by one and takes you from a simple Hello-World type app, to a more complicated enterprise application. A great read all-around.



2. Its a great book if you have just started your development with JBOSS 4. It is easy to read from a developer/deployment perspective and also delves into how to automate the deployment descriptors and deploy into JBOSS. Covers most of the common J2ee/Web applications using hibernate and Ant. Probably needs upgrading to JBOSS 5 but is great if your current development is in JBOSS 4.



3. Aimed at the beginning J2EE developer, this book does a great job of encompassing several exciting technologies and showing how they can all work together (JBoss, Ant, XDoclet, Hibernate, etc.) to achieve the end goal of deploying a robust ear file. XDoclet and ant pair to automate several of the tedious tasks (read deployment descriptor generation) no developer wants to be bogged down with. I am a huge fan of how it introduces all the necessary technologies involved w/o diving into the mundane detail of each and every one. If more depth is required, citations are always provided to other great O'Reilly titles. This book stays true to its title w/o going off on tangents due to other author's personal bias. All decisions are objectively defended (like their decision to illustrate Hibernate as their ORM of choice) and options are always provided. Very practical and a great starting point. Overall, two thumbs up.



4. JBoss at Work: A Practical Guide
   
   Great book. It is as the subtitle implies: a practical guide. It was easy to work through the book and the sample code and get a quick yet detailed overview of JBoss and Java web technology. Unlike some huge books, I did not get lost in the complexities. Any technology like this is complex enough as it is. I like to start with an overview, and this book is exactly that: a great introduction and overview. Even so, it's practical enough to put the knowledge to work right away. Hence it's "JBoss at Work."



5. Some books have alot of pages with little information. This book is short, but every page is rich with facts and insights.
   
   I work with integrating a 3rd party application that uses JBoss, and come from a Microsoft development background, so this whole world of Java/JBoss/EJB was a bit new to me. I needed a good guide which would explain what JBoss is, how it works, and how to set it up.
   
   JBoss at Work was exactly what I needed. It walks through setting up JBoss and using it a practical application of a car sales website. Though the entire system is quite complex, the authors have distilled the essence of how it works and why. The examples are simple, yet reveal the full power of JBoss. And the examples build on each other, with sample code that you can edit, compile and deploy yourself. It was an incredible thrill to me (a java newbie) to actually create and deploy a full EJB application on my low-end laptop in just a few short chapters!
   
   Though I know this is the tip of the iceberg into the JBoss world, Tom Marrs and Scott Davis have written an excellent map, laying down a good foundation for anyone who wants to understand JBoss.

No comments about Adobe CS3 Web Workflows: Building Websites with Adobe Creative Suite 3.

3 comments about GPU Gems 3.

1. It seems to me that this edition of GPU Gems is a step up from Volume 2. The articles are much better illustrated with more pseudocode and with the background mathematics better explained than in the previous edition. Like the other books in the series, there is not enough complete information to write an application from start to finish, but if you have a background in computer graphics it should be enough to get you started. However, the entire book assumes that you are already a professional graphics programmer well-versed in some higher-level language that also has a good grasp of advanced mathematics and even some physics. For example, a knowledge of partial differential equations is required to completely understand the chapter on real-time simulation and rendering of 3D fluids. Other chapters require a background in digital signal processing. It is also assumed that the reader is famililar with graphics API such as DirectX or OpenGL and their associated high-level programming languages - HLSL,GLSL, or Cg. Therefore it will probably be the rare individual that will be able to fully comprehend and utilize the entire book. I would recommend this book for the professional graphics programmer to add to their reference library. The following is the detailed table of contents and the contributors in each case:
   
   Part I - GEOMETRY
   Chapter 1: Generating Complex Procedural Terrains Using the GPU
   Ryan Geiss, NVIDIA Corporation
   
   Chapter 2: Animated Crowd Rendering
   Bryan Dudash, NVIDIA Corporation
   
   Chapter 3: DirectX 10 Blend Shapes: Breaking the Limits
   Tristan Lorach, NVIDIA Corporation
   
   Chapter 4: Next-Generation SpeedTree Rendering
   Alexander Kharlamov, Iain Cantlay, Yury Stepanenko - NVIDIA Corporation
   
   Chapter 5: Generic Adaptive Mesh Refinement
   Tamy Boubekeur, Christophe Schlick - University of Bordeaux
   
   Chapter 6: GPU-Generated Procedural Wind Animations for Trees
   Renaldas Zioma, Electronic Arts/Digital Illusions CE
   
   Chapter 7: Point-Based Visualization of Metaballs on a GPU
   Kees van Kooten, Gino van den Bergen - Playlogic Game Factory
   Alex Telea, Eindhoven University of Technology
   
   PART 2 - LIGHTS AND SHADOWS
   Chapter 8: Summed-Area Variance Shadow Maps
   Andrew Lauritzen, University of Waterloo
   
   Chapter 9: Interactive Cinematic Relighting with Global Illumination
   Fabio Pellacini, Dartmouth College
   Milos Hasan, Kavita Bala - Cornell University
   
   Chapter 10: Parallel-Split Shadow Maps on Programmable GPUs
   Fan Zhang, Hanqiu Sun - The Chinese University of Hong Kong
   Oskari Nyman, Helsinki University of Technology
   
   Chapter 11: Efficient and Robust Shadow Volumes Using Hierarchical Occlusion Culling and Geometry Shaders
   Martin Stich, mental images
   Carsten Wächter, Alexander Keller - Ulm University
   
   Chapter 12: High-Quality Ambient Occlusion
   Jared Hoberock, Yuntao Jia - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
   
   Chapter 13: Volumetric Light Scattering as a Post-Process
   Kenny Mitchell, Electronic Arts
   
   PART 3 - RENDERING
   Chapter 14: Advanced Techniques for Realistic Real-Time Skin Rendering
   Eugene d'Eon, David Luebke - NVIDIA Corporation
   
   Chapter 15: Playable Universal Capture
   George Borshukov, Jefferson Montgomery, John Hable - Electronic Arts
   
   Chapter 16: Vegetation Procedural Animation and Shading in Crysis
   Tiago Sousa, Crytek
   
   Chapter 17: Robust Multiple Specular Reflections and Refractions
   Tamás Umenhoffer, BLászló Szirmay-Kalos - Budapest University of Technology and Economics
   Gustavo Patow, University of Girona
   
   Chapter 18: Relaxed Cone Stepping for Relief Mapping
   Fabio Policarpo, Perpetual Entertainment
   Manuel M. Oliveira, Instituto de Informática--UFRGS
   
   Chapter 19: Deferred Shading in Tabula Rasa
   Rusty Koonce, NCsoft Corporation
   
   Chapter 20: GPU-Based Importance Sampling
   Mark Colbert, University of Central Florida
   Jaroslav Kr¡ivánek, Czech Technical University in Prague
   
   PART 4 - IMAGE EFFECTS
   Chapter 21: True Impostors
   Eric Risser, University of Central Florida
   
   Chapter 22: Baking Normal Maps on the GPU
   Diogo Teixeira, Move Interactive
   
   Chapter 23: High-Speed, Off-Screen Particles
   Iain Cantlay, NVIDIA Corporation
   
   Chapter 24: The Importance of Being Linear
   Larry Gritz, Eugene d'Eon, NVIDIA Corporation
   
   Chapter 25: Rendering Vector Art on the GPU
   Charles Loop, Jim Blinn - Microsoft Research
   
   Chapter 26: Object Detection by Color: Using the GPU for Real-Time Video Image Processing
   Ralph Brunner, Frank Doepke, Bunny Laden - Apple
   
   Chapter 27: Motion Blur as a Post-Processing Effect
   Gilberto Rosado, Rainbow Studios
   
   Chapter 28: Practical Post-Process Depth of Field
   Earl Hammon, Jr., Infinity Ward
   
   PART 5 - PHYSICS SIMULATION
   Chapter 29: Real-Time Rigid Body Simulation on GPUs
   Takahiro Harada, University of Tokyo
   
   Chapter 30: Real-Time Simulation and Rendering of 3D Fluids
   Keenan Crane, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
   Ignacio Llamas, Sarah Tariq - NVIDIA Corporation
   
   Chapter 31: Fast N-Body Simulation with CUDA
   Lars Nyland, Mark Harris - NVIDIA Corporation
   Jan Prins, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
   
   Chapter 32: Broad-Phase Collision Detection with CUDA
   Scott Le Grand, NVIDIA Corporation
   
   Chapter 33: LCP Algorithms for Collision Detection Using CUDA
   Peter Kipfer, Havok
   
   Chapter 34: Signed Distance Fields Using Single-Pass GPU Scan Conversion of Tetrahedra
   Kenny Erleben, University of Copenhagen
   Henrik Dohlmann, 3Dfacto R&D
   
   PART 6 - GPU COMPUTING
   Chapter 35: Fast Virus Signature Matching on the GPU
   Elizabeth Seamans, Juniper Networks
   Thomas Alexander, Polytime
   
   Chapter 36: AES Encryption and Decryption on the GPU
   Takeshi Yamanouchi, SEGA Corporation
   
   Chapter 37: Efficient Random Number Generation and Application Using CUDA
   Lee Howes, David Thomas - Imperial College London
   
   Chapter 38: Imaging Earth's Subsurface Using CUDA
   Bernard Deschizeaux, Jean-Yves Blanc, CGGVeritas
   
   Chapter 39: Parallel Prefix Sum (Scan) with CUDA
   Mark Harris, NVIDIA Corporation
   Shubhabrata Sengupta, John D. Owens - University of California, Davis
   
   Chapter 40: Incremental Computation of the Gaussian
   Ken Turkowski, Adobe Systems
   
   Chapter 41: Using the Geometry Shader for Compact and Variable-Length GPU Feedback
   Franck Diard, NVIDIA Corporatiion



2. The third version of the GPU Gems serie is also the best version i think. Every topic is up-to-date and gives the reader a lot to think about. I have read the whole book (some of the chapters i just skimmed through) and i must say that this book is good! The reason i only give it 4 stars is the disc that comes with it. Not every chapter comes with example code (only executables and/or videos)! To be able to take fully advantage of the book you have to know, among other things, 3D programming using Direct3D 10 already. The "Intended audience" should know the fundamentals of DirectX or OpenGL. I think it takes some more than just the fundamentals to be able do something good other than just copy-paste the code from the disc.
   
   It's a good thing to read this book even if you are not an excellent programmer already. You will learn things that you will find hard to learn from somewhere else. Read the book to update yourself to the new generation of rendering.
   
   Students; If you are looking for topics for bachelor or masters thesis, then this book has a lot of good examples, in theory, of what you can do to improve the techniques.
   
   Pros/Cons
   + Covers new and good techniques
   + Easy to read, excellent!
   + Disc has some good and useful stuff
   
   - Some techniques will be hard to implement if you are no expert because the chapters (not all!) are too shallow (writer assume that the reader knows a lot already).
   - Some chapters come without (full) source code
   
   
   Maybe this was not a precise review of the book but i tried to describe my view. Buy this book, it's really good and as a serious developer you should have this book on the shelf!



3. Though I had no time to read most of the articles, I can say that this book is even better than GPU 1/2. It is still more narrative than educational (comparing to ShaderX series), but nevertheless I got useful material from it.
   For example, the methods for ray-marching (multiple robust reflections and refractions chapter) are going to be used in our company.
   I would recommend it for all professionals in 3D graphics, image/video processing and GPU (GP GPU) computing.

5 comments about Macromedia Flash Professional 8 Hands-On Training.

1. I wanted to add some dynamics to my web pages and I got Flash 8.
   I needed a book so I bought this book. I found the book very helpful
   and useful



2. I'm always apprehensive about purchasing tech books so I normally go to the library and check them out for a few days before the purchase. With this book I didn't do that and I must say I am pleasantly surprised. The exercises are interesting and easy to follow. The tutorial CD is also quite good.



3. I'm a beginner. I've been looking for a book about Flash that can give me a solid start and understanding of the program. This is the best book I've read about Flash so far.I've read about 7 on this topic but this one is the best. I recommend it to anyone who wants to get a good grasp on the program before moves on.



4. After completing most of the chapters I can say that the Hands on Training is really good. There were only one or two instances where the directions could have been written better, and even then I easily figured out what the author was talking about.
   
   From this book I learned how to:
   Draw shapes
   Make a shape tween
   Make a motion tween
   Make an animated symbol
   Use different aspects of the timeline
   Change the document properties and publish my files to include in Dreamweaver
   Draw using frame-by-frame animation
   Use symbols and instances
   and other things too small to mention
   
   I'd also recommend the Dreamweaver 8 Hands on Training book, it's just as good.



5. I really like this book because it builds on concepts by working through lessons and exercises. You actually create the Flash objects as you go along...there is also companion videos that reinforce the concepts at the end of most chapters, showing you the process again.
   
   Nicely laid out and makes it easy to learn.
   
   If you "learn by doing" this is a great book to get you there...

5 comments about Photoshop CS3 Raw: Get the Most Out of the Raw Format with Adobe Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Bridge.

1. The outstanding thing to note about this book is that is organized very systematically. Instead of being a breathless description of everything you can do with the software, Aaland focuses on why you would do something and how to do it. Its an effort that is fun to read and easy to reference.



2. 'Photoshop CS3 Raw: Get the Most Out of the Raw Format with Adobe Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Bridge' is a great resource for all levels of digital photographers who want to work with images of the highest quality possible. A regular photo who takes images with their camera probably takes them saved in the JPEG file format that has been so widely known and loved for so many years. The problem with this format is that when JPEG is used their is always data lost in the compression used to save the images. This data usually is minimal and not a big deal but if you need the highest quality pictures without any loss or compression at all, you need to save these in a better format. One of those formats is the Adobe RAW format which is the data saved with no data loss at all. These files will be much bigger in size but they also will guarantee that whatever picture(s) you took, you will see everything that was intended to be seen (and saved).
   
   But simply taking the picture isn't enough, as there is tons of post-processing that goes on to get images looking even better than when they were taken. If you want to learn how to edit, crop, saturate, lighten, darken, whatever your heart desires with RAW imgagery, this is a great resource to have!! With nearly 250 pages spread across 12 chapters, this is a great introduction (in full color on glossy paper) to getting the most out of your camera and taking your images from Bs to As!!
   
   This is a great resource to digital editing, my only caveat is that I feel it could be a bit longer. Another 50 pages or so with another example per chapter could have made things even better. A small complaint (and not enough to hurt my rating for the book) but it's worth noting.
   
   If you take RAW images and want to learn how to get more out of them, this book will get you well on your way!!
   
   ***** RECOMMENDED



3. This is a fine introduction into CS3 RAW. It is very clear and easy to understand and follow. If you shoot in RAW and use ACR, this book should be in your library.



4. 
   How do professional photographers turn RAW data into fine polished results? Photoshop CS3 RAW: Transform your RAW Images into Works of Art explains how to use the Photoshop CS2 tool, surveying the basics of optimizing RAW images and deciding when to shoot RAW, how to organize and automate their processing, how to tweak the images with professional techniques, and more. Neo-pros need this - and any computer or photography library strong in Photoshop techniques will find it popular.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



5. I have a number of books that attempt to explain Photoshop CS3 and Camera Raw in particular. This book is, far and away, the best I have seen. It is extremely well written, easy to follow, and very comprehensive. I recommend it without qualifications.

5 comments about Ivor Horton's Beginning Visual C++ 2005 (Programmer to Programmer).

1. I learned C from Ivor Horton and i liked his style.But this book is not good in my opinion for a few reasons.First half of the book is talk about standar t and and cli c++ but not in detail.Second half of the book is about MFC and WinForms but again i do not find them enough.It is very hard to follow the examples about MFC and WinForms and i couldnt manage to get to the end of them because of compiling errors and i was very bored.Putting all the things in just a book : ansi c++,c++/cli,databases,mfc,winforms is not useful at all.



2. This book is and has everything you need to learn VC++ and MFC. It takes you through every step to get you on track.



3. I own many programming books and I code in many languages. I need a book that cuts through the idle chatter and lets me get to work. Ivor Horton's book is well organized and follows a format of: topic, example, explanation. The examples are good real-world examples and the explanations are easy to follow.



4. I found this book of little or no use. When a buy a book that is this big (1180 pages) you think, "Wow this thing is so big it must be the one." I am more and more of a mind that programming books that are bloated are just poorly thought out. I would not recommend this book to anyone.



5. This is a great book. However, the chapters are long and can be boring.
   
   Also, if you hate math then you might be a little annoyed at all the simple exercises using basic math. Maybe, if Ivor Horton referenced food instead .. hmmmm.
   
   One other downer about this book ... as you get more advanced you will find yourself working on only one example. The author should have used new examples in each chapter to help the learning experience.
   
   I've found that if you work with one example and someone misses something along the way ... they will have difficulty as they progress.
   
   Other than that ... this is a great book and very well written. You will definitely learn a lot reading this tutorial.
   
   I would definitely recommend this book to anyone!