C# and the .Net Platform

Glad to see a .NET Beta 2 compliant book and so soon after the release of .NET Beta 2. Struggling through the series of MSDN Magazine .NET Beta 1 articles while using Visual Studio.NET Beta 2 was an excercise in frustration. Surprised to see code samples of Visual Basic.NET in a C# book. Although most of my experience has been with Visual Basic, my earlier C and C++ experience allows me to move directly to C# rather than to VB.NET. Other VB programmers may have a less easier transition but definitely should not be discouraged! Was that the purpose for including VB.NET in the book? This is a brave attempt to cram as much C# and .NET into one large book particularly since volumes could be written. It is, understandably, shy in discussing Visual Studio.NET to any great depth. Instead, the book concentrates on the fundamental aspects of C# and .NET. An excellent low level nuts and bolts coverage of the topics. A very good reference book now and even after the final version is released - assuming, of course, that changes to the technologies are minimal. According to a publisher's note in the book, final release updates will be available on the Web.

This is by far the best book on C# to be published so far. Unlike other books this one doesn't waste three chapters explaining the "if" and "while" statements. Almost all the major topics of the .NET platform are covered in depth. I especially like the fact that the author does not waste time on explaining the Visual Studio.NET IDE. This keeps the focus on where it belongs-the C# language and the .NET class libraries. I feel a language the libraries are best learnt by doing the coding in a notepad like environment-where you write all the code, make mistakes, stumble, and in the process, learn. Using an IDE that produces wizard generated code can be counter productive (although the VS.NET IDE itself is superb)when you are in the process of learning.I do have a few gripes abt the book, though not about the quality of the content, rather what is missing from the book. I would have loved to see more on network programming and using the xml parsing APIs (something that I use a lot myself). (perhaps a vol II of this books will cover those!). But a book cannot cover everything. And what is covered is absolutely top notch.....

I evaluate new development technologies. I own and read A LOT of books. Andrew is a fantastic writer and trainer.I've attended two of Andrew's Intertech-Inc workshops on COM. Both were awesome. In his ATL workshop, I received his first book on COM and ATL. While the ATL and COM book is better than any other COM and ATL book on the market, this book on C# and .NET will become the standard for C# and .NET programmers.Using this book, I was able to figure out new technologies like ADO.NET. Throughout, Andrew's straightforward writing style focuses on "how" and backs it with clear examples. The examples are ARE NOT the C#/.NET version of "Hello World." A ton of books miss the mark by using examples that are too simple, focusing on "why", or, becoming absorbed in esoteric disertations. This is not one of those books.If you need to use C# and .NET, define how it will impact your existing enterprise applications, or get clear understanding techs like Windows Form Controls, get this book.

I purchased several other C# books from SAMS, Wrox, O'Reilly and Apress, and this is by far the best book I have bought. I just picked it up at TechEd where it was released, and have yet to put the book down. Andrew and Apress have done an outstanding job with this book. If your looking for a C#/.NET book, you only need one, C# and the .NET Platform by Andrew Troelsen and Apress. This looks to be the first in a a series by Intertech-Inc, and looking forward to other books by Andrew and his team.