Learn Visual C++ Now: The Complete Learning Solution for Visual C++ [With Contains Free MS Visual C++ 1.0]

The correct title should have been "Review Visual C++ Now." If you once knew MFC and needed some quick training wheels to get back on track, this book is very useful. But to start here at the beginning of the learning curve would be folly. I knew MFC a few years back and this book helped me as a quick refresher. For that, I give it 4 stars.

I have purchased other C++ books before, Visual C++ in 12 easy lessons (SAMS Publishing 1995) and it covered simple non-Windows programming... Then I purchased Programming Microsoft Visual C++, Fifth Edition (Microsoft Press 1998) which was way beyond what I had learned in my first book. Learn Visual C++ Now, is a great step in bridging the gap between a simple understanding of C++, to complex Windows programming. Of course, you do need to understand at least the fundamentals of the C language before you attempt to read this book.

Don't expect this to be the only Visual C++ book you will need. However, it should be a good fit if you 1) already understand generic C++, 2) are new to MFC, and possibly even new to Windows programming. After reading this book, you should be able to use the MFC Class and App Wizards, and efficiently reference more detailed VC++ and Windows books such as Kruglinski's "Inside Visual C++", or Beveridge's "Multithreading Applications in Win32", etc. It's also a terrific bargain if you want a cheap, _legal_ version of C++ to use at home, because it comes with VC++ 1.0. It took me approximately 40 hours to read. "Learn Visual C++ Now" does have a few limitations: it's a little out of date, but using a little common sense I quickly converted its 16-or-32-bit-compatible samples to VC++ 5.0. Also, it does not touch ActiveX, COM, ATL, or the Internet, and it deliberately avoids dealing with the (non-MFC) native Windows API.

I recommend this book to all who are new to Visual C++. It may be a little "outdated" but it still works on the latest versions.

I thought this was a great book. First of all, learning VC++/MFC is not easy (title is a little off). Having said that though, the easiest way is to have an experienced/knowledgeable teacher who knows what material to cover, and puts some effort into working out their explanations. That is exactly what this book was for me. I read several others beforehand, but they were sort of flash-in-the-pan - perhaps they were trying to convince me I'd learned, rather than helping me learn. The book focuses on VC++/MFC. The compiler with it is VC1.0, but I had no problem running examples on VC5.0. In fact, I ran some of the work on VC5 (office) and some on VC1 (home) without confusion. That's what I mean that the material was well-chosen - the core intents of VC/MFC haven't altered from 1.0 to 5.0. Can't understand other reviewer's problems, unless s/he simply didn't like the number difference. I'd rate the Yao brothers book a close second, and just placed an order for Blazchuk(sp?)'s book.