Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic.Net

I'm simply amazed about what people think about a book for school. It is very expensive, like most other college textbooks, which is my biggest gripe to the authors (nothing says a college textbook can't be written for the general population so there is a broader appeal for the book). The book is specifically designed for learning in a classroom. It walks you through the basics at a very low level which is good for people that never worked within the Visual Studio environment. This isn't a reference book, it doesn't say it is a reference book. People should quit complaining about the book being something it wasn't meant to be. If you are a programmer or have programming background this book will probably seem too simplified.

I am taking VB.NET for the first time and don't have any previous programming experience. I find this book GREAT. It provides step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow and understand. Applications used in this book are wonderful and I even use one for my daughter's Math practice! This book is best when used not as a reference by the experienced programmer, but as a guide by beginner. Highly recommend this book if you are a beginner. :-)

Look lady, I don't know what your problem is. Perhaps the fact that you don't know how to install a DVD-Rom drive makes you feel inadequate about buying this book to begin with. It's a college textbook; it's supposed to be formatted so that anyone can understand the instructions. Nobody really gives a flying toaster if it's beneath you. Step off your high horse and get a freaking life. This book was awesome.

This was my first exposure to Visual Basic. I found Zak's treatment of the material a straightforward progression-- covering the essential building blocks required to begin to develop applications. The "tutorial" format with accompanying Questions, Exercises, Discovery and Debugging sections greatly assists the assimilation of the material.