Rating: 
Summary: Great for the money
Review: Its nice to have a sub-100$ entry point to this language. The package is limited in the number of projects you can start with (such as Windows Services), but there is plenty of starter code on the web to get around that. Very nice package for the money.
Rating:
Summary: Great for the money
Review: Its nice to have a sub-100$ entry point to this language. The package is limited in the number of projects you can start with (such as Windows Services), but there is plenty of starter code on the web to get around that. Very nice package for the money.
Rating: 
Summary: DO NOT BUY FOR CE.NET
Review: The Amazon quote above is misleading "On-screen emulator for Pocket PC applications". Now wouldn't that statement lead you to believe that you can build and test applications for the Pocket PC using this package. Well don't believe it.It states it clearly on the Box that "build device-based applications and solutions" is not part of this package and will require Visual Studio.net Professional is required. They fool you by allowing you to build ASP.NET pages to be displayed on the CE.NET device using the web browser. Of course you can just as easily do this with a simple text editor. Unfortunately I had already opened the box by the time I realized that the Amazon web page was lying and as a result I now own another piece of software that has no value for me and get to go spend a bunch more money to buy Visual Studio Professional to do a job that Amazon claimed this packaged could accomplish. The tragic thing is that you can accomplish nothing with this package that you can not do just as easily with the free Microsoft download and a decent text editor. For that matter I have already written and tested tens of thousands of lines of C# code and the CSC command line compiler. I only purchased this package because I wanted to compile and test for windows CE devices as the statement above would indicate that you accomplish. Amazon words their return policy so that I can not return this even though it was their false or at best misleading advertising that caused me to purchase and install the product. This is a great a way to ruin my loyalty as a customer. Companies wonder why their customers are violating copyright agreements to avoid paying for software, well in my mind somebody owes me the cost of this worthless package so how excited am I going to be to pay either company the next time around. The golden rule could be used here: "If you want me to treat you fairly then you should treat me fairly." joe@xdobs.com
Rating:
Summary: DO NOT BUY FOR CE.NET
Review: The Amazon quote above is misleading "On-screen emulator for Pocket PC applications". Now wouldn't that statement lead you to believe that you can build and test applications for the Pocket PC using this package. Well don't believe it. It states it clearly on the Box that "build device-based applications and solutions" is not part of this package and will require Visual Studio.net Professional is required. They fool you by allowing you to build ASP.NET pages to be displayed on the CE.NET device using the web browser. Of course you can just as easily do this with a simple text editor. Unfortunately I had already opened the box by the time I realized that the Amazon web page was lying and as a result I now own another piece of software that has no value for me and get to go spend a bunch more money to buy Visual Studio Professional to do a job that Amazon claimed this packaged could accomplish. The tragic thing is that you can accomplish nothing with this package that you can not do just as easily with the free Microsoft download and a decent text editor. For that matter I have already written and tested tens of thousands of lines of C# code and the CSC command line compiler. I only purchased this package because I wanted to compile and test for windows CE devices as the statement above would indicate that you accomplish. Amazon words their return policy so that I can not return this even though it was their false or at best misleading advertising that caused me to purchase and install the product. This is a great a way to ruin my loyalty as a customer. Companies wonder why their customers are violating copyright agreements to avoid paying for software, well in my mind somebody owes me the cost of this worthless package so how excited am I going to be to pay either company the next time around. The golden rule could be used here: "If you want me to treat you fairly then you should treat me fairly." joe@xdobs.com
Rating:
Summary: DO NOT BUY FOR CE.NET
Review: The Amazon quote above is misleading "On-screen emulator for Pocket PC applications". Now wouldn't that statement lead you to believe that you can build and test applications for the Pocket PC using this package. Well don't believe it. It states it clearly on the Box that "build device-based applications and solutions" is not part of this package and will require Visual Studio.net Professional is required. They fool you by allowing you to build ASP.NET pages to be displayed on the CE.NET device using the web browser. Of course you can just as easily do this with a simple text editor. Unfortunately I had already opened the box by the time I realized that the Amazon web page was lying and as a result I now own another piece of software that has no value for me and get to go spend a bunch more money to buy Visual Studio Professional to do a job that Amazon claimed this packaged could accomplish. The tragic thing is that you can accomplish nothing with this package that you can not do just as easily with the free Microsoft download and a decent text editor. For that matter I have already written and tested tens of thousands of lines of C# code and the CSC command line compiler. I only purchased this package because I wanted to compile and test for windows CE devices as the statement above would indicate that you accomplish. Amazon words their return policy so that I can not return this even though it was their false or at best misleading advertising that caused me to purchase and install the product. This is a great a way to ruin my loyalty as a customer. Companies wonder why their customers are violating copyright agreements to avoid paying for software, well in my mind somebody owes me the cost of this worthless package so how excited am I going to be to pay either company the next time around. The golden rule could be used here: "If you want me to treat you fairly then you should treat me fairly." joe@xdobs.com
Rating:
Summary: c#??? Java I suppose...
Review: The ide, the compiler and the whole package itself is great. The shame is that what microsoft calls c# is only java... Too lame... By the way it's as good as java, so it has all its pro and its bad sides
Rating: 
Summary: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
Review: Three stars is a bit harsh, but there are some significant caveates to what is otherwise for me a very favorable impression of the product. Some might say I have an axe to bear - I've been using products from the MS for a long time, and there continue to be a number of pet peeves that I have with them. First Peeve - I had to spend many hours researching the differences in the different "Editions" of the product. This is getting silly. Perhaps have two Editions, "Professional" and "Learning" would be acceptable. The current motley collection of products ranges from the fully equipted "Enterprise Architect" to the quasi "crippleware" "Standard" editions is and is tribute to the dominance of the marketing department at Microsoft (not meant as a compliment). Peeve 2. In contrast to "intellisence", which is a god-send, the on-line files (installed help files) are a horrendous mis-mash, poorly organzed with respect to product specificity (a search on many topics will bring up dozens, hundreds of results), very weak on introductory content (which is hard to understand in a completely new language product), etc. Clearly Microsoft would rather have you feed the folks at Microsoft Press by buying alot of their hard-copy. Oh lord, please bring back big thick Manuals that come in the box! Peeve 3 - there are important parts of the Windows API that do not appear to be encapsulated in the .NET framework, specifically the multi-media APIs. {if I am wrong here, I trust a later reviewer will correct me}. These kinds of facilities would require calls directly to the API with unsafe code. Peeve 4 - Rediculously complicated End User Liscence (sic) Agreement that makes you wonder if you need to consult a lawyer before using the product. Remember the Borland "no nonsense liscence agrement"? Peeve 5 - This specific "edition" does not include good support for SQL Server. The "Sever Explorer" will not show SQL server information or allow you to connect to SQL Severs. As far as I can tell, the support from the rest of the IDE and the various data components also seems to have been crippled with respect to SQL data sources. MSDE is included with the product, but no Developer Version of SQL server. MSDE doesn't really seem to be of much use, for that matter, since many IDE tools don't appear to recognize it. (They DO recognize Access .mdb databases). I suppose it isn't all that important since you'd have to sell your house and all your children to afford the "enterprise" edition of SQL server any, and then rob the Federal Reserve to afford user liscences! Peeve 6 - Distributable applications require the deployment of a very large runtime module (CLR). This appears to be 20 MB in size. {Please correct me if I am wrong, fellow reviewers). Forget .NET if you want to deploy or distribute your application over "thinband" internet (ie, shareware, freeware, etc). I know that many have complained to MS for years about requiring runtimes with VB. I have heard MS's partially reasonable explanation for not equiping Windows XP with a CLR out of the box, but people should be aware of this onerous constraint. Not really a PEEVE, because MS is completely upfront about this, but people should also be aware that the product does not have IDE project support for the other .NET languages (Managed C++ and .NET VB). There is no longer a generic Windows app project either (good ol' Windows API program), which is a little dissapointing (I think). The "New Project" dialog is in general pretty paltry looking compared with the "Professional"+ Editions of the product. OK - on to the good side. .NET Framework and C# language are a quantum leap forward from C++ and MFC. A great deal has been done to reduce the complexity level and allow for practical, RAD development without sacrificing on performance and flexibility with this system. Also a big improvement on Visual Basic 6.0 in providing enourmously more power and control. This is very nearly the perfect "middle way". Their is just no way to understate this. The IDE (at least until 'the dew is off the grass'), is esthetically and functionally superb. Its a jammed packed with features and useful tools, yet well organized, a ultra sexy "cockpit" that will send most developers into a frenzy. Truely modern, state of the art stuff. It is FUN to program again with this system! Just take care to spend the time deciding whether the "Standard" edition meets your needs. If you are into the other .NET languages or SQL server, this is NOT the way to go, but otherwise, it is a good choice.
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