Rating: 
Summary: What's the point of visual C++?
Review: I bought this book and borrowed the version 5 edition (different author) as well. After reading both I was able to make rinky-dink applications, that could be made 50 times more easily in VB, without file ping pong and magic wizards. I'm familiar with C++, and this (these) books have nothing really to do with it. Any lay person with a knowledge of vb, will be left wondering "what's the point of VC++?" Take it camping, and use it when the tp runs out.
Rating:
Summary: This book spoon-feeds code and does not explain the concept.
Review: I have done modest amounts of work with C and C++ in recent years. In that time I have found two basic classes of books: theoretical and learn by example. Typically the best case is a healthy mix of the two. This book conforms strictly to the latter. No IN-DEPTH EXPLANATION is offered for ANYTHING. You are spoon-fed specific code examples and left to make sense of how everything is tied together. The Visual C++ interface is quite different from the text-based standard of C++. THIS BOOK OFFERS NO CONCRETE TIES FROM TEXT TO THE VISUAL INTERFACE. If don't know any C or C++ DO NOT EVEN THINK OF PICKING UP THIS BOOK. In the introduction Chapman/Heaton claim you should be able to learn some C/C++ while reading this book but that is not the case. If you don't understand the class structrue of C++ start there. (I suggest O'Reilly Press - C++ The Core Language) Bottom line: LOOK ELSEWHERE.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth it for the Wizards.
Review: I haven't read the whole book yet, just finished Day 4, but I'm very pleased so far. This is a no-nonsense book which jumps right into using the VC++ 6.0 IDE *to create stuff*. In other words, if you are seeking explanations of MFC or C++ concepts, look elsewhere. Also, if you don't have previous knowledge of C++, you may have some trouble due to the unfamiliarity of the look. Nonetheless, the exercises are just right, and it doesn't spoon-feed you the same stuff over and over again, so you have to think a little bit, not just type. To sum up, if you are an experienced programmer, know a little C++, and want to get up and running asap on VC++ 6, then this book is an excellent choice.
Rating: 
Summary: ???
Review: All I want to say is that how can one person have a review of 5 Stars and another person have a review of 1 Star? It doesn't make sense. To all of you reading the reviews of this book and wondering the same thing, I think you should do what I did, go to a bookstore that has the book you are looking for and read it yourself. Then you can decide if It's a good book or not. Forget my rating of 3 stars because I just looked at the book, I didn't read it page by page. While at the bookstore, I decided that there were other books that I liked a little bit more. So go to a bookstore and check it out yourself, it's the only TRUE way you'll find out if this is a good book.
Rating:
Summary: Money & Time poorly spent!!!
Review: Unfortunitly for me, I am a beginner C++ programmer and should have read the reviews first. I quickly found out that the code both in the book and on the CD is worthless. I would have been better off buying $40 worth of beer and getting drunk, the hangover wouldn't have lasted as long as the headache I got trying to figure out what was wrong with the code. ONE STAR RATING IS TOO MUCH!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Very good intro into MFC
Review: Pretty good, breaks up the task of learning Visual C++/MFC into 21 manageable pieces. Good if you've not worked with C++ level Windows programming before. The "MFC Dictionary" at the end of the book is also very useful.
Rating:
Summary: Worse book I have ever read.
Review: I would have gave this no stars but 1 is the least you can give. This book glosses over the subject and is very redundant. Davis Chapman should give up writing programming books he is very unqualified. I normal give books I am done with to the library but this one was so bad I burned it instead. Do yourself a favor and forget this book, look at Beginning Visual C++ 6 by Ivor Horton instead.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely NOT meant for a freshman programmer
Review: The book seems to vaguely skim over major components of the language, summing up the concepts of arrays and pointers in a couple paragraphs. Though I like the idea of having exercises at the end of each lesson, it really doesn't require you to add any of the reader's knowledge to create the identified programs. To merely mock what is written in the book is sufficient to get through each exercise.
Rating:
Summary: Good enough for a rough start
Review: First, this book is NOT going to teach you everything about Visual C++ or MFC. But, it will give you a good start on how to use the wizards, and basic Visual C++ techniques. I gained a lot from this book.
Rating:
Summary: Trash Can item
Review: The best place to put this book is in the trash can. This way all your fellow programmers don't laugh when they come in you office. A total waste of money, effort and time. Go buy a readers digest, at least you'll gain some knowlegde.
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