Rating: 
Summary: Very nice
Review: I knew nothing about C++ when I began reading this book but when I finished I had some kind of understanding about it. I found it very easy to read and the exercises helped me get more hands on with C++. I like Diane's use of anologies, which brought me to a conclusion that C++ was designed based on real life. If you don't know anything about C or C++ this is an excellent book to start you off.
Rating:
Summary: If you want to learn how to program in C++, this is the book
Review: I purchased this book as a requirement for my Summer Term C++ class and I have to tell you that there wasn't one person in class that had anything but admiration and thankfullness (LoL) that a book was written with the (imagine this now, lol) beginner in mind.If I could give it a 10 I would. ------------ Here is the Contents (I typed it right from the book): An Overview of a Microcomputer System, An Introduction to Control Structures, Beginning the Problem-Solving Process, Completing the Problem-Solving Process and Getting Started with C++, Variables, Constants, Arithmetic Operators, and Assignment Statements, Built-In Functions, Program-Defined Value-Returning Functions, Program-Defined Void Functions, The Selection Structure, More on the Selection Structure, The Repetition Structure, Manipulating Characters and Strings, Classes and Objects, Sequential Access Files, and Arrays. ------------ All necessary concepts for the beginner. She explains things thoroughly, consistently, and best of all CLEARLY. It may seem elementary and TOO easy for those who already have the above-mentioned concepts--but understand that there is a great need for books written like this one. Why does it have to be difficult to understand? She does an excellent job on all of her books. Students at the college I attend love her books and learn a firm, clear understanding of concepts necessary to learn not only this, but other languages. Throughout this book she makes references to the similiarities and differences between C++, Visual Basic, and Java. There are student data disks you can download from the publishers website that are necessary for the completion of most of the exercises AND you get a working copy of Microsoft's Visual Basic C++ to use to compile, build, and run your programs. The only thing you may not be aware of is this book focuses (except for two chapters where Object-Oriented concepts are introduced) almost entirely of procedural programming concepts. Make no mistake, this book is awesome.
Rating: 
Summary: Introduction to an introduction
Review: I would recomend this book to someone who wants to learn C++ but has absolutely no programming experience and little-to-no experience with computers in general. If you are looking for a challenge, I would suggest Deitel and Deitel's C++ How to Program. If your intelligence is easily insulted DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK. It is written on a 6th grade level, but it DOES get the job done.
Rating: 
Summary: An Introduction to Programming with C++, Second Edition
Review: Like the logical layout and development concepts of the material. It's easy to follow and build the programming concept. Would be nice to have answers to the Multiple Choice Questions. The problems are good and somewhat easy to debug. Final 2 chapters in the book since harder to understand. Could be we're done with the class and have lesser interest to work on it. Overall, definitely recommend this book and keep it as reference book.
Rating:
Summary: OK but too simple
Review: The explanations are good, and the book is very easy to read. Just as its name suggests, it is really a introduction book. It seems to me that the book is more suitable for high school students rather than college students.
Rating:
Summary: Good for beginners
Review: This book is great for beginners. This book begins by explaining very basic computer concept such as what is hardware, what is software. Then she covers the algorithm concept. And then finally go into C++. This book is not so bad, but I thought there is too many readings at once. Especially first part was pretty boring. I would recomend her to make readings more fragment. People hate to read. There are some nice excersise in this book. why not put them between the readings more often? Also, she uses some C++ complicated keywords and don't much explain what it is with some of them. Or she just simply says don't worry about it right now. But there could be better way to deal with other than don't worry about it now. First off, I wouldn't use such complicated keywords in early chapter. there are a lot of ways to explain thins without complicated keyword such as bool, type conversion with parentheses and so forth. But like I said, this book wasn't so bad.
Rating:
Summary: Simplistic, poor index
Review: This book seems to do its job which is to give you an introduction to C++ as it is appropriately titled. However, I think it's better suited to those with very little or no programming experience (in any language). That's why I find it strange that she has examples for certain functions written in other programming languages (particularly Visual Basic). It seems to be an advertisement for her other books. Note: You'll want to use MS Visual C++ if you can since you may need to modify some of the code for use in other compilers. It's filled with a good number of projects to do. Functions are covered pretty well. However, it lacks basic shorthand like changing "count = count + 2;" to "count+=2;" or even the simpler "count = count + 1;" to "count++;". Also, I'm not too sure about some of the terminology like the way she uses "memory location" pretty much interchangably with "variable." IMHO, a variable is a named reference to a memory location. A memory location is not a variable. The order is a little weird with structures and classes coming before arrays. It would be OK if she had examples of arrays of data structures or classes but she doesn't. (Somewhat technical explanation ahead.) Instead, she introduces you to the silly concept of "parallel arrays." You use two or more arrays to hold different data but use the same subscript since it's in reference to the same thing. (Ex. number[1] is associated with person[1]) Since you're introduced to data structures first, it would make more sense to have an array of a structure instead. I don't recommend this book for those who have moderate programming experience and it doesn't make a good reference either since the index is so poor. The chapter summaries lack some information that was covered so you'll want a HiLiter too. If you're a beginner looking for a step-by-step guide with lots of programming exercizes in MS Visual C++, I think it would be a decent book to use but you may want a reference book to go with it.
Rating: 
Summary: Programming Intro, Then a C++ intro
Review: This book starts by explaing the history of Programming languages and then abstract programming theory. The first three chapters should be skipped by anyone with previous programming experience. The rest of the book moves at a snails pace introducing concepts at extremely slow pace, and at the end you can write a program that can factor pie and return it to the command prompt! Yeah! There are better books on the Learning C++, However if you have no concept of how to program, and need a very "hold your hand" approach this book would do well for you. Just don't expect to write any useful programs after reading it!
Rating:
Summary: The most excellent programming book yet!!
Review: This book was used in my Introduction to Programming class. This lady is one sharp cookie. The book was intelligent, logical and described the basics in an easy to read format. I'm glad the school I attend descided to use her Visual Basic book, because I was going to buy it anyway!
Rating:
Summary: Takes the tears out of learning C++
Review: Wanna learn C++? Buy Zak's book! Zak's "Introduction to Programming with C++" is an easy to understand and follow book that will help beginners quickly grasp and begin using the major concepts of C++. The explanations are very thorough, and each lesson contains several programming examples that reinforce the new concept, each explained thoroughly, line by line. By following Zak's lessons and doing a handful of the exercises included at the end of each lesson, an absolute rock bottom beginner will quickly be creating 2 dimensional arrays and whipping up classes just as if they'd been doing it their whole lives. While this is an outstanding text for learning, it's lousy as reference for later on when you want to quickly review a concept or some syntax. Buy Zak's book first and invest in a good reference book when you're done. You'll be glad you did.
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