Rating: 
Summary: Not What I Expected
Review: This book does have some basic information that introduces internet protocols and their functions, however, where I feel the book was a major disappointment was that it was specifically based on a third-party control and not Microsoft's Winsock control. This approach is very unorthodoxed and a programmer expects to use the controls available within the VB6 IDE. Consequently, having to use (especially a non-registered control that is very annoying) a third-party control doesn't require a fourth-party book to show you how to use it, but to simply use the programmer's guide and their web site source code examples when purchasing the control. The bottom-line is; I would have preferred using examples straight from the WinSock (which I have now purchased another book from MS). Sorry Carl but I don't agree with your approach but still like your web site.
Rating:
Summary: Irritating but usefull
Review: This book is usefull if you want to spend 3x the cover price to write an internet app. The custom control that the author used is pricy. For the money you could buy a good book on winsock programming (or a set of them)!To the authors credit this book is a well written reference on what commands internet servers are expecting and what to expect for responses, and for that alone it deserves three stars. Personally, I would have prefered if the author had put the primary focus on using the controls/tools that came with VB (the winsock control is not that difficult to use), and not some third party control that will cost you extra to really use. If you need a reference of commands and responses and a general introduction to internet programming, this is a good book. If you are looking to publish applications then you're better off looking somewhere else.
Rating: 
Summary: Utterly worthless pile of rubbish
Review: This book should be retitled "Internet Programming w/ VB 6.0 and a $200 Plug-In". When I buy a book on Visual Basic programming, I expect to learn how to program using Visual Basic, not Visual Basic and some ActiveX plug-in made by a 3rd Party vendor that I have to buy separately (for $200). Don't buy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Exelent book for learning VB 6.0 Internet Programing!
Review: This is a very good book that can help you to lern visual basic internet programing. Buy it. it will help you writing your programs. There is everything you need to know.
Rating: 
Summary: Thorough, Clear and Pragmatic
Review: This is a well-thought-out book. The topics are well organized and the basic concepts are clearly explained. The author leads the reader through the functions and explains the implementation of the code. The CD is a valuable source of usable material. A number of previous reviews have complained about the reliance on a third party tool, I don't object to this; in fact, that's the nature of the beast. Developers develop, right? VB6 is a great product, and developers enhance its functionality with items like this one. On the other hand, it should be made clear to the potential buyer that this is the way this book functions. There is a significant shareware cost to be able to follow the author's preferred way. Full disclosure is the only fair way. If not for that, I'd give it 5 stars. Book is great; cover needs to give the information on the plugin.
Rating:
Summary: Slightly dated, but great book with added bonus software
Review: Visual Basic(r) 6.0 Internet Programming by Carl Franklin was published in 1998, so while it does not cover all the latest technology since 1998, it still remains completly applicable to it's target audience: VisualBasic 6 developers and Programmers. If you have already moved on to C-Sharp or VB.NET, then this book is not for you. (You might get a little jealous of the lean-and-mean code in there.) I found this book to be very easy to read and all samples were well documented. While the samples in this book used the Dolphin Winsock OCX, the applications on the included CD-ROM also include versions for the Microsoft Winsock OCX that shipped with VisualBasic PROFESSIONAL and ENTERPRISE versions. For Visual Basic Programmers who only have the BEGINNER Version or the (Free) CCE Edition, a third party Winsock OCX makes perfect sense and the code is easily ported to any similar control with minimal effort. (The free Catalyst Socketwrench Winsock control, for example.) This book also provides a very nice explanation (with working samples) of the common Internet Protocols (FTP, HTTP, NTP, NNTP, POP3, SMTP) directly into terms for a Visualbasic Programmer, as well as how to do basic CGI in VisualBasic for any Windows Server and how to marry VisualBasic to the (still current) Microsoft IIS Servers. I can certainly recommend this book to Visualbasic 5 and 6 Programmers at the Intermediete level or higher. Even an expert will enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!!!! Carl is a true professional!
Review: What is the most annoying thing? Buying a book and finding out it is over your head or filled with simple procedures you learned back in VB 101. Not here.... take a look.... Carl wrote an excellent teaching aid while learning VB6 w/ the internet. I am disturbed by the previous critiques, Carl not only offered a 3rd Party Socket control for those who wanted a quicker solution without getting dirty in the nitty gritty, but he also went above and beyond covering my favorite WinSOCK. In fact, he provides a FULL library of utilities, most common errors you will receive and the RFC's. SMTP, POP3, NNTP, it's all here! If you are even considering creating your own email program and don't have a clue as to what I've mentioned, START HERE. The examples and FULL SOURCE code he supplies was documented and written WELL. He did not skimp on comments within the source code which you can easily modify and compile into your own .DLL, thus including it your application. This book has saved MONEY if you consider what books cost. The book may look thin, but it offers more information on books twice it's size. There is no....try this or try that....it's....this is how you do it... a relaxing and refreshing approach. Looking for sending/receiving email? Even a newsreader? How about FTP? If this doesn't entice you, take another step, because Carl teaches you how to send/receive arrays via the internet! Create that client/server program for your company, easily!!! Before I end this..... after having a problem unrelated to his actual code, I took a stab and emailed Carl asking him a question. Within five minutes, he replied, with suggestions AND another utility! Thank you Carl! I will be purchasing your next book, and eagerly add it to my collection!
Rating:
Summary: This is NOT Winsock programming!!!
Review: While attending VBits in San Fran, I purchased this book. I have long been looking for a way to circumvent all of MS's internet controls in favor of learning Winsock.DLL. (More power, less overhead). However, Winsock.DLL is a bear to deal with! Though the book contains lots of useful information and underlying principle, the book teaches a proprietary shareware DLL rather than Winsock.DLL. What I'd REALLY like is to see the book they authors read before they wrote their book.
Rating:
Summary: This is NOT Winsock programming!!!
Review: While attending VBits in San Fran, I purchased this book. I have long been looking for a way to circumvent all of MS's internet controls in favor of learning Winsock.DLL. (More power, less overhead). However, Winsock.DLL is a bear to deal with! Though the book contains lots of useful information and underlying principle, the book teaches a proprietary shareware DLL rather than Winsock.DLL. What I'd REALLY like is to see the book they authors read before they wrote their book.
Rating:
Summary: A good book for learning the concepts of internet programmin
Review: While I personally do not use the control that is shown within the book, the concepts themselves are easily transported to the Winsock control for VB5 or VB6. This is an excellent book to learn HOW to do internet programming. Just be aware that it doesn't use the Winsock control and you will need to a little extra work to make things work.
| 
