Rating: 
Summary: Fun to code functional games early on
Review: An adequate introductory on C# for Visual Basic Programmers who are new to C# and the .NET framework, it is organized around several practical applications. The book frequently comparies features between VB6 and C# which make the transition easier. Started with a brief introduction of the .NET framework, C# language features and Visual Studio NET common tools, the book leads you directly into building a Windows applications - the SuperMind and the SweepCSharp games. It's fun to be able to code functional games early on. Through the BookReview Manager project, the book effectively introduces the use of some common Windows Forms controls (such as TreeView control, ComboBox , Context Menu, DateTimePicker), existing ActiveX controls (e.g. Web Browser, MAPI controls), the creation of custom controls and data-binding at design time. For VB programmers who write mainly 2-tier Client-Server applications which consist of forms that collect user data and also connect to SQL Server databases, the book will guide them into designing 3-tier applications through the KnnwledgeBase project, in which database access via ADO.NET is well covered. The book sticks to its hands-on approach to the end by creating a setup program for the SweepCSharp game. The book does not cover debugging tools and debugging related windows which I think are very important in .NET development. Due to it's introductory nature, the book leaves out some advanced topics such graphics, multi-threading, object serialization, reflection. ---Reviewed by Timothy D.
Rating:
Summary: Fun to code functional games early on
Review: An adequate introductory on C# for Visual Basic Programmers who are new to C# and the .NET framework, it is organized around several practical applications. The book frequently comparies features between VB6 and C# which make the transition easier. Started with a brief introduction of the .NET framework, C# language features and Visual Studio NET common tools, the book leads you directly into building a Windows applications - the SuperMind and the SweepCSharp games. It's fun to be able to code functional games early on. Through the BookReview Manager project, the book effectively introduces the use of some common Windows Forms controls (such as TreeView control, ComboBox , Context Menu, DateTimePicker), existing ActiveX controls (e.g. Web Browser, MAPI controls), the creation of custom controls and data-binding at design time. For VB programmers who write mainly 2-tier Client-Server applications which consist of forms that collect user data and also connect to SQL Server databases, the book will guide them into designing 3-tier applications through the KnnwledgeBase project, in which database access via ADO.NET is well covered. The book sticks to its hands-on approach to the end by creating a setup program for the SweepCSharp game. The book does not cover debugging tools and debugging related windows which I think are very important in .NET development. Due to it's introductory nature, the book leaves out some advanced topics such graphics, multi-threading, object serialization, reflection. ---Reviewed by Timothy D.
Rating: 
Summary: fantastic resource!
Review: First off there's no jive in this book about console apps or how to draw polygons or other useless stuff. Why can't all computer books be like this? It's just page after page of really solid code that I've been able to use right now. I can't say enough good things about it really. There's some theory here and there but the book mainly focuses on real-world nuts and bolts tasks. Actually the whole book is laid out nicely and builds on previous chapters unlike some of the books wrox has put out in the past. They definitely got this one right. If you want the theory behind NET then keep looking. But if you want to know how to do something useful in C# then you must get this book.
Rating:
Summary: A very good book!
Review: I am very pleased with this book. It answers all the necessary questions I have about C# and the .NET framework. From OOP issues, to integrating C# with VB6 and visa-versa, plus a whole lot more. It also builds on your learning by having great example games to develop as you build on your knowledge and work through the book. I recommend it to any VB6 programmers wanting to migrate to C#.NET. I am even more impressed because after contacting Wrox support and even one of the authors directly, they responding to my questions in less than an hour (via email); and was happy to give more information about .NET in general rather than just answering questions about their book - very helpful. Thank you guys. Although there is a bug in one of their example games and some text refers to code we have not written yet, the book still does a good job of teaching you C#.
Rating:
Summary: I give this book 6 stars
Review: I wish I could give this book 6 stars. This is one of the best computer books I have ever read. I just fished reading this book and am still wondering how a 500 pages book can contain such a rich contents, from starting Visual Studio.NET to .NET Framework, from data types to OOP. I like the way the book is organized. It uses several real-world examples to illustrate C# and OOP. It's easy to read and gives readers quite deep understanding of C# and OOP. I thank the authors and editors for giving us such a wonderful book. Wrox's supports are good. I am surprised to receive answers to my question regarding event handler from Technical Support Analyst Rowena Perks and Support Editor Mike Foster in just two days. Thanks.
Rating:
Summary: Good starter reference for good vb6 developers
Review: If you come from a background of com+, interface implementation, n-tier and so on, and want to get into c# then this is the book for you. It assumes a general level of OO knowledge but goes over it again as a refresher. It covers both web and win(cli/svr) forms,ado.net and more. The book gave me the confidence to keep going with it, and I often use it as a quick reference to some of the concepts. e.g. I used to do X in vb6, I can't quite remember how to do it in C#. I have other .net books but this is the one I use the most. (other books: wrox prof. vb.net; sams asp.net unleashed;ms.net(developmentor) essential asp.net with c# examples)
Rating: 
Summary: A great start, but the middle is weak
Review: Newbies to C# will very much appreciate the first 5 chapters, as they cover both C# essentials plus a very nice review of OOP. Some other reviewer jokingly compared this book to the writing of Immanual Kant. If he was referring to this first section, I heartily agree.
However, prospective buyers should read the scathing treatment of another reviewer here of the subsequent chapters on GUI/Windows application programming. These middle chapters really fall short, with missing or misleading steps in writing the test application, what to do if one does not have the MSMAPI ocx component loaded on his computer (necessary for completing one of the chapters). Twice I could not finish the chapter.
The first 5 chapters deserve 6 stars. Now I have to find another book on C# to help me through the rough patches in this one.
Rating:
Summary: Move over, Kant!
Review: No sooner did my finger touch the cover of this book than I found myself transported to the realm of Plato's forms, face-to-face with the Good. This book does not just contain truth, it IS truth.
Rating: 
Summary: The problem with books with so many authors
Review: The problem with books with so many authors is that just when you get a feel for an author's style, it changes completely. That problem is further compounded when the quality of the authors is so vastly different. The first few chapters of this book are actually quite good. But whichever one of these authors wrote the sections on the GUI needs to be publicly flogged, and so does the editor for allowing this dreadfully sub-par writing to mar the rest of an otherwise decent book. I pray to the gods of programming that no one who reads this book is a true beginner still learning programming theory, for these middle chapters are a painful exercise in bad and inconsistent naming conventions (what a double whammy, picking bad naming conventions, then failing to stick to them), poorly written code, and a total lack of code reuse when the first part of the book went out of its way to trumpet code reuse as one of the best parts of OOP. If you just need help adjusting to the syntax of C#, but are otherwise accomplished as a programmer, this book gets the job done. But it is painful to work through some of the exercises, and in no way whatsoever should these code samples be mistaken for examples of good programming practices.
Rating:
Summary: Great to start
Review: This book is a great start for VB6 programmers who have decided to shift to C#. It's not easy but this books covers deeply all differences between the 2 languages. I recommend this book before for experienced VB 6 programmers and then you can buy Professional C# once you master the syntax differences.
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