Rating: 
Summary: Visual Java Teaching Book
Review: A good visual book, learning by the UML diagrams. It's for beginners to intermediate level and a bit more. Nice colorful print and publishing. By the Sample Developments this book has being, a great concept in mind about the subject.
Rating: 
Summary: for novices, just don't do it
Review: As a beginner in Programming, I found this book is very clear outlined and well organized. The website for the book really helps to teach yourself the entire book. After finding all the answers to the book on the web make me like this book even more. For those who does not like this book, I don't know whether the reason is either they have some background for programming already or they simply give up on exercising their precious brain cells? Again, this book is great for HARDWORKING BEGINNERS on computer programming.
Rating:
Summary: Better than the best cup of Java
Review: I am actually writing for the 3rd edition of this book, not the 1st edition.
This was the textbook used for the introduction to computer programming class I just finished taking, spring 2004. I absolutly loved it! This is an excellent book for those who know NOTHING about programming. The first few chapters deal with the basics of programming in general. Then the book quickly and gently introduces the object oriented side of programming. Thus, the bulk of the book is developing both your general programming skills along with your OOP java skills. What I loved about the book was that it was so remarkably easy to read. Important word/concepts are reiterated to reinforce memory. Everything is explained with only the neccesary technical jargon (i.e. lets use big/obscure words to show how smart we are). Terms and concepts are gradually and thoughtfully introduced, and then used appropriatly throughout the following chapters. I'm guessing about 1/3 of every page consists of diagrams, reinforcing what is read in a wonderfully clear visual mannor. Furthermore, the book provides the information in a surprisingly VISUAL mannor (lots of diagrams and pretty color pages); this is fabulous for first time programmers, especially since programming is inheirantly non-visual. When I read beforehand, the class lectures felt stale, becasue I already had such a strong grasp of the concepts from the book.
This is the PERFECT book for FIRST TIME programmers because of its clarity and simplicity. Not only is it easy to self-learn with, it might actually be better that way!
Rating:
Summary: Good introduction to OOP for people with experience
Review: I really like this book. I'd programmed a lot before, but in non-OOP languages, and had trouble learning OOP languages from other books that jump right into having you memorize the syntax without first explaining what inheritence or classes are. In one paragraph it'll say the same thing over and over again in different terms, which is great if you read fast and tend to keep going when you don't understand something: eventually something'll come across that'll make it click. I also like how it uses the words it introduces over and over again, so you get used to seeing and using them in sentences. It's more about OOP than Java, so after a while you'll be itching to do more and'll want a book on Java. I can see how folks that had this book in a class wouldn't like it: the exercises are challenging and might be really hard without prior programming experience. But sometimes computer stuff is like math, where you only learn if you work on exercieses for hours banging your head up against the wall until it clicks, sometimes you can't learn certain things with a lot of hand holding. Since it's an introductory programming book, it's a little repetitive, which is great if you don't get it yet, but its boring if you've programmed before. After the OOP stuff I skimmed through some more chapters, then moved on to a different book. I still came back every once in a while for a second look on things, though. But if you have experience maybe there's another book other there that's shorter and just covers OOP for programmers, since with this one you need another Java book.
Rating: 
Summary: Java as a textbook
Review: Just completed UNF Intro to OO in which this was the required text. Overall, not too bad for a text book. No way any kind of reference book. Embrace and learn early on the author-supplied classes. Nice to have the source for these classes supplied. I focused too much on the Foundation Classes (from Sun) and had to go back and learn his javabook classes. Found several typos in text, example code that wouldn't compile, etc., so vet the info as you read it. Students be advised that the class roster program in chapter 15 makes a very good assignment for a final project! ;) The author is caught in a tough spot. In my humble but accurate and solicited opinion, Java is a terrible first language. Do yourself a favor - learn a basic 3gl first. I recommend C. If you're spending time figuring out what a switch or a while statement does for you, you're not going to be able to spend time understanding the OOP concepts that Java handles so well. In that regard, Wu spends way too much time with computer history, data types etc. Would have liked to have seen much more emphasis on Sun API. Wu also purposefully leaves out the very fun AWT package. Regrettable. If you can handle the slow pace of his application development sequences, it is pretty enlightening. Its a nice technique that I will take with me. Gratuitous personal shot: Doctor Caffeine? Puleeze! See my instructor's web site: ... for a bunch of nice Java info. Respectfully disagree with previous reviewer: Java IS cutting edge technology, and I see it running mostly on Unix machines, not mainframes, so perhaps his view as a mainframer is skewed. If you're not forced to buy this book, there are much better out there for much less money. See ..., etc.
Rating:
Summary: Java as a textbook
Review: Just completed UNF Intro to OO in which this was the required text. Overall, not too bad for a text book. No way any kind of reference book. Embrace and learn early on the author-supplied classes. Nice to have the source for these classes supplied. I focused too much on the Foundation Classes (from Sun) and had to go back and learn his javabook classes. Found several typos in text, example code that wouldn't compile, etc., so vet the info as you read it. Students be advised that the class roster program in chapter 15 makes a very good assignment for a final project! ;) The author is caught in a tough spot. In my humble but accurate and solicited opinion, Java is a terrible first language. Do yourself a favor - learn a basic 3gl first. I recommend C. If you're spending time figuring out what a switch or a while statement does for you, you're not going to be able to spend time understanding the OOP concepts that Java handles so well. In that regard, Wu spends way too much time with computer history, data types etc. Would have liked to have seen much more emphasis on Sun API. Wu also purposefully leaves out the very fun AWT package. Regrettable. If you can handle the slow pace of his application development sequences, it is pretty enlightening. Its a nice technique that I will take with me. Gratuitous personal shot: Doctor Caffeine? Puleeze! See my instructor's web site: ... for a bunch of nice Java info. Respectfully disagree with previous reviewer: Java IS cutting edge technology, and I see it running mostly on Unix machines, not mainframes, so perhaps his view as a mainframer is skewed. If you're not forced to buy this book, there are much better out there for much less money. See ..., etc.
Rating:
Summary: Better than the best cup of Java
Review: Note: OOP = object oriented princibles OOT = object oriented technology
This was the textbook used for the introduction to computer programming class I just finished taking during 2004. I absolutly loved it!
In my opinion, this is an excellent book for those who know NOTHING about programming. The first few chapters deal with the basics of programming in general. Then the book quickly and gently introduces the object oriented side of programming. Thus, the bulk of the book is developing both your general programming skills along with your OOP java skills.
What I loved about the book was that it was so remarkably easy to read. Important words/concepts are reiterated throughout to reinforce memory. Everything is explained with only the neccesary technical jargon. Terms and concepts are gradually and thoughtfully introduced, and then used appropriatly throughout the following chapters. I'm guessing about 1/3 of every page consists of diagrams, reinforcing what is read in a wonderfully clear visual mannor. Furthermore, the book provides the information in a surprisingly VISUAL mannor (lots of diagrams and pretty color pages); this is fabulous for first time programmers, especially since programming is inheirantly non-visual.
I admit Java isn't the easiest language to learn, like Basic, however it is remarkably sophisticated. Java does not involve either the complex syntax of C++ or the dangerously powerful and yet complicated pointers of C (also C++).
Java is not linked to a specific platform like Visual Basic, which is MS Windows ONLY (do we really need to be more dependant on MS). Although C# is almost identical to Java in terms of object oriented technology and syntax (MS stole the whole thing from Sun!), Java is not eternally latched to the MS beast.
Unlike the oh-so-easy Basic language, Java is extraodinarly versitile and practical with uses from typical desktop application programming to wickedly awsome web-application development arena, which is not practical with the popular C and C++ languages.
Ultimatly the splendar of Java revolves around its wonderful OOP design. For me, developing a Java app. is like createing a piece of architectural artwork. Java's unadulterated use of OO concepts, such as interfaces, the object, abstraction, encapsulation, inheiratance, polymorphism, ect. all allow for truly elegant, robust, and downright...gorgeus pieces of code. OOT isn't the future, it is the present. OOT allows developers to advance through the development proces with a level of robustness, efficiency, and elegance not possible with archaic procedural languages *cough C cough* . If your gonna go OO, go all the way. Dont half-ass it with C++, which is nothing more than a procedural language add-on.
Sorry about the digression into the world of Java...
Back to this book...When I read this book beforehand, the class lectures felt stale, becasue I already had such a strong grasp of the concepts by only reading the book. I truly do not understand what others have said in reviews about how the book is so poor. Yes, this isnt a great reference, but that's because it isn't a reference; its an introduction to programming via the OO paradigm. I guess I'll bend a bit to the idea that it throws a lot at you, but that is simply because this book is all about OOP, which is delightfully sophisiticated. C claim to fame is brute machine language force, in contrast, Java's strength is software architectural sophistication and elegance. You will learn the tools of OOT software architecture and thus you will learn to think in the object-oriented paradigm. Over the summer I was working at an internship doing all programming, unfortuatly in C#. I converted visual basic 6.0 programs into the .NET platform via C#. My programs, those of a simple novice programmer, were far more robust and elegant than those of the veteran visual basic programmers who didn't have as good a hold of OOT's client-server architecture.
I believe this is a great book for FIRST TIME programmers because of its clarity and simplicity. Not only did I find it easy to self-learn with, it actually enjoyed it more that way!
Essentially, my time with Java has been a freakin blast! I've been able to use the software architectural skills imbued by Java's smooth OOT to create remarkably robust, elegant, and efficiant software. I viscously support Java and its OOT architecture. I owe it all to this book.
Note: the new edition of this book just came out. Its been updated for the new 1.5 Java upgrade. The author may have corrected/improved what ever those 'other' people may have not liked. I haven't read the new version, but I bet it's even better than before!
Rating:
Summary: An EXCELLENT introduction to OO-programming concepts
Review: This book is an excellent introduction to the concepts of OO-programming. The book covers the fundamental OO-programming concepts clearly and uses lots of well-planned examples. It also uses an application development "methodology" that is well suited to the OO context. Having worked in mainframe IT for several years it is a pleasure to read a thoughtful, well planned approach to teaching the subject as opposed to simply having to plough through pages of confusing source code written by someone who wants to show off his/her advanced skills and/or the latest "bleeding edge" technology. Buy it, read it, download the JAVA 1.2 SDK from SUN and start learning to program using OO NOW!. Then buy one of the "Learn how to program in JAVA in under 2.5 nanoseconds ..." type books to learn the JAVA-specifics. PS Only criticism is the quality of the binding, I'd prefer to see a hard-back version.
Rating:
Summary: Good for beginner
Review: This book is good for java beginner and it is highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn java in a fun and with more graphic. However, there is less topic covered. It is highly expect that more area coverage in later edition.
Rating: 
Summary: god-awful programming book
Review: This book is insanely bad for academic purposes. It uses a non-standard package (javabook), which, though useful, does not prepare you for actual Java programming. In addition, this book is one of the worst language references I've ever seen. The first-semester computer science course at my university switched to this book starting this semester, and it helps to make an already difficult course significantly harder than it needs to be. The only way this book can be effectively used is in a class taught by a superb instructor. Otherwise, forget it. The book is uninteresting, uninformative, and generally just not useful. To all computer science professors out there: please do not make your students use this book.
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