Platinum Edition Using HTML 4, XML, and Java 1.2

Rating:
Summary: excelent book in all respects
Review: I am professional web developer and have been using this book for already a year. It is exellent as an introductory book and then as an everyday reference. For some resons its coverage of JavaScript is not displayed in the book name, but this is the best book I have found about JavaScript and its integrations with browsers.

Rating:
Summary: combines many web technologies into one bad book
Review: I look through the book and start to wonder where the content is. excluding the appendices, there are 1176 pages of generalizations which amount to nothing. 1176 pages of material that begs to be covered thoroughly, but which is constantly let down.

you're not going to learn java in six chapters; you're going to learn it in 21 chapters from Java 2 in 21 Days by Lemay and Cadenhead. you may not even learn it 21 chapters, but you'll be better off than six. you won't learn javascript from chapter 18; you'll learn it from Javascript: The Definitive Guide by David Flanagan. you'll learn CGI from CGI Programming with Perl 5 in a Week by Eric Herrmann, not from chapters 28-35. you'll get by learning HTML from this book, but HTML: The Definitive Guide by Chuck Musciano is a more informative read.

all of the topics are covered briefly. I feel like I'm reading the book so I'm able to say that I'm reading the book, not so I can say that I understand the book, or that I like the book.

it's like buying a dope all-in-one entertainment system. the brand you're buying may be only known for their VCR's, so really, you're getting jipped out of quality speakers and a quality stereo. this is unavoidable in big books like "Platinum Edition: Using HTML..."; these authors can't possibly claim that they understand each individual topic better than people who written books solely on those topics. am I digressing? in short, you're not saving any money by buying this book.

Rating:
Summary: Just excellent.
Review: Thank goodness the copy I have is hardcover. I've had to hot-glue the binding already (Ok, it's been after a year of use).

Use it every time I want to launch into learning a new web development technology. It's not exhaustively in-depth on any subject. But it more than gets your feet wet on all of them. Presents a well-rounded view of what it takes to get the job done.

Often use it as a reference -- when other, more focused books fail. Chock full of useful tips. Have found it to be consistently accurate.

Buy this book, read it cover to cover as quickly as you can, then expand on it with more focussed books. I consider it a bargain.

Rating:
Summary: Useless Collection of Generalities
Review: The book covers a little bit of everything, which makes it overall a nothing. Although it attempts to be encyclopedic, yet it fails to even make mention important and basic things such as http cookies! From cover to cover, the book is filled with contrived examples and useless discussions on generalities. This is NOT a good technical book. -- NOT RECOMMENDED.

Rating:
Summary: Just what i needed
Review: This book is just what i was looking for. When i was hired to a web company i didnt' even know what HTML stood for. This book takes you deep enough into things you need to make basic html pages, all the way to venturing into basic javascript, and java. Its isn't something you want to buy if you want to learn java, or java script. This book, however, will help you tremendously when it comes to two things: (1) Just learning html, from what it stands for - to creating tuly user friendly webpages, that look and feel good to users. (2) it serves as my offices Number ONE reference for HTML. It has been our reference manual for months now. It has yet to really let us down. IF you want to learn html with no background in computers (even if you didnt' even have a commodore) GET THIS BOOK IF you want a good reliable reference manual for HTML; GET THIS BOOK

Rating:
Summary: Just what i needed
Review: This book is just what i was looking for. When i was hired to a web company i didnt' even know what HTML stood for. This book takes you deep enough into things you need to make basic html pages, all the way to venturing into basic javascript, and java. Its isn't something you want to buy if you want to learn java, or java script. This book, however, will help you tremendously when it comes to two things: (1) Just learning html, from what it stands for - to creating tuly user friendly webpages, that look and feel good to users. (2) it serves as my offices Number ONE reference for HTML. It has been our reference manual for months now. It has yet to really let us down. IF you want to learn html with no background in computers (even if you didnt' even have a commodore) GET THIS BOOK IF you want a good reliable reference manual for HTML; GET THIS BOOK

Rating:
Summary: A good HTML 4 reference, written well
Review: This is a thick book. But never misunderstand the fact that no matter how many pages are included in a computer reference, there will always be information missing for the most advanced user. HTML 4 is covered in-depth -- and should be the primary reason for wanting to purchase this title, for I have not found a better reference on the subject anywhere. Java 1.2 and XML receive good general overviews. A review previous to mine suggests other, more comprehensive titles, if one wants to delve into the world of Java and XML fully. An excellent suggestion and something that should be taken into account before buying.

Regarding "Platinum Edition Using HTML 4, XML, and Java 1.2," it should be noted that for first-time site developers that are looking for an introduction to HTML 4, this is probably not the best way to go. The basics of Web development, such as the best placement for links, graphics, and text, are summarized in the first fifty pages. (First-timers should look for Web development books that cover both HTML 4 and graphic design well.) Following, is a reference-style book that comes in very handy when looking for specific information (that this book covers). I would say, and I think that I share the sentiment of other readers, that this book is geared toward the intermediate to advanced site developer.

Several more aspects worth noting: The style of writing is clear and straightforward, with few grammatical mistakes; there are plenty of examples (code and screen) with good descriptions of why something works; and I would've preferred that the screen shots be in color, but that would probably double the price.

This is a good reference book for HTML 4, that includes an overview of XML and Java. It's not everything, but it's excellent nonetheless.

Rating:
Summary: Great book, It leaves nothing out.
Review: This is the book you needed back when it was new. If the digital world has left it's content behind, updates from the same publishers would definitely be worth a look.