Rating: 
Summary: a real reference book would be better
Review: 1. While this book is not a real reference book since it is not complete at all, many pages are wasted by listing system calls with parameters. I expected more overall description of the system.
2. It is only intereting if you want to compare UNIX with WIN32. On the other hand, the difference between Windows and UNIX are far beyond the "dry" kernel discussed in this book. Unless you are learning OS fundamentals, which is not the case for any one familiar with UNIX, it is not a exciting reading without OLE and Windows. My point is that either UNIX expert or Windows enthusiast would find this book worthwhile their time.
3. I'm still reading it. It is not useless. But it failed my expection built on all other reviews and the classical looking.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Win32 server side oriented book
Review: For those who have missed the first edition, this book treats extensively the Win32 API from a system developer point of view (no GUI at all).Its main difference with other books is the close description of the C runtime library and UNIX features that match each Win32 topic (ls, touch or grep on Windows, console in/out redirection, _beginthreadex,...) Each chapter has an "Additional Reading" section that guides you to books from other authors (Richter, Solomon,...) and even other editors. The author's web site (http://world.std.com/~jmhart/top2ed.htm) already provides some comments about this second edition. This second edition covers Windows 2000 in addition to new chapters dedicated to sockets, services and Win64 issues. In my opinion, the three chapters about threading and advanced synchronization issues are simply a must read.
Rating:
Summary: Get this Heavenly Book NOW!
Review: Hi there! Are u a programmer that loves Win32 stuff and system programming? If you're........then......GET THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW! Stop looking! This is the BOOK for you! It has such a concise way of presenting information that u wanna know and need to know! From learning File I/O to Thread Syncronization, this book has everything! Not convinced?! This book even has a list of really cool exercises that'll test what u've learn so that u know where ya' weaknesses are! Still not enough?! Well.....this book EVEN has a list of book you can get extra information on, as well as a web site truly DEVOTED to the book! U can tell at 1 glance that the author(Johnson M.Hart) is really sinCere about teaching you Win32 System Programming, cos' he says in the book that if you've any queries and questions about the book and the web site can't help you, you can m@il him!(he provides his e-m@il address in his book) So, as you can see........this book is more than a Bargain! The code is simple and straightforward, and he gives lessons on Win32 concepts and theories before showing the code so that u understand what u're applying, and instead of other books like Jeffery Richter's Advanced Window(3rd and 4th Edition) which uses GUI applications to present the program interface, Mr.Hart's book uses console-based programs so that u don't have to know the Win32 GUI programming functions and stuff, and focuses more on the matter at hand! The CD-ROM has all the code and is documented with thorough code explanations! CooL?! And it's cheap too! So pal.......GET IT NOW! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Rating:
Summary: A smooth transition from Unix to Win32
Review: I recommend this the book to all experienced programmers interested in learning the Win32 API. It covers all the core system services that you need to learn first. If you need to tackle the GUI you can try 'Programming Windows' by Petzold. Of course I'd suggest that you go the .NET route or get a good toolkit (not MFC) instead. If you want to move on to more advanced Win32 programming try 'Programming Applications for Microsoft Windows' (if you can find a copy). To get into deeper system programming, you'll have to move on to the Undocumented/Native API books.
Rating:
Summary: a real reference book would be better
Review: int main(you, PPtime){ if (you_do_NOT_have(big_time)) you_read(this_book)); while(!reading_finished){ your_need (MSDN_doc)--; if (you_know(Unix_API) your_gain (Win32)=*4; else { your_gain (Win32)++; your_frustratn=false;} if (you_have (no_C_language) { set_return_code(False); break;} set_return_code(Very_Successful); set_your_WinAPI_level_Min(your_start_level++); } return return_code; }
Rating:
Summary: save time and gain more
Review: int main(you, PPtime){ if (you_do_NOT_have(big_time)) you_read(this_book)); while(!reading_finished){ your_need (MSDN_doc)--; if (you_know(Unix_API) your_gain (Win32)=*4; else { your_gain (Win32)++; your_frustratn=false;} if (you_have (no_C_language) { set_return_code(False); break;} set_return_code(Very_Successful); set_your_WinAPI_level_Min(your_start_level++); } return return_code; }
Rating:
Summary: an excellent follow up to a great book
Review: John Hart has done a fabulous job of expanding and updating his coverage of Win32 system programming. Unique in it's perspective of educating programmers familiar with UNIX or a similar OS, this book explains the landscape of Win32 operating systems, how they relate to each other and what features are present or missing from each of them. With almost 150 pages of new material, John digs way beneath the surface and covers new topics such as advanced thread synchronization, sockets, Windows 2000, Win64, and performance comparisons of multiple ways to solve a problem. Many existing topics are also updated and have new sample programs. The appendix cross reference of Win32, UNIX, and C runtime library APIs that was in the first edition has also been revisitied and expanded. A very valuable resource for anyone new to either OS or working with both. In short, if you are coming to Win32 from a UNIX background this is definitely the book for you. If you're already a crack Win32 programmer, you'll probably learn a lot as well.
Rating:
Summary: an excellent follow up to a great book
Review: John Hart has done a fabulous job of expanding and updating his coverage of Win32 system programming. Unique in it's perspective of educating programmers familiar with UNIX or a similar OS, this book explains the landscape of Win32 operating systems, how they relate to each other and what features are present or missing from each of them. With almost 150 pages of new material, John digs way beneath the surface and covers new topics such as advanced thread synchronization, sockets, Windows 2000, Win64, and performance comparisons of multiple ways to solve a problem. Many existing topics are also updated and have new sample programs. The appendix cross reference of Win32, UNIX, and C runtime library APIs that was in the first edition has also been revisitied and expanded. A very valuable resource for anyone new to either OS or working with both. In short, if you are coming to Win32 from a UNIX background this is definitely the book for you. If you're already a crack Win32 programmer, you'll probably learn a lot as well.
Rating:
Summary: Chapter 1 is worth it alone if you are newbie to Win32...
Review: OK.. I'm not an expert programmer.. I taught myself some C/C++ because I want to write utilities to make my life as a Network/Server guy easier and have a solid understanding of what goes on "down deep" in my servers. I found I had a hurdle to get over in getting a HANDLE hWin32; /*handle on win32*/ (pun intended).. (const char *, int, structures I know.. what the heck is an LPCTSTR and just how do you use it? Yeah, it seems simple now that I've digested chapter 1, but I just wasn't getting it.) Most books that I have found up to this point did not bridge this gap.. or wanted me to wade through a ton of GUI stuff to "get it". I don't have that kind of time right now.. This book really filled in that gap. Now that the light bulb is on, I'm looking forward to chapters 2-16.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Practical Win32 Programming Book
Review: The first edition of this book was a very good practical Win32 programming books. There are numerous well documented examples of a wide variety of programming tasks. The edition of the sockets programming chapter is a plus in the new edition. This is the book that I recommend to anyone wanting to learn Win32 programming.
| 
