Customer Rating: 
Summary: Great dog-eared, coffee-stained reference
Comment: This book is ideal for intermediate programmers developing web applications with Microsoft's Visual Studio .NET. It works best as a reference for those simply looking for ways to "make stuff work" who don't need the hand-holding of step-by-step instructions, but aren't ready for simple, austere object definitions. Using an appropriate number of examples in both C# and VB.NET, the authors have successfully put together a book that has helped my shop overcome several hurdles in the month we've been using it.
In the new .NET paradigm, ASP exists only as a descriptive name applied to collections of objects that "make stuff work" on the web. Powered by C#, VB.NET, or almost any language you chose, the .NET framework Intermediate Language and Just-In-Time compilation has made an understanding of how "classic" Active Server Pages work obsolete. However, the name ASP seems to be maintained to provide familiarity to those of us making the transition from ASP 3.0 to "any-web-application-built-with-.NET." This book fulfils that calling by giving the right mix of definitions, examples, and background information without using excess space or time.
The majority of the chapters cover most of the collections of objects (namespaces) that give an application functionality on the web. Without question, we used these sections the most. For those of us making the transition to C# at the same time we're getting used to .NET web development, these chapters were a life-saver. They gave all the answers we couldn't find in any C# reference manual tailored specifically for the types of web applications we were creating. Since we adopted .NET a few months ago, for the first time we were able to concetrate on functionality instead of C# as a frustrating language. I'm not sure how VB 6.0 programmers will look at it, but they seem to be getting the better reference books in the marketplace so far, so it was a relief to find every example done in both C# and VB.NET.
While this book would be key for beginning .NET developers ready for more robust applications or intermediate programmers moving from another language, I suspect that advanced programmers will be disappointed. For example, XML and Mobile Devices get chapters, but they don't conatain enough information for real development. You would need to have a much better background in either subject to actually develop. However, if you had that background, these sections wouldn't tell you anything you didn't already know.
The strength of this book is not as a "front-to-back" read, but as the dog-eared, coffee-stained reference that allows an intermediate level programmer to produce web applications that work--and work well. While not an expert, I've used ASP.NET Programmer's Reference to give myself a solid base of knowledge. By the time I master the material, I'll be well-prepared to tackle some of the more obscure .NET namespaces and cutting edge web technologies. ---Reviewed By Jay L.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Some useful information, but more errors and ommisions
Comment: I bought this book because I needed an ASP.NET reference. This book seems a bit schizophrenic. Part of it is tutorial and parts are reference. I haven't used it as much as I had hoped because I have run into several major errors.Examples
Lists System.Data.ODBC when in fact this should be
Microsoft.Data.ODBC
Also forgot to mention the part about having to download it from MS website.
Lots of errors in ADO sections in general. I have tried several pieces of code from the book that simply don't work.
I certainly don't recommend this book.
Customer Rating:
Summary: What ever happened to the REAL programmers reference books?
Comment: I'm afraid I'll have to call this book a failure. I feel that if I buy a "programmers reference" book it should be just that. If I go to System.Web.UI.WebControls I want to see a list off all the web controls and a concise breakdown of all the parameters of each. I don't want a story about the control and a "let's make a web page with this control" exercise. I long for the days of my C++ BIBLE.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent book as a reference !
Comment: Excellent book for ASP.net as a reference.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent book as a reference !
Comment: Excellent book for ASP.net as a reference.
