Rating: 
Summary: Recommended, but probably shouldn't be your first C# book
Review: The author does a good job of covering the topics. But, you will find no examples of how to design, or write, applications in this book. This book is what I call a "Theory of Operation" book that covers the inner workings of the C# environment. Like the Bible, it is very useful information, perhaps even essential information, but sometimes dull reading -- at least it was for me -- I enjoy more reading about how to use a tool that how a tool is designed and built. But, understanding the tool helps you to understand better how to use it. This book is cearly a book on how C# works -- rather than how to use C# to develop applications.The book has listings that are in a rather large font with generous vertical spacing. It is about 400 pages, but could probably have been printed on 300-350 pages without any noticeable loss of readability. This book, like most of the recent books, uses the preferred formatting of code, with the opening brace being on a separate line (I would illustrate, but the Amazon posting program would strip out the formatting). The listings are easy to read, but do take up a generous amount of space. On the other hand, I hate having to try to read C++ that is written like: for(i=0;iJim Holloman . . . . . Norcross, GA . . . . . [...]
Rating: 
Summary: There all Beta 1's
Review: In attempting to explain why I disliked this book, I found that there are too many reasons to list. The first being that it doesn't really teach the C# language (instead starting with several chapters that explain why object-oriented programming is important). Second, it doesn't teach Object-oriented programming, since those first few chapter are only about why you'll want to use that programming method. Third, it's not a beginner, intermediate or advanced guide, so who is it really for? Finally, and this is the saddest point, it's the best of the six beta books that I've read so far. So, if only to save others from wasting as much time and money as I have - I'd suggest waiting until a few new books hit the market.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Introductory
Review: stay away from this book if u have been doing OO for quite sometime. It's too introductory. I thought MS w'd churn out an advanced C# book! But for OO beginners who want to learn C#, then this is probably the best one available.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Introduction to C#
Review: Having just finished this book, I've got to say that it's an excellent introduction to the C# *language*.(I agree with the other reviewers that the DotNet Framework could be covered in a lot more depth - but lets just assume that will come in a second edition). The coverage of the language is more indepth than the 'Gunnerson' book (which was written before Beta 1), and Tom Archer sure knows this language inside and out - then again, I know Tom has worked closely with the developers at Microsoft to work on this book. Highly recommended for any developer looking to move to DotNet / C# programming.
Rating:
Summary: Big disappointment!!
Review: I was looking foreword to getting Inside C# in the mail. I was very disappointed when I started reading it. I bought the book thinking they used the title of one of my all time favorite books “Inside Visual C++” by David Kruglinski. He would be rolling over in his grave if he knew about the contents of this book. I am a professor who has been teaching programming languages for about two decades. I currently teach advanced concepts in C++, Visual C++ Windows programming, Visual Basic and Java. I am very experienced in assessing books for my students. Inside C# should not be you first introduction to C#. It is worth reading for the insights into the development of the .Net and C#. But it should be the third or forth book you read about C#. Inside C# does not effectively reflect the new emerging .Net technology nor C#. Tom Archer claims to be a good programmer but his writing skills leave a lot to be desired. The level at with he covers the subject matter ranges from a level so simple it is boring to overly complex concepts leaving the reader with the thought, “what is he say?” Last comment, the paper quality of the book is so poor that the yellow highlighter and red marking pen bleeds through the page!
Rating:
Summary: Full strength C#!!!
Review: This book is focused on only one thing: the C# programming language. A lot of C# books on the market today cover topics like ASP.NET, language interoperability, the .NET Class Library, Visual Studio.NET in addition to C#. This dilutes their focus on actually programming using C#. What developers need today, and moving forwards, is a C# language reference and a book that covers *how* to use the language features to your advantage. Inside C# delivers in both areas covering topics that every C# developer needs to know. Coverage includes essentials like working with arrays, attributes, and delegates. Inside C# also provides in-depth coverage on topics like exception handling, defining your own interfaces, and threading (even going so far as to explain when it isn't appropriate to use threads and how to synchronize threads - a lot of texts don't even mention these issues let long go into detail about them!). This book is a 'must have' for any developer that serious about not only learning C#, but also enhancing their skill-set to best take advantage of what the C# programming language offers.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Intro to C# and .NET
Review: This is a very well written book, with solid examples, and very easy-to-read explanations. Everything Tom Archer says makes sense, and he has inside Microsoft knowledge to back up his words of wisdom. More substantial than Gunnerson, this is the best C# book around. Get it now!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Introduction
Review: As a previous reader of Tom's VisualInterDev 6 book, I think he did an excellent job explaining new platform language C# with a very easy understandable way and using very open and clean code samples... He explained what C# is and what isn't and the differences C# vs. C++. If you are wondering what is C# all about, you must buy this book first before even asking anybody else and getting the wrong answers...
Rating:
Summary: Excellant introduction to C# and object-oriented programming
Review: Inside C# contains clearly written code examples that shorten the C# learning curve and explain object-oriented programming concepts and C# nuances. Inside C# will be a welcomed addition to your programming library especially if you want to get up to speed with this new language quickly.
Rating:
Summary: Very thorough introduction to C#
Review: Having worked with C# and .NET for almost a year now, I didn't really expect to learn much from this book. Boy, was I wrong. This book is so thorough that there were many nuggets along the way that even I did not know. The problem is that all the previously done books were incomplete or missing major sections of the language. The author, having waited until things got stable with Beta2, has come out with a definitive introduction to the language. This book contains the most thorough and complete description of the garbage collection and resource reclamation process of the CLR that I have ever seen and is worth the price of the book alone. The author also wisely avoids the VS.NET studio so people with the free Framework SDK can also play. Things Missing: The last chapter on Assemblies is too short as this is a vital concept, there is no chapter on Components and creating C# components and DLLs. But other than that this book is definitive and a must for every working c# developer.
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