Rating: 
Summary: Convoluted and needlessly complex
Review: I should have known better than to buy a book with the author's picture on the cover. It seems to me that Horton wrote this book to show off his technical abilities rather than to teach students C++. Some people might like this sort of thing; however, it makes for a convoluted and needlessly complex teaching tool.Horton's coding style is atrocious for an introductory book. For example, Horton uses for loops almost exclusively, when often while loops would be much more appropriate. Also, his examples are needlessly obscure. I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out the mathematical tricks exploited by his examples (Horton seems fascinated by prime numbers) before I could focus on the concepts about C++ that he was trying to illustrate. Furthermore, the first example in the book doesn't even compile! Horton is good at explaining difficult concepts at times, and he got the big picture right, leading the student through C before C++. However, one should look elsewhere to carry out this lesson plan.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad....but there are better.
Review: With a somewhat modest understanding of the C++ language, this book has been very useful as refresher course prior to learning Visual C++. For one who is looking to learn the C++ language, and relies heavily on examples...look elsewhere. These examples do not compile. Just a little over half way through the book and few, if any examples, have compiled without error. For those of you, with an understanding of C++, looking to jump into the VC++ world, this book isn't half bad. For the rest of you, there are better books.
Rating: 
Summary: ANSI Compliance of code examples
Review: As Ivor's book was being written, the C++ language was going through an historic phase. It had its first, fully agreed, standard documentation and its first designation as an ANSI standard. We took notice of this, and the book was published using ANSI standard notation, with a close eye on Visual C++ 6.0's compliance to that standard, throughout. Visual C++ 6.0 makes a pretty thorough job, but it is not, yet, 100% ANSI compliant (as few, if any compilers are) If you are 'trying out' Ivor's C++ code on inferior compiler platforms, then you will encounter error messages, from what is, good code. For any other 'real' errors and misnomers, we give answers and advice on our web site, as is usual for all our books. Thanks for listening
Rating: 
Summary: A good book for beginners
Review: After picking up a couple of other books on programming with Visual C++, I came across this one. The explanations of the language are very good, especially classes which are covered by four chapters. Most of the code examples are, of course, trivial problems, but Mr. Horton did an excellent job of explaining what was going on. I guess my only complaint with the book was occasional lapses in explanation of what exactly the code is doing and why he chose to do it that way. Perhaps a more thorough discussion of the design aspects of programming would help. Of course the book is already well over 1000 pages. :-)
Rating: 
Summary: Find a different book.
Review: I found this book to be a very poor introduction to the area of both C++ and the MFC. Horton manages to hold it together for a brief instance with a less than mediocre introduction to C++, but things really get ugly in the MFC sections. Horton habitually chooses the most complicated and inelegant approach to virtually every problem. It seems his knowledge of structured programming technique is limited. His source code contains an insufficient quantity of commenting, and what is commented is poorly articulated. His coding style seems to scream a lack of cohesion between various program elements. It is quite obvious that the majority of the programs in the book were designed in one pass sitting at the keyboard. Horton relies heavily on ancient language components which have long been replaced by more modern, and gracefull commands and syntax. The first section is so widely contaminated by Horton's use of the C language, that it leaves very little in the way of a proper C++ flavour. The coverage of C++ file IO is pretty much non-existent, which is a huge problem considering it is one of the most frequently used aspects of any language. I have to reserve my harshest criticism for the MFC section. There isn't much that can be said about it other than if you have never programmed windows before, you won't learn how to do it reading this book. Horton bumbles his way through even the most succinct MFC issues, clearly being at a loss for a way to explain them. A good example of this is that he pretty much expects you to stumble upon the fact that Views and Documents are somehow related. After neglecting fundamentals throughout he rashly dedicates 2 chapters to implementing database communication capabilities, which are a pretty huge deviation from an intro text on MFC. The only saving grace about the book was that it was so useless, it forced me to hack around, with no help, for long enough, that I actually learned something. Unless you are already a fairly competent programmer you will find this book to be more or less unintelligable.
Rating:
Summary: In the first 1/2 the Author scores the 2nd 1/2 is a loss
Review: I seriously wonder if this volumous book has just been retitled. The first 1/2 covering C++ is great and extremly useful. However the 2nd half seems to be out of date and confusing. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn C++. I don't recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn MFC or Visual C++ 6.0
Rating: 
Summary: Keep crushing your head agaist the wall, but now softer
Review: As a teenager and a beginner but skilled VB programmer I found it difficult to switch to VC. Everyone told me the wonders of C++, and that if I want to be serious I have to get rid of VB. I bought Ivor's book. I shouted, cried, bleeded trying to understand classes, pointers and other stuff. Now I realize I won't have made it without Ivor's help and I am very grateful. Great book, for begginers
Rating:
Summary: First Half Excellent; Second Half Extremely Poor
Review: The first half of the book teaching you how to program in C++ is excellent. The explanation is clear and concise. The second half dealing with MFC, unfortunately, is very poor. He starts out by hammering you with the whole MFC document/view architecture. Sure, you can go thru the motion of using the AppWizard to generate a template program, but good luck trying to wade thru all the canned code and understand them. If you are someone who learn by layers and refuse to take things on faith, his introduction of MFC will definitely disappoint you.
Rating:
Summary: Neither C++ nor Windows programming are covered peoperly
Review: Sadly, Ivor Horton blew it this time. The information on C++ is outdated and partial. The coverage of Win programming is amateurish and doesn't really cover the essential aspects thereof. Apparently, this is Beginning Visual C++ 4 in a new cover. Not recommended at all.
Rating:
Summary: a bad way to begin C++
Review: Ivor Horton has written several C++ books. It's quite disappointing that the level of "Beginning C++ : The Complete Language ANSI/ISO Compliant" is not maintained in this book at all. The source samples do not compile, the C++ language tutorial is very superficial and so is the coverage of Windows programming. A sheer disappointement (and a pretty expensive one too).
| 
