Beginning Visual C++ 6

Rating:
Summary: Thorough, but at times needlessly complex
Review: Although this is quite a large book, I bought it with every intention of going from cover to cover. But for the C++ beginner I think it's easy to get lost in some of the examples. I think in a book like this the examples should be as plain and simple as possible and still illustrate the concept being discussed. Granted, to someone experienced in C++, the examples ARE very simple, but can still be confusing to a total beginner. When you start trying to do something useful in the examples, like calculate prime numbers or the amount of wallpaper a room needs, you add in an extra element that could confuse someone. For me the book is a nice reference to have around to look something up, but not something that, for me anyway, could bring me from a total beginner to writing useful programs on its own.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent primer
Review: I read this book with years of amateur programming experience, but nothing in C. Horton gives you a course on programming C, then C++, then on using C++ with the most common Microsoft technologies, such as MFC, COM, ATL, and the SDK. For all that information, it's really a marvel he can teach that much in one book. Of course, no programming book is THE authority and further reading is necessary if, for example, you want to try to pass an MCP exam. It took me 2 other, additional books to do that. Some of the examples in the book are confusing, though he does a pretty good job of making sure he explains all the lines of code in his examples. As I said, it helps to have another reference handy in case you don't understand a concept he has explained.

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Summary: May I get the CD with this book?
Review: May I get the CD with this book?

Rating:
Summary: Must have in your library
Review: You have to know that the material presented in this book is complicated and sometimes confusing, but I have to admit that Ivor Horton did a great job to simplify it as much as possible and made the book a very nice journey. If you like challenge, and don't mind working hard then this book is for you. Remember that this is the real programming world. With VC++ you can build any software you like form operating system to 3D games to web browsers to database applications, the list never ends!! I'm an expert VB developer but I got to the point now that felt that VB is so limited to my needs and my skills. The key to master VC++ is to become a proficient in pointers and classes. Understand all examples in the book and even create your own. When you reach the end of the book you'll find you're on top of the world :)

Rating:
Summary: I gave it two stars because:
Review: When i saw this book online.. i was so excited by looking at the cover because i wanted to be a windows C++ programmer so bad.. I bought the book which was basicly all the money i had thinking i would learn alot from it..... WHen i got the book in the mail.. i opened it up and i read the first 4 chapters and it was great!! The C++ portion of it was just the best there is.. Then i got to the GUI protion of it.. And i found out it was MFC. but all along i was looking for win32 api book beacuse i had had a back ground in that.. and i wanted to learn all i coujld about it....I was raged.......If u are llooking for a MFC book then this book is for u... BUt if u are new at programming and u dont know what u want yet.. U just know u want a book that u can learn windows programming from... i dont sugest MFC to be the first one u do.. U should do frist console C++ (Buy a book on reguler C++) and then move on to Win32 Api which u can do exactly the same stuff as u can in MFC.. and if u want to.. u can move on to MFC... (In my option.. MFC is slopy code and it is a rip off of C++ and VB..that is just my optioin tho..) I just weanted to let u guys know aobut this book before u spend all your money on a book u dont even need.. Have a good day..

Rating:
Summary: This is an excellent book
Review: I've taken C++ classes and work in the industry and still did not entirely understand what was going on until I read Horton's book. He includes excellent examples and very clear definitions. I recommend this book for anyone who wants a clear idea of the entire process.

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Summary: Some advice for newbie programmers
Review: This is my second review as after reading other reviews I felt I needed to state my opinions of a complete newbie learning the language. This was my second book on learning c++, the first was oleg's beginning c++ which was not as good as this book. I had never programmed anything before this and learned it completely on my own without any help. If your not sure whether your smart enough dont worry, smarts or experience with computers are helpful but strong motivation is much more important I believe to learn a subject such as this. I myself had to re-read the chapters several times to truly understand how the programs worked and spent about 3 or 4 hours a night studying and tinkering with the programs. It took me 5 weeks to get the pure c++ and compiler stuff down concrete and another month spending an hour or two with the windows section to get a decent understanding. Sure I got discouraged a few times and wasn't sure if I was going to make it but the next night I gave it another shot and sure enough I made it through the tough parts and now I look back and it all seems so easy to understand. Keep hacking away at it and you will learn the language. Good luck.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome intro to c++
Review: If your new to programming or c++ BUY THIS BOOK. The pure c++ portion is great. I learned so much so quickly and easily I was amazed. Ivor's writing style and flow leads perfectly from chapter to chapter and explains concepts precisely without any confusing blabber. The pace is a little quick but once you get used to it, it is great, and you will find yourself flying through the chapters with ease as long as you put good effort into it. The windows portion is pretty good and atleast I have a good basic idea of windows programming but definately not enough to code a windows program of much depth. I skipped the last couple chapters as it involved ole and com stuff which was a little too much for me but I will come back to it later when I need it. Ivor really stuffs a massive amount of info into the pages and has a well thought out format. All in all this book is worth 6 stars and every penny of that 40 bucks. GREAT BOOK!!!

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Summary: I am not sure if this is for beginners
Review: I had 6 hours of C++ programing in college in 1990. At home I used the MS QuickC program. I thought the begining of this book was execellent in getting be started with C++ using Visual C++ Ver 6. I did execellent command line programming with the help of the first 10 chapters. At Chapter 10 I started getting lost and in the later chapters hit a brick wall. I was able to do the programming project in the book but I am not able to write my own programs. This means to me I need to step back and get a beginners book. I am not understanding the Windows programming concept the way it it explained in this book. I have gone through other books with the same problem. This one has come the closest to getting me started programming windows, but I am not there yet. To be specific it is the MFC's that have me against a wall. Mark

Rating:
Summary: Not bad for the beginner...
Review: This is actually a pretty good book for the beginner in visual C++. It is especially useful if you need to learn how to use the somewhat complex-seeming Visual C++ interface. I found the C++ guide pretty good, and certainly useful in learning the basis of the C++ language. The MFC stuff is okay, although I think I'll have to get another book to actually understand what I did. Horton is a very informative author, though his humor is occasionally dry and rarely worth more than a chuckle... In short, good book, but not perfect.