Rating: 
Summary: Finally!
Review: A book that focuses on database programming using SQL Server CE. More importantly (and let me say "finally!"), this book uses Visual Studio .NET 2003 and the .NET Compact Framework instead of still using the stand alone Mobile Information Toolkit and the older Visual Studio .NET product. VS .NET 2003 makes developing applications soooo easy that a developer that has created a Windows form application can whip out a Pocket PC application in a matter of minutes. Building an application that is robust and corporate ready; however, requires a more robust database. It also makes the application a bit more complex. SQL Server CE is the database I choose for my applications. This book addresses all of the questions I've run into up to this point. Since answering questions is what I am using the book for, what more can I say!
Rating: 
Summary: Not for the experienced programmer
Review: Having done a fair amount of development with the .net compact framework, I bought this book hoping for insights into how to make the best use of SQL CE. As such it is a big disappointment. As another reviewer has pointed out the author spends most of the book explaining T-SQL which may be of use if you are new to databases, but for the experienced programmer this is a complete waste of space. What I wanted was design guidelines and tips that address the real issues you have in deploying SQL CE databases in resource constrained environments (eg when to denormalize tables on the server for replication purposes, how to get the best out of the query analyzer, tips for optimizing joins that are performing poorly, when and how to use web services for syncing etc. etc.) None of this is dealt with in any useful way. If you are looking to learn about SQL CE then the experienced programmer will get a lot more from the SQL CE chapters in Building Solutions with the Microsoft .net Compact Framework by Dan Fox and Jon Box - a book which I would strongly recommend as a guide to all aspects of compact framework development
Rating:
Summary: A Perfect Book for SQLCE and NETCF
Review: I am pretty new to the all of .NET, and this book was an amzing learning experience for the budding programmer in me. This book covered the subject very well and provided examples constantly, a very big plus is that all the examples are done in both C# and VB.NET (though the 2 languages arent that hard to convert to the other). Overall a really good book and one that belongs in your collection of Mobile Development books if you are serious about the NETCF and SQL CE.
Rating:
Summary: Terrible Book
Review: I bought this book expecting it to be a book on development, best practices, deployment etc. This is a poor excuse for a T-SQL book. I am on page 180 so far and only the first 20 pages or so actually discuss anything halfway interesting. The author spends roughly 2-3 pages discusing the sql syntax of a select statement, then insert statement, then update statement etc on and on and on and on. I didnt buy this book to learn SQL. What about database synchonization between the PDA and a remote sql server via remoting or web services or best practices for resolving sychronization conflicts. How about something interesting and not so junior programmer. I have looked at the end of the book and it doesnt look like it will get better. If it does I will retract this review. Regardless I have just wasted 160 pages SO FAR on learning T-SQL over again. If you want to learn T-SQL I recommend O'Reilly's Transact-SQL Programming. If the author reads this I want my money back.
Rating: 
Summary: A good reference
Review: I found this book to be a valuable reference and the chapters on replication have saved my hours of banging my head on my desk.
What do you get...
- You get the rundown of SQL CE and its limitations.
- Some reference material on the subset you must work in.
- Numerous examples.
- Complete walkthroughs of RDA and Merge replication, including how to secure the data being transfered.
Overall I am happy with the book.
I hope in the next edition it covers some topics like best practices for design, and performance enhancements.
Rating:
Summary: Only for Programmers who can read Book Titles
Review: I usually do not write reviews about technical books, however after buying this book at the book store and using it for several weeks on a real commercial project, I find this childish prattling more than I can stand. This book is about using and developing applications using SQL CE for the Compact Framework as the title says. So get over the fact that it does not cover something else or your particular section just how you would like it. This book is clear and well though out and delivers actually what it says it does. Frankly, I am lucky that I brought the book before I read these reviews, because I find them to be unwarranted at the very least.
Rating:
Summary: Skip it if you have any programming experience at all
Review: Most of this book (I would venture 80%) is padding. It could have been reduced to about 20% of its volume to provide a little more bang for the buck. The most trivial SQLCE commands are given full (such as it is) explanation complete with examples in C# and VB. I mean, do we really require separate full treatment for every common operator and function? Save your money.
Rating:
Summary: Skip it if you have any programming experience at all
Review: Most of this book (I would venture 80%) is padding. It could have been reduced to about 20% of its volume to provide a little more bang for the buck. The most trivial SQLCE commands are given full (such as it is) explanation complete with examples in C# and VB. I mean, do we really require separate full treatment for every common operator and function? Save your money.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This book is excellent. I would recommend it to anyone doing PDA development.
Rating:
Summary: Indespensible Reference
Review: This is an indespensible reference to have for serious PocketPC development. This book totally helped us push our product out for the mobile2market competition. I would recommend this for any serious PocketPC developer.
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