Rating:  Summary: Very well-explained; Incomplete Review: I'm a CS/Math double major at Cameron University and this is, quite fortunately, the book we ended up using for my C.S. I class. Except for Dietel' excellent book (which I recommend even more than this one), there is no other book out there that explains the basics of C++ so clearly, at least that I have read. Topics difficult to the CS I student, such as classes, pointers, and virtual functions are explained eloquently with well-written examples. The sample code is a lot more simple and straight-forward than in many books but still illustrates the topics in detail. The ordering of the book is one thing that may throw some people off, however. Arrays are introduced surprisingly late, and classes are introduced earlier than I have ever seen in a c++ textbook. This may be untraditional, but being introduced to classes early gives you a good jump-start into serious c++ programming. Although our class followed the chapters sequencially, the material is flexible and the order can be changed up to something more traditional (some suggested orderings are given in the introduction). Our class happenened to follow the material sequentially, so it was something I took note of. The only real beef I had with this book is that it covers most, but not all of the basics. Macros and pragmas are not included and inline functions are only mentioned very briefly in the appendix without full explanation. Macro guards (#ifndef,#endif, etc.) are presented in chapter 9 but the concept of macros really isn't covered. Also there is no coverage on delegates and event-handling. The basic cin/cout streams are used and many stream functions are explained but a full explanation on handling streams and buffers is not included. Additionally, the STL libraries are barely touched on except for and , but I guess, like us, that can be saved for a later course. Overall, I highly recommend this book for learning purposes, but eventually get a second reference.
Rating:  Summary: Great for beginning... Review: I've taken two classes using this book at Ohio University. The book was great at the beginning, but I relied on it less and less, until I was only using it as an occasional reference. I think it's a good way to start, but once you're more comfortable with the language you might want Stroustrup's book or some sort of concise reference.
Rating:  Summary: best for beginners Review: If you don't know anything about C++ and have little experience with programming languages, this book is must to be bought. The technique that Savitch teaches is very different from other books' as I also know it from his Java book. This is the best for learners and you then have to pass through Deitel&Deitel's book after getting knowledge with this treasure.
Rating:  Summary: Lots of hand-holding and fluff - little insight Review: It's a mediocre book and I'll tell you why: 1. an alternative title could be: C++ for Idiots. 2. VERY intro level text - get ready to learn (yet again) how to use a "for" loop. 3. Very wordy and obtuse writing style: I found myself trying to scan/skim for some actual information - most of the text seems like fluff. The good news is that they do give you more concise colored boxes throughout; these give you syntax rules and a brief description of new commands/functions. But if this is all the book is giving you, you wasted your money - this book fails as a reference. 4. Chapters on things like namespaces completely lacked any real world context - this stems of course from the fact that you aren't going to be dealing with lots of files/libraries in an intro level course. To conclude, stay away unless you are a complete newbie - if you are, this text won't hurt you if you want to have your hand held contantly, but there are far better books out there for teaching programming, though I don't know any about C++ specifically to recommend.
Rating:  Summary: Lots of hand-holding and fluff - little insight Review: It's a mediocre book and I'll tell you why: 1. an alternative title could be: C++ for Idiots. 2. VERY intro level text - get ready to learn (yet again) how to use a "for" loop. 3. Very wordy and obtuse writing style: I found myself trying to scan/skim for some actual information - most of the text seems like fluff. The good news is that they do give you more concise colored boxes throughout; these give you syntax rules and a brief description of new commands/functions. But if this is all the book is giving you, you wasted your money - this book fails as a reference. 4. Chapters on things like namespaces completely lacked any real world context - this stems of course from the fact that you aren't going to be dealing with lots of files/libraries in an intro level course. To conclude, stay away unless you are a complete newbie - if you are, this text won't hurt you if you want to have your hand held contantly, but there are far better books out there for teaching programming, though I don't know any about C++ specifically to recommend.
Rating:  Summary: This book is outdated Review: My intro CS class used this book. I don't care for it myself. He uses outdated (pre ISO Standard) methods to teach C++, although the book was written after the Standard was published. I also have the book "C++ An Introduction to Computing" ISBN # 0137443927 which I think does a much better job. So if you are not required to use this book, look elsewhere.
Rating:  Summary: Great book for novice Review: No to say much, one of the good choice for novice wants to learn C++.
Rating:  Summary: This book is a must-have Review: The best way to get into programming is to have this book, it's easy, well designed, you can even read it any where... just do one thing: go and buy this book and start your PC and you will be a programmer.
Rating:  Summary: I used this as a college text... Review: The first two computer science courses at Seattle University use this text. Learning C++ was a breeze with this book. It covers classes, variables, loops, user defined types, and much more. The examples are great, better yet it's readable, and I dare say it's sometimes humourous. :)
Rating:  Summary: Yeah Baby! Do You See the Clarity of This Book? Review: This book is GREAT! It is very clear. I recommend this book to everybody who is taking introductory courses in C++. I went off and got this book because I almost failed my C++ II class. I was wondering whether or not I had what it takes to become a C++ programmer, but once I got this book I noticed that the problem was not mine, it was the book I used prior to this one SUCKED!!! This book brought a light into my mind. Its clarity and well layed out chapters helped me come back from an "F" average to a final "B" average. I give this book FIVE STARS because it deserves it. I would have given it 4.5 stars if it was an option when reviewing it; the reason is because some of the examples and explanation in this book look like C transalated to C++, but hey if the shoe fits wear it.
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