Rating: 
Summary: Would recommend this book to anyone
Review: Being a student and new to computer graphics I found this book amazingly easy to read and easy to follow. I've had my nose in many computer program how-to books the past year and a half and this one is by far the best I've dealt with. The cd-rom is an invaluable tool that demonstrates each step in the creation of the projects but the text is not to be ignored. There are lots of tips and warnings that are given along the way that aren't mentioned on the cd. I've enjoyed every minute I've spent with it.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: Ever since I purchased Maya 4 Fundamentals, I've been practically glued to my computer. I loved the book so much I went out bought Maya 4.5 Fundamentals and it still had that great learning technique. These books are outstanding and the best thing about them is the CD-ROM that comes with them. If you get stuck on a tutorial, or just want to see how the tutorials are done, you can watch the authors as they do the tutorials! I recommend this book, and it's predecessor, Maya 4 Fundamentals, to anyone looking to get into the computer graphics industry using Maya.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Book
Review: Haven't finished all of it yet, but it is really really good. I like it a lot more than the Learning Maya beginners book.I would definately recommend this book to anyone that is on the intermediate or beginner skill level.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Book
Review: Haven't finished all of it yet, but it is really really good. I like it a lot more than the Learning Maya beginners book. I would definately recommend this book to anyone that is on the intermediate or beginner skill level.
Rating: 
Summary: Dont go for this book!
Review: I didn't like this book. This book is more of do-this-and-do-that book. I would recommend maya 4.5 savvy which is more of a why-this-happens-when-you-do-this book..this book just is simple and tells us everything. There is no challenge in it. Not to mention it doesnt really talk much about the inner workings of the program.. Maya Savvy actually explains us the stuff. Sometimes, the exercises in that book are a bit tricky, but that atleast means that they dont pamper you. They actually teach you the stuff right! I hope this helps people make the RIGHT decision!
Rating: 
Summary: Definetly for beginners
Review: I have to admit this book is for beginners. If you never had any kind of exposure to Maya then this book is for you. It's well put together. Every project you do they give you the step by step that way they are no hang ups. By using this book you get familiar with the user interface and the short cuts that they layout for you making your work and learning process progress. The only reason why I gave this book a four star is because they don't give you the reason why they do this or why they make you do this but its really good first book to get. Also, the CD that accompany this book is well worth the price, actually you don't really need the book just the CD it self. All and All get this book is for beginner.
Rating:
Summary: Definetly for beginners
Review: I have to admit this book is for beginners. If you never had any kind of exposure to Maya then this book is for you. It's well put together. Every project you do they give you the step by step that way they are no hang ups. By using this book you get familiar with the user interface and the short cuts that they layout for you making your work and learning process progress. The only reason why I gave this book a four star is because they don't give you the reason why they do this or why they make you do this but its really good first book to get. Also, the CD that accompany this book is well worth the price, actually you don't really need the book just the CD it self. All and All get this book is for beginner.
Rating:
Summary: Five stars If this is as good as it forerunner
Review: I haven't read this book, but I assume it's an update of the book "Maya 4 Fundamentals" (now 4.5) from the same authors. That book is really a good buy if you're getting started with Maya.
The book focus on the fundamentals of modeling. Which is good since it's not a good idea to try to make a single book covering too much of this somewhat complicated software. Another thing that is great about this book is that it really instruct you how to work quick and efficiently with the interface.
Every time you need to click or create something they tell you how to do it the fast way. And they tell it to you EVERY time (even if its the same as two pages earlier).
When you get towards the middle of the book it's burnt into your fingers to not use the regular menus, but rather the hotbox, marking menus and keyboard shortcuts (which makes you quick, and look cool if someone is whatching over your shoulder). Towards the end of the book you find some tutorials on paint-effects, dynamics, animation, shading etc. I'd say they are alot more brief than the modeling parts in the eralier tutorials. But they do a good job of wrapping it all up, and get you inspiered! The sum is this is a very good book to get you started and leaves you with tons of inspiration enough knowledge to efficiently start explore maya yourself.
Rating:
Summary: I highly recommend this book.
Review: I recently dove into working with Maya, as a convert from other rendering software, and began to understand how powerful the software is - albeit with a very steep learning curve. "Maya 4.5 Fundamentals" is just the book I was looking for to help me get started quickly. The writing is lucid and direct, and the tutorials don't baby you. I would recommend some 3-d rendering experience before purchasing this book, but then again, I'd recommend some 3-d rendering experience before trying Maya at all. The CD-ROM that comes with this book is *fantastic.* It features the author demonstrating exactly what he talks about in the written text, and is the best of its kind I've seen with this type of book.
Rating:
Summary: I highly recommend this book.
Review: I recently dove into working with Maya, as a convert from other rendering software, and began to understand how powerful the software is - albeit with a very steep learning curve. "Maya 4.5 Fundamentals" is just the book I was looking for to help me get started quickly. The writing is lucid and direct, and the tutorials don't baby you. I would recommend some 3-d rendering experience before purchasing this book, but then again, I'd recommend some 3-d rendering experience before trying Maya at all. The CD-ROM that comes with this book is *fantastic.* It features the author demonstrating exactly what he talks about in the written text, and is the best of its kind I've seen with this type of book.
| 
