Rating: 
Summary: Lots of info but a disappointing read.
Review: This book is most suited for an experienced database developer who wants to learn ADO.NET. It distinguishes nicely between connected and disconnected access. Later chapters provide specialized material for users of other database libraries who are converting to ADO.NET. Most code is fragmentary but some complete programs are available online. The code could be more clearly identified with the corresponding text sections. Although this book starts with an introductory chapter with a brief introduction to SQL and the relational model, most chapters dive into discussions that might drown novices unless more tutorial background was included. However those with some database experience would find a useful detailed introduction to ADO.NET. The book is easy to read. Each chapter has many code fragments, and perhaps a few complete programs. All those I tried compiled without error. The examples in Chapter 2, ADO.NET Basics, assume SQL Server is the database. While it would be easy to convert the examples to another provider, the data would not be available and users of other databases cannot execute these examples. The downloaded code contains some Palm database files, but without any explanation of what to do with them. Chapter 4 has only two complete program available for download. The first is included in the book on p. 165, but Chapter 4 starts on p. 127. The second refers to a brief section at the end of the chapter which has no code. It would be much more helpful to have complete examples from earlier in the chapter. The code fragments from Chapter 4 are available for download. It takes a while to correspond the code to the text. My sleuthing found that Figure 4.3 in the code is Listing 4.1 in the text, Figure 4.4 is Listing 4.2 and so on. The fragments compile and execute, but are not as helpful as complete programs. The book is nicely written and has lots of information. The author is clearly experienced and knowledgable. It would be a lot easier to learn from if more complete examples were provided and clearly identified with specific sections in the text. ---Reviewed by Art G.
Rating: 
Summary: Nicely written by an experienced and knowledgable author
Review: This book is most suited for an experienced database developer who wants to learn ADO.NET. It distinguishes nicely between connected and disconnected access. Later chapters provide specialized material for users of other database libraries who are converting to ADO.NET. Most code is fragmentary but some complete programs are available online. The code could be more clearly identified with the corresponding text sections. Although this book starts with an introductory chapter with a brief introduction to SQL and the relational model, most chapters dive into discussions that might drown novices unless more tutorial background was included. However those with some database experience would find a useful detailed introduction to ADO.NET. The book is easy to read. Each chapter has many code fragments, and perhaps a few complete programs. All those I tried compiled without error. The examples in Chapter 2, ADO.NET Basics, assume SQL Server is the database. While it would be easy to convert the examples to another provider, the data would not be available and users of other databases cannot execute these examples. The downloaded code contains some Palm database files, but without any explanation of what to do with them. Chapter 4 has only two complete program available for download. The first is included in the book on p. 165, but Chapter 4 starts on p. 127. The second refers to a brief section at the end of the chapter which has no code. It would be much more helpful to have complete examples from earlier in the chapter. The code fragments from Chapter 4 are available for download. It takes a while to correspond the code to the text. My sleuthing found that Figure 4.3 in the code is Listing 4.1 in the text, Figure 4.4 is Listing 4.2 and so on. The fragments compile and execute, but are not as helpful as complete programs. The book is nicely written and has lots of information. The author is clearly experienced and knowledgable. It would be a lot easier to learn from if more complete examples were provided and clearly identified with specific sections in the text. ---Reviewed by Art G.
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding book
Review: This book really explains the workings of ADO.NET in clear English. I suspect that the author must have spent many hours tracing the SQL traffic between PC and Database server. Writing a database intensive application from scratch requires a lot of careful planning. After a few reads from this book, one can design an efficient data layer and deal with nasty problems such as concurrency, provider details and overall performance.
Outstanding book - I can't wait for an update when .NET 1.1 arrives.
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