Rating: 
Summary: Frustrating
Review: As with Flash 4 Magic this book has been written by coders for coders. If your not a real actionScript, ASP database guru then don't waste your time on this book. These guys are clever but they have no idea how to teach. It's more of a ego trip for extremly experienced programmers. The only thing I learned from both these books is how little I know.
Rating: 
Summary: No reason to get this book
Review: Boy did I hate this book. I read so many reviews and everything before deciding on this one. Good thing my company paid for it otherwise I'd really be kicking myself. This book is ugly and confusing. I had a general knowledge of ActionScript and kenw the tools in Flash like the back of my hand when I started reading it, but I just couldn't make myself go through this book. They just make you do some exercise projects which are not useful at all and it all just confuses you much more because they don't seem to keep in mind that the reader may not be a programming expert. Everytime I tried to read it, I came away with my mind being totally messed up, look at this review! I can't think clearly anymore! Better get Colin Moock's ActionScript: The Definitve Guide, which is much clearer, much more prolific and way way more useful.
Rating: 
Summary: Flash 5 Magic: Another New Riders Doorway
Review: Evidently Mr. Jabon's lapses of judgement aren't as momentary as he seems to think. Flash 5 Magic is a great book for exactly the reasons he lists. Flash 5 Magic is one of the rare books that has plenty of sceen captures that help guide you through the projects and help reinforce your progress. The horizontal format makes it easier to leave the book open on your desk while you work through it. Additionally Flash 5 Magic leaves other Flash books in the dust in the content department. While other Flash books are teaching you "basic interactivity" and "tweens", Flash 5 Magic shows you more real world applicable techniques like how to utilize trigonometry and how to implement collision detection with multiple projectiles. If you want another sleep inducing O'Reilly-type book, they're out there in mass--but for my money I'll take the Magic series and to date Flash 5 Magic is the best in the Magic series.
Rating: 
Summary: Mixed review
Review: Going through enough examples in the book, I found it inviting...though I still say that they need to make the context more professional. Otherwise a good learning material.
Rating:
Summary: Mixed review
Review: Going through enough examples in the book, I found it inviting...though I still say that they need to make the context more professional. Otherwise a good learning material.
Rating:
Summary: same mistakes as flash 4 magic
Review: I am an intermediate Flash user (from the Design end). As such, it's hard to spot the many mistakes this book has. I had to redo some of the exercises several times and I didn't get them all to work, even using the code included in the CD. They have you typing code without telling you about how they came up with it. Anyway, this is the last one I buy from these authors!!!At least the swf libraries are ok...
Rating:
Summary: These trainers need training.
Review: I am getting so frustrated at the number of books from alleged experts in a subject. Maybe they know their material, but their knowledge didn't make it to print without a significant amount of damage. Would it that be hard to have someone unfamiliar with the book try to complete the exercises before they publish it?
Rating:
Summary: These trainers need training.
Review: I am getting so frustrated at the number of books from alleged experts in a subject. Maybe they know their material, but their knowledge didn't make it to print without a significant amount of damage. Would it that be hard to have someone unfamiliar with the book try to complete the exercises before they publish it?
Rating:
Summary: Good Stuff, Give me More
Review: I can't wait for the next book, I want more. I purchased after seeing some of the great reviews. Frankly I suspect a couple may be from competing authors. The code works fine, in fact the samples in the book are all contained on the CD-ROM and guess what, it works. Hmm makes you wonder about the validity of "some" comments doesn't it. The layout of the book is very easy to follow and understand. What I really liked is the usefullness of the projects.
Rating:
Summary: 1 Star reviewers WAY off
Review: I don't normally write book reviews, but when I saw all the bad reviews for this book, I had to speak up. I've gotta think that the majority of one star reviewers on this book are either from competing book authors or their friends. This book has been out and away the most valuable Flash 5 book I purchased this year. The code on the CD, alone, has paid for the book probably a dozen times for me. I did do differently than the authors intended though. Instead of starting each chapter with the unfinished or "start" files (I think), I just followed along with the chapters using the finished files because I usually didn't have time to do it the other way. I've checked out most of the Flash 5 books available and with the exception of parts Colin Moock's book-which is more of a technical reference book, Flash 5 Magic is the only real world application book available. I don't know what I would have done for several of my jobs this year if I didn't have Flash 5 Magic.
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