Rating: 
Summary: Great for beginners.
Review: All in all, I thought this this was a decent book. To be honest, I was expecting more. However, the book is very thorough in its explanations and examples (almost to a fault). The book starts out very basic and the learning curve does not get much steeper as you continue through the book. This book probably should have been called "The BeOS User Interface", rather than "Programming the Be Operating System". If you are looking for a book that covers every one of the API kits in detail w/ programming examples to enhance itself, this is not the book. However, if you are looking for a book that explains the User Interface and its workings, this is the book for you (the coding examples in the book are fairly decent). This book, used in conjunction w/ the Be Book, provides a good learning experience. Sydow lays a decent foundation which you can then, in turn, experiment with and build upon.
Rating:
Summary: Good Be Programming Starting Point
Review: I normally don't bother writing online reviews, but I felt I should after seeing the previous review. I think the two star rating and criticism of the book is somewhat of a disservice to potential readers. I do agree with the reviewer that the book doesn't go in-depth. But I don't think it's supposed to. In the author's comments he uses words like "fundamentals" and "overview". He also says the book is a starting point, and a tutorial, and that programmers well-versed in Be programming should consider the two reference-style BeBooks by O'Reilly. So I don't think this book was really meant to cover things like custom controls (or even all of the existing controls). Anyway, it got me switched over from Windows programming, and that's what I wanted. I didn't really expect a tutorial to be the only book I'd need. (It's a good book, but I gave it four stars instead of five 'cause I don't know if I'd give *any* book a "five"!).
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent introduction to the BeOS API
Review: I thought the book was an excellent introduction to programming the BeOS. The book focuses on the essentials, particularly of the interface kit, and provides an efficient means of becoming familiar with the API. The book clearly demonstrates the elegance of the BeOS API. I was concerned about the references to the CDROM, but I'm sure those will be corrected in the second edition. I just downloaded the code from the "Examples" page on the O'Reilly site. I'd take this book with some minor errors over not having a hard copy intro to BeOS programming any day.
Rating:
Summary: Good guide to learning to program the BeOS
Review: I'd say this book is pretty much as the author describes it above -- it's great for getting started in programming for the BeOS. I come from a Windows programming background, and this book made the transition to Be programming smooth. It was a fairly quick read, and got me up to speed in writing simple Be apps. Now I'm digging in deeper with more advanced docs.
Rating:
Summary: The definative work
Review: If you plan on programming on BeOS systems this is the book. It is slightly dated, but not too much to be useful. That is its only shortcoming. The book is easy to follow and very informative. BeOS is a great system to program for, though Be Inc. hard financial times has relegated this OS to more of a hobbiest OS than a commerical product.
Rating:
Summary: The definative work
Review: If you plan on programming on BeOS systems this is the book. It is slightly dated, but not too much to be useful. That is its only shortcoming. The book is easy to follow and very informative. BeOS is a great system to program for, though Be Inc. hard financial times has relegated this OS to more of a hobbiest OS than a commerical product.
Rating: 
Summary: Wordy and simplistic
Review: In my opinion, this book was wordy and lacking in depth. Although it contained some very good information, it taught at such a slow pace that it was more effective at putting me to sleep than at educating me. Be aware that this book covers only the extreme basics of BeOS GUI programming. It seems like the first half of a serious programming book that has been inflated with extra words to appear more substantial.
Rating:
Summary: Wordy and simplistic
Review: In my opinion, this book was wordy and lacking in depth. Although it contained some very good information, it taught at such a slow pace that it was more effective at putting me to sleep than at educating me. Be aware that this book covers only the extreme basics of BeOS GUI programming. It seems like the first half of a serious programming book that has been inflated with extra words to appear more substantial.
Rating:
Summary: Good book for absolute begginers
Review: The book is ok for begginers. It will guide you along the UI BeOS programming, but not much farther. The code also, does not compile always and I think this is because its been written on BeOS for PPC...
Rating:
Summary: great book for those new to c++ or BeOS programming
Review: The title says it all. Take the authors advice. If your an advanced programmer go elsewhere, but if not (probably most of us) definitely use the book. I wrote my first simple Be program the same day I started reading the book. I can't imagine simpler explanations for what is a difficult subject.
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