Rating: 
Summary: 4th edition excellent
Review: All of the reviews I have read were for previous editions. I use
this for my class text, and students have been very pleased. It
is easy to teach from, with good exercises (most), and the 4th
edition has cleaned up errors mentioned in earlier reviews. I
use it for a beginning and intermediate University level class.The text is managable and not as verbose at Eckel or as simpleton
as Dietel. Better explainations than the Nutshells which are
also good books. Covers topics often left out in intro books,
Threads, Sockets and Networking. This is the fifth text I have used since I started teaching
Java classes, and definitely best so far (but get the 4th ed!)
Rating: 
Summary: A good Java text book
Review: As a professor in computer science, I'd rate this book with five stars. It is a good text for a third-semester programming course where students have certain programming background. I have seen a number of Java texts. None of those texts have a clearer and more precise presentation of Java language than this book does. Consider learning Java from this book, if you want to learn Java not just to know Java superficially.
Rating: 
Summary: You're (much) better off with the "Nutshell" series...
Review: Full of typos (including the source code), poor examples, and topics presented in an illogical sequence put this one at the bottom of the heap. Do yourself a favor and check out the "Java in a Nutshell" books.
Rating:
Summary: terrible book
Review: I am taking Java part 1 now. ITs a good thing my teacher knows her stuff. This book is terrible. The arthur seems to forget alot of times that the reader is mostly new to this language. Most the examples are terrible too
Rating:
Summary: An Instructor's Review
Review: I inherited a small Java class from an instructor who could not teach this semester, but who had required students to get this book. Not good. Perhaps the last part of the book will get better, but the first half is a complete disappointment. Choose Deitel & Deitel, a Nutshell title, or Core Java over this lemon. The book is packed with errors.
Rating:
Summary: Too many typos
Review: I just survived a Java class in which this was the text. The class convinced the instructor not to use this book for future classes. There were a large number of typos, particularly in example programs. Our instructor made the answers available as an aid if we became stumped on a programming exercise. Unfortunately some of the code in those answers simply did not work. It appeared that the book had been hastily revised and not thoroughly checked to assure consistency. The author repeatedly uses methods not yet discussed in his examples and refers the reader to later portions of the book in the Example Reviews. Not helpful in an introductory class, even with a prerequisite of a previous programming language or experience.
Rating:
Summary: Not An Easy Book for Beginners
Review: I used this book for a Professional Continuing Education class with a local polytechnic wanting to gain more than just insights into the Java language.The book has lengthy chapters laden with abstract concepts and implicitly requires you to have either prior knowledge of OO or to have an appendage book for side reference.Definitely not an "Introduction" as the title misleadingly suggests. It did a poor job of explaining Constructors which are so fundamental to Java.Besides,there are frequent frustrating uses of short cuts to achieve code efficiency particularly in addressing objects such as superObject.subObject.subsubObject.subsubsubObject.... without explanation sends the poor beginner to a state of constant confusion.There are quite a fair bit of blatant typos populated throughout the book, so be wary of even more confusion!Listen in class and get the instructor to explain the syntax would definitely help you if you are a student.If you are trying to pick up the technology on your own then more so you should get a better book.
Rating:
Summary: Introduction to Java Programming
Review: I'm really surprised that a number of reviewers who found this book to be "poor". I've used it in the past year to help me obtain my Java Certified Programmer status .... I think it's one of the best Intro. Java "teaching" books out in the market. This maybe due to differences in the reviewer's computing background ... if you know C++ or C, I think this is a great book. Dr. Liang doesn't cover OOP basics very well in this book so that might be the problem. I recommend readers to manually type all of Dr. Liang's example programs ... there are literally hundreds and run them. Excellent way to learn Java. Use an earlier Java IDE (not JBuilder3 or equivalent) or just the JDK 1.2 .... that's the best way to learn Java. Buy this book if you already have some background in Object Oriented Programming (e.g. C++ ) or strong C, I still think it's one of the better Intro. Java books around. If you don't have any C++ or other OOP languages .. you might want an easier introduction to Java ... try Schaum's outline series.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent text book
Review: I've reviewed many of the Java textbooks on the market and have compared their coverage with the objectives of the Sun Programmer certification. I have yet to find another book that covers as much material in a well-explained manner. It does assume that you have programming experience. This is definitely not your Idiot's gude / for Dummies level of book. The book contains many, detailed examples which demonstrate effective use of code. If you want a reference book look to the O'Reilly series, if you want at textbook get Liang.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent text book
Review: I've reviewed many of the Java textbooks on the market and have compared their coverage with the objectives of the Sun Programmer certification. I have yet to find another book that covers as much material in a well-explained manner. It does assume that you have programming experience. This is definitely not your Idiot's gude / for Dummies level of book. The book contains many, detailed examples which demonstrate effective use of code. If you want a reference book look to the O'Reilly series, if you want at textbook get Liang.
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