Rating: 
Summary: Helpful COM+ info from a VB perspective
Review: I found the book invaluable. Having read quite a bit on COM and written COM components in both C++ and VB, I can understand why some readers say that the book contains COM(+) material they've read elsewhere. However, the purpose of this book as I understand it isn't to say anything new about COM, it is to set COM+ in the context of VB and discuss design considerations in that light. Want to understand why VB can't object pool the way your C++ component can? Want to know how VB hides the interface-handling plumbing of COM? Want to understand why VB's method of adding a new method can retain binary compatibility but still break an existing client (OK, you might need some knowledge base help on that)? Want some design tips on creating VB components that will be used by scripting clients? Then this is the book for you. Bottom line, this book actually helped me solve actual problems on real projects involving VB COM+ development.
Rating: 
Summary: Decent value
Review: I found the book to be pretty mundane, slightly boring rehash of the first edition. But judging from the other reviewers, it is just right for most of today's programmers.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Treatment
Review: I found this to be a very useful book. The examples were relevant (and not buggy - a definite plus, and useful!). This is one book where I actually used the CD-ROM instead of throwing it into a drawer (where most of my Book/CD's end up). I purchased the first inception of this book and didn't know if getting an update would be necessary (the COM+ seemed of little additional benefit). I was glad I went ahead and got a copy. Some things have changed!Some of the chapters covered: COM/COM+ Internals Understanding COM+ Objects COM Servers Apartments and Multithreading (a real biggy with me) Remote Activation MTS Run-Time Environment Transactions MMQ Distributed Applications Also covered are Distributed COM+ basics, interface-based programming (101), internals, and designing interfaces. Everything is wrapped up with a very good index. Definitely worth the purchase price. A must for every serious Web/n-Tier programmer.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book- must read for serious COM+ programmer
Review: I have huge respect for the author and the knowledge shared with us in this book. I love the aspect of "WHY is this the way it is?" for every chapter in the book. I would rather know first how things work beehind the scenes so I can then develop against that knowledge. This is definitely for someone with at least 2-3yrs of good experience with VB6 and MTS. I was able to step one level up in COM+ architecture and become advanced programmer/architect just by finishing this book. Excellent!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book- must read for serious COM+ programmer
Review: I have huge respect for the author and the knowledge shared with us in this book. I love the aspect of "WHY is this the way it is?" for every chapter in the book. I would rather know first how things work beehind the scenes so I can then develop against that knowledge. This is definitely for someone with at least 2-3yrs of good experience with VB6 and MTS. I was able to step one level up in COM+ architecture and become advanced programmer/architect just by finishing this book. Excellent!
Rating:
Summary: The best VB book ever written
Review: I have never read a programming book that delivered so much knowledge in so few pages. Ted Pattison should be commended for his contributions to VB programmers. He does not waste your time with useless examples. Instead, he dives into the details of COM+ to give you a thorough understanding of what is really going on when you create components. I had to read this book twice just to extract all of the useful explanations Ted offers. This book is certainly not for the VB beginner, but an excellent read for those looking to get to the intermediate/advanced level.
Rating:
Summary: The best VB book ever written
Review: I have never read a programming book that delivered so much knowledge in so few pages. Ted Pattison should be commended for his contributions to VB programmers. He does not waste your time with useless examples. Instead, he dives into the details of COM+ to give you a thorough understanding of what is really going on when you create components. I had to read this book twice just to extract all of the useful explanations Ted offers. This book is certainly not for the VB beginner, but an excellent read for those looking to get to the intermediate/advanced level.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for the VB developer in COM+
Review: I have read several books in COM+ and I must say this book is the best book for covering the subject and it is really worth the money.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book on COM+
Review: I normally prefer the offerings from Wrox over MS Press, but this is a solid book from front to back. This book is for people that want a more in-depth COM knowledge, and trust me, this book is DEEP into some COM. I have been programming in VB for years and this definitely opened my eyes to some things that VB hides from its developers. There is a reason why this is required reading for the engineers supporting COM+/MTS at Microsoft.
Rating:
Summary: To all the VB programmers that want to REALLY know COM!
Review: I normally prefer the offerings from Wrox over MS Press, but this is a solid book from front to back. This book is for people that want a more in-depth COM knowledge, and trust me, this book is DEEP into some COM. I have been programming in VB for years and this definitely opened my eyes to some things that VB hides from its developers. There is a reason why this is required reading for the engineers supporting COM+/MTS at Microsoft.
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