Rating: 
Summary: Good Example Code But Poor Poor Object Oriented Programming
Review: This book is very good in one thing, that is it does give many examples, by which you can get the feel of complex Java topics like Multithreading, RMI, Java Beans, Servlets, and Networking rather easily. But this book is atrocious in using and in emphasizing the concept of Object Oriented Programming (OOP). In fact basically it is a C programming book with Java syntax and methods. This is because authors have used Java classes pretty much the way one can use struct in C++ (make fields private and methods public). Otherwise where else will you see such murder of venerable OOP principle of encapsulation and information hiding, where the constructor does the work of 10 methods (like a GOD constructor) and the class that is supposed to be hidden has its own driver program. I give authors lot of credit for being excellent C programmers, but my doubts about their OOP knowledge will not disappear, unless I see a better product OOP product. (I have not seen their C book, but I am sure that it is excellent).
Rating: 
Summary: Systematic and Logical
Review: This book guides the reader through in a systematic and logical way. I find it rather easy to grasp concepts from this book than from most other computer books. Very good for self-study! However, to learn more in-depth details about Java, a more advanced book should be used.
Rating:
Summary: Logical and Systematic
Review: This books guide the reader through in a systematic and logical way. I find it rather easy to grasp concepts from this book than most other computer books.Good for self-study.
Rating: 
Summary: Really awesome book
Review: I've been working with Java for about 5 years now and have owned each edition of this book. It was my Java textbook for a college class and it was so helpful I've updated it with each new edition. I still use it as a reference and refresher today. The best thing about the book is that you really don't have to know anything about programming to learn from it. There is no assumption that you know C/C++ or even Object Oriented concepts. This is a great book for non-C programmers to use to learn Java and OO. The summaries and tips at the end of the chapters are wonderful. These are some of the things I use often as a review of topics I don't use everyday. (These can be really helpful as a refresher for a tech-interview too!) The key thing is learning by example. The code in the text is explained line by line and is provided on a CD and can easily be copied onto your PC compiled, run, and "played around with". There are lots of exercises to encourage you to try what you've learned, and some of the answers are included if you buy the Cyber Classroom version. I am planning on using this textbook to teach a corporate Intro to Java class to mainly COBOL programmers. Compared to the other materials for this audience, there really is no other choice. I'm looking forward the Advanced Java How To Program!
Rating:
Summary: Not so impressive
Review: Recommended textbook for an engineering course, "Java How to Program" is clear and easy only for the basic principles. However, as it is written and based only on sets of examples, things get messy and unclear when it comes to more advanced concepts and techniques. If it is the first time you learn Java, this book is alright. If you want to fully understand the language's various details and subtleties, you might as well try another one.
Rating:
Summary: Its like five books crammed into one
Review: This book has good examples at first, but as you progress on, not only do the authors have trouble expressing themselves, they try to add-on a number of embelishments to every program,that the reader tends to lose track of what they are really trying to accomplish. Practical B2B applications are definitely lacking.The cyber classroom is a great idea but the explanations that come with each program are most unclear and could be certainly done in a better way. This book in no way compares to the author's C How to Program. Most of the examples are the same for both books. They also seem to be redundant in many chapter.
Rating:
Summary: This book is an excellent basis for learning Java
Review: This book is an excellent title by Deitel and company, and I found it quite useful in learning the Java language. As of yet, I haven't completed the book, however, it has made me extremely comfortable in designing applets, applications, and fairly complex GUI components on my applications. The method in which the book is written is quite easy to understand, and can teach someone with absolutley no programming background an understanding of the language that enables them to effectivley feel like a "seasoned" programmer (i.e several years of experience). This was the first title in the Deitel "...How to Program" series that I have used, and it has made me decide to buy other Deitel books in the future. I have looked ahead in the book, and found an in depth covering of Java Beans and Servlets, and can't wait to move on in the book. I learned C and C++ before trying this Java book (I took a 1.5 year series of courses in that language), and I actually feel more comfortable programming in Java than in C/C++ (I have been learning Java for the past 2 months), and I'm barely halfway through the course! This title definitley gives the thorough understanding of the language needed to successfully program in Java, and I reccomend it to anybody with little or no familiarity with the language.
Rating:
Summary: One of the top Java books (another author's perspective)
Review: In glancing through the existing reviews on Paul & Harvey's book I was dumb-founded at the vitriol, sarcasm and ridiculous nature of the negative reviews of this book. I thought for a minute I was on some online Jerry Springer show. I am author (over a dozen books - published by J. Wiley) - and if you would, allow me to set the record straight on this book: 1. The organization is excellent 2. The technical content is clear, high-calibre and detailed (this "detail" is confused by the negative reviewers as redundance - but in fact, is very useful to a certain type of entry-level audience.) No statement is un-documented, no assumptions made on the part of the audience. 3. The workshops are a compromise between too much and too little detail. It is difficult to address detail-needs for the kinds of audiences that are learning Java at this point. Experienced C++ guys need little detail, born-again-COBOL programmers need gobs of it. Paul and Harvey do an admirable job of providing a mix. 4. The end-of-chapter "gotchas" - review section is worth the money by itself. This is basically information culled from their substantial classroom experience, and is unique in books I've seen. 5. As another reviewer mentioned, the authors are super-responsive (unlike the Sun site) - to Q&A. And they're technically very competent. Could this book be better - folks, no book is perfect (especially not mine). But you'll look far & wide to find a technical learning book on Java - that delivers so much information so well. Jon
Rating: 
Summary: Extremely verbose and repetitive
Review: I teach an introductory college programming course and looked at this book to see if I should use it for the course. This book had to be the most repetitive and verbose computer science textbook that I have ever come across. For beginners, I would recommend the Java book by Walter Savitch
Rating:
Summary: Best "How to" Book and Program I ever used
Review: Excellent learning source! especially for beginners! The examples were simple yet made the point they were trying to make. The book is written in plain everyday English so you do not need a programmer's dictionary to follow along! Also their writing style is very "friendly". I found it much easier running the program on my PC and being able to review the lesson, view the source codes and try my own without having to constantly flip back and forth in a book. Although the book will now come in handy for reference. My one suggestion would be that they show how to convert more applications to applets.
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