Rating: 
Summary: Not what was expecting
Review: I agree with Jeff P's comments. I was expecting something like Beck Zaratian's guide to VS6 - Tips on using all the new features in IDE. This ain't it. Am C/C++ programmer trying to quickly pick up C#/VB.Net Would recommend spend $ on Erik Brown's Windows Forms C# or Karl Moore's VB.Net books instead as you can learn IDE just as well (I thought better) and learn some useful things while doing so.
Rating: 
Summary: For beginners only...
Review: I bought this because of the other good reviews, but after reading about half the book, I've come to the conclusion that unless you've never used VS.NET, don't bother getting this book.It spends far too much covering topics that could be figure out in a matter of minutes simply by playing around with the interface, and spends nearly no time covering advanced topics like large scale project collaboration. In other words, if you're looking for a book that will give you the cool hints and tricks that will really make you a productive VS.NET developer, look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: This is an introductory book
Review: I first got this right when it came out--when there wasn't much information on Visual Studio. At the time, I found it helpful. However, I feel that the title should be "Introduction to VS.NET". If you are looking for an introduction to VS.NET this is a good book to get. If you are looking for something akin to the WROX "Professional" series I would look else where.
Rating:
Summary: This is an introductory book
Review: I first got this right when it came out--when there wasn't much information on Visual Studio. At the time, I found it helpful. However, I feel that the title should be "Introduction to VS.NET". If you are looking for an introduction to VS.NET this is a good book to get. If you are looking for something akin to the WROX "Professional" series I would look else where.
Rating: 
Summary: Great book!!!
Review: I have been a professional software developer for several years. During this time I have amassed quite a collection of books in an attempt to learn the in's and out's of various technologies. This book delivers what many lack, clear and concise communication of the relevant concepts. "Effective Visual Studio .NET" is well organized and can be read strait through or used as a reference. If you are interested in developing on the .NET platform this book should be your first purchase!
Rating:
Summary: Great overview of VS.Net
Review: I have been using VS .NET since the beta release. This book has given me an insight into the product that I have been unable to get reading the Microsoft documentation. The book is laid out in a very logical manor and easy to use as a reference. This is MUST have for any developer that is moving to the .NET platform.
Rating:
Summary: Good intro, lacks depth
Review: I was really disappointed with this book, as it covers much of what you probably would get out of any C#, ASP.NET or VB.NET book. What it lacks (given the insane number of features in Visual Studio) is some in depth looks at the features, settings and goodies included in the product. I know I'm not getting the most out of VS, and this book is partially to blame.
Rating:
Summary: The tools are the key
Review: Most of what a developer is stems from his appropriate and in most cases expert use of the tools he has available. Finally someone has realized that it's difficult to learn everything from help files and it is more appropriate to have a book that you can sit with on the subway or in bed. Not only that, but a book that can be re-used later as a reference. So what if it is all in the MSDN if you look hard enough. It's the organizational format and convenience that make this book valuable. I've seen developers work for years and only explore 10% of what they could because they get comfortable. Reading this book lets you at least know what is available. What I have read so far, has convinced me that in the true sense of the title, I will be more "Effective".
Rating: 
Summary: Not what I was looking for
Review: Not what I was looking for. This book should be called "Dabbling with the programs that come with Visual Studio. Net". I was looking for a book that really explained what is going on with Visual Studio from how to use it to what is really happening behind the scenes. This books DOES NOT do this. It is more of a primer for VB.NET, ASP.NET, XML and Crystal Reports...stuff that is already available in most books on each respective topic. WHAT I LIKED
Debugging using VS.NET
Deployment using VS.NET NOT INCLUDED IN THIS BOOK
-The VS.NET environment
-What is happening when you create a solution?
-How solutions and projects relate to each other
-Files associated with projects vs. files associated with solutions
-How to configure the environment
-How to get help and create favorites of it, including information on the namespace references
-How to move, rename and delete projects, including web projects
-Tips on project layout, directory locations, and web project file management
-How to use common custom libraries for all your projects
-Use of multiple languages working together
-What are the files that are created when creating a project and what are they for
-The VS.NET Compiler, how it works, creating separate executables for each module.
-What happens at the code level when adding a reference, etc. Basically, I wanted a book to explain the VS.NET environment and how it works, not a bunch of other information I can find in any other book and the subject. HELLO! All in all I consider this a useless book. Just buy a book on the specific VS.NET area of interest (C#, ASP.NET, VB.NET) and it will cover all that is in this book on that topic. Earl Earlt777@hotmail.com
Rating:
Summary: Not what I was looking for
Review: Not what I was looking for. This book should be called "Dabbling with the programs that come with Visual Studio. Net". I was looking for a book that really explained what is going on with Visual Studio from how to use it to what is really happening behind the scenes. This books DOES NOT do this. It is more of a primer for VB.NET, ASP.NET, XML and Crystal Reports...stuff that is already available in most books on each respective topic. WHAT I LIKED
Debugging using VS.NET
Deployment using VS.NET NOT INCLUDED IN THIS BOOK
-The VS.NET environment
-What is happening when you create a solution?
-How solutions and projects relate to each other
-Files associated with projects vs. files associated with solutions
-How to configure the environment
-How to get help and create favorites of it, including information on the namespace references
-How to move, rename and delete projects, including web projects
-Tips on project layout, directory locations, and web project file management
-How to use common custom libraries for all your projects
-Use of multiple languages working together
-What are the files that are created when creating a project and what are they for
-The VS.NET Compiler, how it works, creating separate executables for each module.
-What happens at the code level when adding a reference, etc. Basically, I wanted a book to explain the VS.NET environment and how it works, not a bunch of other information I can find in any other book and the subject. HELLO! All in all I consider this a useless book. Just buy a book on the specific VS.NET area of interest (C#, ASP.NET, VB.NET) and it will cover all that is in this book on that topic. Earl Earlt777@hotmail.com
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