Corporate Portals Empowered with XML and Web Services

Rating:
Summary: the content is too shallow
Review: I bought this book because of the title, but unfortunately the content is too shallow. It's very, very basic. There is no technical part. If you want to understand XML and Web Services, I would recommend XML Handbook 4th edition by Charles F. Goldfarb and Paul Prescod.

Rating:
Summary: Searching for the meaning
Review: The book provides a decent amount of information and presents it in a non-technical manner.
Unfortunately there is just much too much useless chatter interspersed throughout the work and banalities abound everywhere, not to speak of significant irrelevancies. Its length could certainly have been rediuced by a third--to its benefit.
Finally, the editing is awful--there are very large numbers of typos adding no small annoyance and the quality of reproduction of some of the illustrations is such that they are close to illegible. Certainly not worth the price as it stands.
After the read I am more knowledgeable, no doubt. But I surely could have used my time becoming so more effectively.

Rating:
Summary: A comprehensive read!!
Review: This book is without a doubt an excellent read. It covers a variety of issues such as XML, content mgmt, CRM, knowledge mgmt, portals, services, etc. in a way that is simple to understand without sacrificing the details. Illustrations of real-life examples and typical solution architectures are excellent. Reality is separated from fantastical "one-size fits all" vaporware that is all too common today. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the critical issues surrounding enterprise level solutions BEFORE spending a few hundred grand on their next big project.

Rating:
Summary: He Should Write Faster
Review: When searching for a book on XML I came across this book and thought I recognized the name. Yes, this is the same guy who used to write a regular column for Network World for many years and if I am not mistaken for Data Communications prior to that. I used to like his columns so I took a gamble with this book. The book, to my delight, is just like his columns. Provocative, informative, challenging and often peppered with humor, folklore and good suggestions. Though XML isn???t its main focus it does provide some insight into XML and Web services and its treatment of portals is well worth looking at. I just wish he would write about more topics because his style and approach makes it easy to wade through technical material.

Rating:
Summary: He Should Write Faster
Review: When searching for a book on XML I came across this book and thought I recognized the name. Yes, this is the same guy who used to write a regular column for Network World for many years and if I am not mistaken for Data Communications prior to that. I used to like his columns so I took a gamble with this book. The book, to my delight, is just like his columns. Provocative, informative, challenging and often peppered with humor, folklore and good suggestions. Though XML isn't its main focus it does provide some insight into XML and Web services and its treatment of portals is well worth looking at. I just wish he would write about more topics because his style and approach makes it easy to wade through technical material.