Rating: 
Summary: A learning tool!
Review: I teach a number of digital media courses at a high school level. The HOT series has proven to be an excellent resource for helping and motivating students learn various program tools used in design and art.
Here are a number of reasons why these books are great educational tools and resources:
1. Interest/Fun - the projects are clearly laid out and explained and have a high interest value to the students: thus students are motivated!
2. Clearly introduced: each chapter goes over what is to be learned and why
3. Small chunks - the chapters are divided into small mini sections that allow students to complete a meaningful set of tasks. Often long drawn out instructions leave the student lost and confused.
4. Cohesive/Integrated - from beginning to end, you work on the same basic project. Students see the sum of the parts and this helps remove the Forest and the trees problem.
5. Connections are made to how Flash can be used in practical ways. Using a tool meaninfully is crucial.This book is a beginners book and pulls no punches in this regard. It is not heavy on Actionscript, and rightfully so. It is a well conceived and well written book on Flash MX. For a beginner's book it is one of the BEST. Good advanced books are easily found, but a good foundation is the basis for effective use of adavanced materials on Flash MX.
Rating: 
Summary: Not so much for the beginner...
Review: I wouldn't recommend this book. It has very detailed exercises but doesn't allow the reader to intuitively figure out any of the work on his or her own. Coming from a heavy Photoshop/Illustrator background I was pretty lost and got sick of the book real quick.
I'd recommend the Teach Yourself Visually series if you are a beginner instead.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic - the perfect book for those new to Flash!
Review: I'm currently taking a course in Flash. The way the material was presented in class, I was nothing short of being overwhelmed (and this is from someone who is fairly proficient at Photoshop, GoLive, DreamWeaver, etc.). The instruction I've received from this book is head-and-shoulders above any other technical book I've read. At last, we see a very nicely illustrated, very clearly explained book with step-by-step instructions on getting a jump-start with FLASH. The thing I like the most is how easy the book is to follow -- that is, I don't even have to run the example programs included on the CD so far-- every step is clearly explained in the book. The material is presented as if the author is with you, as you perform the steps. All terms are clearly explained, and the tone of the book is light and fun. There are plenty of screenshots provided (mostly for Windows, but the author does make it a point to explain Mac specific Flash related items as well. I don't know much about Action scripting -- I am a rank Flash newbie. This book is for anyone that is just starting out with Flash. Highly Recommended!
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: If anybody needs a book on FLASH MX, don't look any further. I mean it this is the book for you. Written for the beginner/intermediate animation designer this book tells, describes and teaches you with confidence. Before reading this book I only wrote web pages using Dreamweaver ( which I learned from reading Dreamweaver MX H.O.T) now I write most of my pages with Flash MX. Thanx Kymberlee, keep up the good work!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Fast Flash
Review: If you are a digital media artist, making the transition from hi-res publication into lo-res rich online content, one's initial impression of Macromedia Flash is commonly disorientation. It is anything but intuitive, due more to the restrictions of creating documents for a variety of web browsers and systems. A simple function can require many steps which must be followed in order, and are not easy to retrace if an error occurs. Instead of images on a canvas, you are creating instances and events on a stage; you were a designer, but now you are becoming a scriptor and director. I believe that of all books written on digital graphics publication, Flash is probably second only to Photoshop as having the most titles. Many claim to be the best starting place. This book, as many other titles in the lynda.com H.O.T. series, gets my vote hands down. It is easy, it is quick, it works great for someone who can barely fit spare time into their schedule, and that's because it's fun. You see, for all its techno-razzle-dazzle-complexity, Flash is a program with FUN as its essential purpose. It is designed to make mere information displayed on a scrolling screen sing and dance, and be interacted with. As with her outstanding intro-tuitive book on Flash 5, author/instructor Kymberlee Weill presents us with an 18-chapter tour of Flash's various tools and abilities (as well as a healthy interest in snowboarding and Red Bull), with in-depth explanations of what each tool and command is capable of, and a series of economical exercises I'm sure anyone could fit into their schedule. Previous exercises are referenced in later chapters, something I especially appreciate, and moderate Flash veterans can skip ahead without fear of missing needed information. Another thing I really enjoy is how this is not just an update of the previous book; like the program Flash itself, Weil has upgraded both the content and teaching approach, unlike the books by Macromedia with their damn Compass Travel "client" (sometimes the source is not the best place to seek training). One of the few computer instruction books I would actually call "fresh". In short, Flash MX H.O.T. is an optimal starting place for Flash virgins who need to get up and running in short order. I'm sure the program will become less awkward in future versions; in the meantime, Ms Weil's softcover classroom makes conquering the present-day Flash online theatre a productive and enjoyable experience.
Rating:
Summary: Flashes lots of information!!!
Review: If you are new to Flash this book is an excellent choice. As the title should suggest this is not a definitive guide, but rather it is a series of lessons geared towards getting you going with Flash. I went through the lessons in this book and was able to quickly grasp the general concepts and abilities of the program. When I was done I had more than enough knowledge to start planning my first flash documents. As other readers have mentioned this book alone does not cover every Flash feature in depth so you will probably want a book like "Flash MX Bible" by Richard Reinhardt as a reference as well (a great reference book, but not great for learning from). Flash MX HOT is put together in sensible manor, has well-organized lessons, and covers the important bases for those new to the program.
Rating: 
Summary: Great intro to Flash
Review: If you are new to Flash this book is an excellent choice. As the title should suggest this is not a definitive guide, but rather it is a series of lessons geared towards getting you going with Flash. I went through the lessons in this book and was able to quickly grasp the general concepts and abilities of the program. When I was done I had more than enough knowledge to start planning my first flash documents. As other readers have mentioned this book alone does not cover every Flash feature in depth so you will probably want a book like "Flash MX Bible" by Richard Reinhardt as a reference as well (a great reference book, but not great for learning from). Flash MX HOT is put together in sensible manor, has well-organized lessons, and covers the important bases for those new to the program.
Rating:
Summary: Good price
Review: If your going to Fairleigh Dickinson University and taking up Web Design you will need this Book the price is Great
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Training
Review: Install the included 30 day trial of FLASH MX. Copy the CD-ROM exercise files from the book to a directory on your hard drive, turn off your phones, grab a cup of coffee, open FLASH MX, put this book on your lap and start feeding your brain. Comprehensive tool descriptions (Bezier is always a pain), big helpings of ActionScript basics, sound and video. Excellent beta testing for technical precision.
Rating: 
Summary: Well Constructed, But Not For Everyone
Review: There is little doubt that this book is well weitten. The problem is that it falls completley short as a reference. Its designed more as a sit down, persoanal course kind of thing. The probelm is, that when you've gone through it, it becomes almost totally useless. For those who are looking for something a little more lasting (in terms of use), you should probably check out one of the larger Flash MX books like "Flash MX Savvy" or the "Flash MX Bible."
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