Customer Reviews

Flash MX Savvy (With CD-ROM)

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Ok, I'll admit it, I've been avoiding Flash for the last few years. I'm actually a student doing an undergraduate degree in digital media (working primarily in Director and digital video), and decided that it was high time I started learning Flash. So, I went and bought me a copy of Flash MX Savvy. The book was organized so well it was incredible. Not only did the authors take the reader through a ton of differnt subjects, they do so in a very concise and easy to understand step-by-step manner. Want to learn by doing? Well, Flash MX Savvy has that as well. As the end of every section, there is an extensive tutorial (called Hand On) that lets you work on a project using the skills you just learned. On top of all of this, the book has a handy appendix that features some great tutorials that teach you how to create preloaders, navigational widgets, and other cool flash things.

The topics that the authors cover are absolutely great. You've got your basic Flash skills chapters (drawing, animating, etc.). You've also got some really specialized chapters that delve into stuff that I don't think you would normally find in your run of the mill Flash Book. Being a Director person, I literally jumped up and down with joy to find out that there was an entire chapter dedicated to using Flash in Director...totally cool! Also, the chapter that coveres Flash and video was incredibly helpful to me (as someone who spends a lot of time working with DV).

To top everything off, the book looks great. The paper is really high quality and the layout is efficient and well done. The book has some serious heft. We're not taking about some book that uses such cheap paper and printing here. When you hold Flash MX Savvy in your hands, you *really* feel like you own something substantial.

How about the CD? Well, now a days, most books have CDs. Flash MX Savvy's CD is full of really cool stuff. Not only do you have the requisite demo of the program itself, but you also have a ton of other demos for Macromedia stuff. But wait, it doesn't stop there, the CD also has a whole bunch of other demos for programs that were used througout the book. It gets even better! The CD also has all of the stuff you'll need to do the tutorials and exercises throughout the book. To top this off, you'll find an entire bonus chapter that deals with Dreamweaver and Flash.

The bottom line is that Flash MX Savvy is an incredible deal. I particularily recommend it for other students. The authors are both instructors, and really take the time to explain everything in easy to learn language that is great for someone just getting started in Flash.

I gotta admit, I was totally impressed by his book. Its written great. Its an easy read. The topics/chapters are well planned out to gently ease you into beginner topics, and then onto more intermediate stuff. I loved the extra chapters that went beyond the program to deal with working with Flash and other programs (such as audio software, Macromedia Director, Macromedia Freehand, etc.) I also loved the entire section dealing with Flash and audio. The CD had a ton of extra stuff: lots of demo programs, all the example files used in the book, and even a bonus Dreamweaver/Flash chapter.

It was really clear to me that these authors not only know what they are talking about, but also love teaching.

If you buy this book, you won't be sorry

There are so many Flash books out there, its sometimes pretty scary trying to pick the right one. With Flash MX on the scene, not there are even more.

I've found with most Flash books out there that they either expect you know everything or they treat you like a child. Flash MX Savvy fills the gap inbetween. The authors treat you like an intelligent adult. They don't talk down to the reader and they don't talk over the reader's head.

Flash MX Savvy's content is great! It starts out by teaching you all of the basic Flash skills. From there, it goes on to cover more intermediate topics. I was especially impressed with the Actionscript coverage which wasn't too complicated or too simple. By the time I had gone though all the Actionscript chapters, I was suprised how easy it had been to get a leg up on some stuff that I had been really intimidated by before I bought the book.

So, if you are looking for a great Flash MX book that will stick with you as you progress in Flash, Flash MX Savvy is definitely the one to buy.

I teach new media design at a small technical college, and I'm always on the look out for new books to use in my classes. The first thing that caught my eye about Flash MX Savvy is that its written by two instructors. As I went through the book, this really showed. They write like they are talking to a room full of students. It seems like whenever I had a question, they anticipated it.

The book covers all the basics in a fair amount of detail, and then moves on to more intermediate topics. The transition is easy and gentle. The Actionscript coverage (something that is sometimes dificult for stuents to get a handle on) is great! It isn't too complicated and it isn't too simple...its just right!

I hihgly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn flash without being overwhelmed.

I actually originally bought this book because of one of the authors (Ethan Watrall). I had purchased one of his other books (Dreamweaver 4 & Fireworks 4 Visual Jumpstart), and totally loved it. So, wanting to pick up a book to get me up to speed on Flash MX, I bought Flash MX Savvy. Boy, it was *totally* worth it. Not only do the authors write in a fluid, whitty, and easily understandable way, but the books content is organized wonderfully. They break down the topics in a totally logical way. While each chapter builds upon the previous one, you can also use the book as a really handy reference. Infact, the book is pretty much a fixture on my computer desk these days.

I totally loved all the other non-corre Flash topics that the book covered in the later chapters. The CD even has a full bonus chapter on integrating Flash MX with Dreamweaver!

If you only buy one Flash MX book, get Flash MX Savvy - you won't be sorry.

I dabbled with Flash in the past, but never really got the knack for it. When Flash MX came around, I decided to take the plunge and really learn the program properly. I decided that I would pick one book to go along with the software. I chose Flash MX Savvy, and you have no idea how happy I am with the choice.

The authors are smart and funny. The book is well organized and logical. The chapters feature a smooth transition between beginner topics and intermediate material (all of which is very detailed) Best of all, the authors were incredibly up-front about who the book was intended for - this book isn't a pig in a poke.

I loved that they spent the time to talk about Flash not only as a web design tool, but also a tool for creating content for a whole range of media.

If you bought any other beginner/intermediate book, you'd be wasting your money. Gt Flash MX Savvy and you'll be happy as a clam.

I think Flash MX Savvy is a great book! Not only is it perfect for people getting into Flash (or people wanting to get ahead in Flash), but its content is organized in such a way that its appropriate for lots of differnt learning styles. First off, the chapters have both generalized and (very small) project based instruction. On top of that, there is a lengthy project based tutorial (called Hands On) at the end of every section (8 in total). If that wasn't enough the book has an appendix that features step-by-step tutorials for creating spcific kinds of things with Flash (drop down menus, preloaders, etc.).

So, whether you you learn by generalized instruction or learn by doing, Flash MX Savvy will definitely fulfill your needs.

Flash MX Savvy is an extremely well written book that smoothly takes you through lots of differnt topics and skills. On top of this, there are times whe its pretty funny to read. Its pretty obvious that a lot of the author's character is in the book.

The book has great introductory/intermediate Actionscript coverage (especially the audio related Actionscript stuff). You'll also find really good coverage of topics that you won't see in your run of the mill Flash book: Flash CD-Rom development, Flash and 3D, Flash and Director, Flash and Freehand (one of my favorites since I started out as a print designer using Freehand).

On top of all of this, the book has 8 extensive project based tutorials at the end of every seciton. This is a definite must if you like learning by doing.

I was incredibly glad I bought this book and recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning Flash MX.

There are sooooooo many Flash books out there that promise to cover more than the basics, but really do nothing but leave you hanging with a big fat hole in your wallet where the [money] used to be.

I'm here to tell you that Flash MX Savvy is NOT ONE OF THOSE BOOKS!!! Not only does it cover the basics, but it coveres intermediate and some advanced techniques. On top of that, it has a whole ton of chapters that are dedicated to specialized topics such as integrating Flash with other program, working with Flash and 3D, and creating Flash for CDs.

On top of all of this, the Actionscript coverage (a topic which I was terrified of) was incredible. It started you off gently and covered not only how you use Actionscript, but why Actionscript works the way it does...something that I realized was vitial to striking out on my own in teh world of Actionscript.

Buy it, use it, love it!

This book is a great beginner-intermediate Flash MX book. The content is great, the organization is wonderful, the writing is really good (and pretty funny at times). I was also really impressed by the incredible coverage of Flash and Audio.

Flash MX Savvy is light years ahead of many of the big Flash books - including the Flash 5 Bible and the Macromedi Flash MX: the Complete Refernce (which is a terribly book by the way.

Buy it, I garuntee you'll love it.