Customer Reviews

Introducing Windows® 7 for Developers

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Do you want or need to take advantage of Windows 7 features from your code? If you are an advanced C++ or C# programmer who is not afraid of API's, native functions, and digging through code, the book "Introducing Windows 7 for Developers" is for you. If you are a novice or even an intermediate programmer lured in by the words "Introducing" and "Windows 7", this title may provide some useful information but you will likely be swimming in the deep end very quickly with no lifeguard in sight. This excellent book is not an introduction to programming but an introduction to Windows 7 for programmers.

You know when someone like the SysInternals guru Mark Russinovich says he is using concepts from the book (in his foreword), that there is some good technical stuff inside. Overall the book provides great insight and examples of the new and exciting enhancements that make Windows 7 so much better than its predecessors. Whether you want to get into the new Taskbar, Multi-Touch, the Sensor and Location Platform, the Windows Ribbon, or Libraries, you will probably find what you need. Aside from the basic first chapter, which simply outlines the new features covered in the book, each section digs right in. Most of them include well written definitions and explanations of the new Windows 7 concepts. The authors have clearly done their research and have experience with Windows 7 and it shows. They also clearly illustrate each section with code, diagrams, screenshots, and charts as needed.

This book is definitely on the cutting edge for today (and probably until the next Windows appears). If you have a tablet PC or multi-touch input device, there are four great chapters dedicated to that subject that are a must-read. The other sections on some of the sensor and location functions were very cool as well. If you have an older laptop or PC, whether on Windows 7 or not, you will be sorely tempted to upgrade and/or add hardware just to play with some of this stuff. The Taskbar, Libraries, Windows Ribbon, and performance sections are more mundane, but line of business applications will really benefit from that extra snap in these tools in Windows 7 (when your company lets you upgrade).

While my experience with this book was excellent, I do have a couple comments/warnings as well as one major issue. First the comments and warnings - be prepared to CODE! You cannot get the most out of this book without sitting down and taking the time to work the examples and sample code (which was good but should have included Chapter 2 and 3). The authors do a great job of mixing up unmanaged C++, .NET, WPF, etc. and trying not to alienate any particular style of programmer. If you are solid C++ hacker, you'll be in heaven here; and .NET Windows programmers will be comfortable with the C# examples. Be ready to go online, read blogs (co-author Sasha Goldshtein's is highly recommended!) and documentation. This book will get you most of the way but doesn't hold your hand at any time outside of Chapter 1; it gets you what you need but be prepared to work for the knowledge. It will be worth it.

In addition if you are a .NET programmer, you really need to take the time and look at the source for the Windows API Code Pack for the .NET Framework. This free download from the MSDN Code Gallery is the foundation for most of the .NET samples and indispensible. There was at least one code sample in the book that required a quick bug fix to the Code Pack.

Finally the only significant problem I saw. As primarily a C# programmer dealing with managed code and occasionally Windows API, it was uncomfortable when the book went from 0 to 60 between Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. The authors dug right in and started referencing interfaces and code as if they had discussed them but they never did. I believe this happened because of an editorial oversight as a section entitled "Introduction to the Windows Shell" in Chapter 1 was referenced but omitted (and not available online that I could find). A little research online got me up to speed but it was a little frustrating to find such a key section missing.

To sum up, if you want or need to program Windows 7 features for work or fun, are willing to get your hands dirty, and can learn new concepts, buy this book. You won't be disappointed.

DISCLOSURE: I was given this book for review at a local .NET user group meeting

My review deals only with the chapters that talks about Multi-Touch. This is why I purchased the book.
The book is a good source. Why 4 stars? I think is missing information like how to use the Cx and Cy and so on..

I expected to find a lot of new stuff in this book. This book talks about the new task-bar, ribbon, and touch screen. I think that the title is misleading, as the book covers only few features of Windows 7. Or maybe this book just tells us between the lines that there is not much new in Windows 7, and it is just Windows XP with some user-interface modification???

This should be the 2009/2010 best Win7 book, Alon, Sasha and the guys have accomplished one of the best Win books I have ever read in my life.