Customer Reviews

Java 2 Developer's Handbook

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

 

 

I bought this book when I was a beginner and read it rather quickly. Today I started work on a telnet client and remembered the book describing the use of telnet URLConnection. Cool, so I loaded the CD-ROM and to my disappointment no protocol handlers (the telnet handler or one for the other example) were included at all. I e-mailed their support person but after a few exchanges it became clear he didn't have a clue.

I found this a good reference on networking, I/O, RMI, and some threading.... but then again, I had some previous knowledge on each of those topics. Non-the-less, if you would like more information on those topics, I recommend it. Besides those topics, this book doesn't tell you anything useful. Just scratches a surface on Swing...

Remember that if you're a beginner or an advanced JAVA programmer, then this book will be completely useless. Trust me! For the amount of money, there're lots of better books around. In fact, you'll find the Official JAVA tutorial on java.sun.com much much better.... and it's free.

Authors and editors spent very little time updating is book to Java 2. Its too bad Sybex places such little value on the quality of their books. Sybex is no O'Reilly. Really wish I had not wasted my money on this book.

This book absolutely does not contain essential Java classes like Collections. There is a very small and shallow chapter on Swing (or may be an overview?). One who buys this book and prides himself for acquiring it is certainly a Java beginner and it would be befitting to rename this book as "Java 1.2 Beginner's Handbook" (even that might be a over statement).

I was reading this book for reference on ChangeListener (page 729). The examples given does not even IMPLEMENT the ChangeListener interface. What a strange way to programing. This is entirely different from LeMay's TY 21 day examples. I am really confused. I am not buying another book by the same authors.

all the adanced aspects of java is mentioned, but out of date

There some good chapters and some really bad chapters. The RMI chapter is especially bad. Along with the typically very high number of printing errors in Sybex's Java books, this chapter fails to even point out how the new security model affects RMI. Not a single example will work as written unless you happen to have the necessary wide open security policy in place. The last example is written using JDK1.2 beta 2 and won't even compile. The 'How to run' text files have errors and mix Unix and Wiindows file formats. If you enjoy learning by debugging a distributed application with bad documentation, then this book is for you. Numerous attempts to contact Sybex about the errors have resulted in the following:

"We're sorry, but we have been unable to get any further response from the books author. We have repeatedly asked for a comment on your inquiry and there has been no response each time."

The initial Java 2 Certification book was so error filled that Sybex reprinted it, gave it a new ISBN, and sent replacements to every one. Since this book isn't selling, Sybex and the authors are willing to let users live with all the errors. I have purchased 3 Sybex Java books - They are all the same: filled with errors and printing mistakes. I will never buy another Sybex book again!!

I bought certification study guide from the same authors and passed the exam easily. This book is a logical step further since the style and approach is the same. Of course it doesn't cover everything and of course it doesn't cover 100% of all mentioned topics, but the book has only about 1000 pages and you have to draw a line somewhere.

Lots of useful code without any explanation, but nice cover and pictures with cups of coffee, wich suppose to make it easier psyhologically...but not in real life

This is a truly great book. Not only are the examples useful and the code beautifully polished, but the text is extremely readable. It's got pride of place on my bookshelf.