Customer Reviews

Java for the World Wide Web (Visual QuickStart Guide)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This book does a great job for the first time Java programmer. It's easy to read, Smith has a sense of humor, and she's squeezed in about as much detail as possible while still keeping the book readable in a few sittings. Beware she covers only Java 1.0 and this book is NOT a comprehensive reference but neither should be a problem if your goal is to learn the language from scratch. Smith makes a good argument for sticking to 1.0 for the time being. The book is particularly well suited to HTML programmers looking to use Java applets on their pages. It's also reasonably priced and doesn't resemble a phone book in either size or style--both refreshingly unusual in this genre.

It is with sadness that I give this book 1 star. But this book only covers Java 1.0.

Java 1.2 and the Java Foundation Classes have dramatically altered the Java world and I think that it is a waste of time to learn anything about graphical applications or applets under Java 1.0

Other than that glaring problem, the book is lucid and well thought out. It is another fine example of the Visual Quickstart Guides, but it needs to updated to cover the Java Foundation Classes and Swing.

I have to say that I am a big fan of Dori Smith and the line of very well done books that go with the name, but "Java, a quick start guide?" Pretty much like saying "Heart Surgery, a quick start guide." This is a good book if you are using a few Java scripts on your website and but don't care about the language or how to program with it. Java goes much deeper than this and even the beginner may get some use out of this book but mostlikely will not learn much. Java is a key word now and this looks like an attempt to cash in on the market. I would also avoid books that say things like "C++ in twenty four hours!"

It's hard to find a book at the right level for me--I know how to program in C++, so I didn't need a lesson in loops and decision structures. I needed to learn how to use AWT components, and all the other books I have don't talk about applets and GUI components until the end of the book. Most books are pushing Java2, which isn't even supported by the compiler or browsers I have! This book is perfect! It assumes programming experience, but it doesn't assume any Java knowledge. It really gives you a QuickStart--getting down and dirty with code right away, but not biting off too much at one time! It stays with Java 1, which is what I needed. Dori Smith is a fantastic teacher. Her style and wit and choice of topics and sequence were superb. The appendix, explaining the new event model of JDK 1.1, finally showed me what all the other books had been confusing me with.

This book is definately a must have. If all computer bookds were as clear and easy to understand we wouldn't need systems analyst, programmers and web designers. This book provides a firm foundation in writing Java programs. It is well written and witty. Even a proffessional programmer will find this title of value when adding Java to thier list of skills.

The book contains straightforward, economical explanations that cut directly to the point. Ms. Smith's explanations of what constitutes an Object, an Instance, a method, instance variables, and the Class, are the best I've seen, and I've been programming for many years.
I appreciate also that, while the book is very clear and friendly, it does not insult the reader's intelligence.
I am reminded of a quote by Einstein. He said, "If you can speak of technical things only in technical terms, you do not understand them." That Ms. Smith has explained Java in such direct, common-sense terms proves that she indeed possess a master's understanding. We are indebted to her for sharing it. You will learn a great deal from this book, and you do so virtually effortlessly.

You will not become java wizard, but you will have a foothold required for more advanced and detailed tutorials such as Sun's. I took away one star because of somewhat outdated version of Java it covers. Still, with complementary www site, great little package.

I don't feel this book covered the fundamentals of Java very well, and I think if you are new to learning it this book would confuse you more than help. I was very disappointed in this book and I am a fan of the "visual quick start guides " I also start with them first and work my way through the books. This one in particular did not live up to them. I guess they can't all be winners. Unless you really already know Java and even then you will not understand the purpose of the book. If you are new to Java don't start with this book.

This book is exactly what it says. It is not a comprehensive Java book however it will show you some quick tricks to make your web site more fun. Like other visual quickstarts it shows you "How to" but not "Why". After doing the examples you will then be ready to use other more comprehensive books on Java theory and classes. A great book for web beginners and enthusiasts.

This book contains everything the aspiring web designer/developer would want. Emphasis on aspiring. Altough the book may seem simple, it contains the fundamentals of Java. When you get into the bigger and more complicated books, they pretty much skip the fundamentals and assume that you know what you are doing. This is a great way to get started and is easy to read with pictures of the applets in action.