Customer Reviews

Mastering HTML 4 Premium Edition

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have only been reading this book for about 2 weeks, now, at an easy pace. I have read many tech. books covering topics from C++, data structures and algorithms to HTML itself. I have found this book to be very easy to follow along with straight forward examples used in a real life scenario. However, if you just need an HTML reference book for your desk and you are already experienced with writing HTML code you may want to look elsewhere.

The information is all here the trouble is that you have to dig for it. The Rays, who usually write pretty good books, must have done a cut and paste job here. You never know where the practice code writing begins and the examples leave off- which is exasperating if you are using this for self-instruction.

This book has provided great help getting me started toward understanding HTML. The detailed information and step by step instruction that the Rays placed in the book increased my confidence and interest in Web design. The book is easy to use and great as a reference. I don't think I could have picked a better book to learn HTML. I loved all the extra web sites referenced in the book for support purposes.

After browsing through a few titles, I decided to purchase this book and the Castro Quick Start Guide. I found the combination to be wonderful. Within a reasonable time of starting through the books, I was able to understand and create nice-looking HTML pages for our web site. I found the Castro book to be a good supplement to this; if I didn't understand it in one, I was generally able to understand the other.

The coding is set out step by step so you can see where the additions are.

I did find the CD to be pretty weak - but there is some stuff there that's worthwhile.

HTML was the first language I learnt. I used this book for desining a site for my company. I think that this book proved quite benefitial in many respects. The one thing this book lacks are good(a little tough) examples. The coverage of HTML is almost complete. The masters ref section is good(only HTML ,not script and CSS). All in all this book will serve as a good reference but things are not that organised like they should be. But it is worth the money i spent.

Authors never talk down to you, yet never assume that you know anything either. I had two distinct sites well underway within 2 weeks. And they looked pretty good, considering I didn't know a shred of html beforehand. I did use this with a second book, just to get started, (A Sam's Quickstart Guide, Learn HTML in 24 hrs.) but I soon passed the quickstart guide off to a friend, as this is all I need. As I become more adept I keep finding "goodies" in the back appendices. Never opened the CD. And I spent a good $50.00 on this book. Get it here, it's much cheaper. It is worth every penny.

I've been teaching myself HTML for the last couple years, the hard way (meaning without manuals). I've recently wanted to explore the more advanced aspects, what is new in 4, and touch on XML. This book has been a fantastic reference and has answered any queries I've had so far. The XML coverage is not as thorough as I would have liked, but this is for HTML 4 after all. I am VERY happy with this purchase.

I have read many computer books on all topics, up through C++, COM, ASP, etc. This book is one of the best. It gives you the essence of a wide range of subjects regarding HTML and web pages in a very clear, interesting fashion. I particularly liked the section on XML. Crystal-clear compared to the turgid haze on various web sites. The book is very up-to-date (pub. August, 1999) and does a great job of guiding you on ever changing specifications and browser compatibility. To really be an expert on a subject like XML (or maintaining a web site), you will need further references (like XML Bible for XML), but if you need a great introductory guide or an update on the state of HTML/XML, I recommend the book. For me, a very strong point of the book was that it educated me on the essence of each topic without immersing me in it.

The book alone for learning is well-worth the $30 or so (Sam's Club price). The extensive HTML reference section might be helpful in solving nitty-gritty composition problems (not used yet). My main complaint would be the CD-ROM. The book examples are there, Internet Explorer 5 (useful as XML parser), Java 2 SDK, Netscape 4.51, and a plethora of freeware, trialware. But why not put something really useful on the CD-ROM, like the HTML reference section in HTML help-file format!!??? Also, how about trial/freeware XML editors? Like XML Spy, XML Pro, MS XML Notepad?? One good thing about the book itself is there are lots of URL references on where to get this stuff on-line. But having a folder on the CD-ROM or a reference to the publisher's web site where the links could be maintained and updated would be great (sorry if I missed it).

I found the book especially useful for the XML. I have read most of the XML Bible and alot of stuff on the web, and I found the XML section of Mastering HTML 4 gave me the essentials of what XML is all about. Ray and Ray are very clear, lucid writers. I recommend the book especially for beginners.

This book is beyond questioning the worst piece of writing I've ever come across. Its total lack of consistency and focus makes what should have been an educating tour through the concepts of HTML, a confusing bumpcar-ride with Mr. and Mrs. Ray at the wheel. These guys are not only writing about hyper text, they're also writing hyper text themselves!