Customer Reviews

Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Class Library Reference Volumes 1-4: System (Pro-Developer) (v. 1-4)

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

 

 

Hey, if you prefer Hard copy (which I do) over scrolling back and forth in On-line help, this is for you (and me). However, was hoping for more examples.

There is a HUGE amount of content in these volumes. Much more than I expected. I thought perhaps the pages would be wasted with large type and big margins, but they are not! Instead they used a small type face and two columns per page and very small margins so that you get a jam packed verbose reference of practically the entire System namespace. Plenty of sample code as well, which I have already found helpful. Yes, you can get much of this info from the online help. But honestly, having a printed set just makes it so much nicer to skim through, and conveniant to sit down and read anywhere or take with you without having to wear out your eyes staring at a screen. I have already sat down on the couch a few times and enjoyed skimming through page after page, jotting down notes. These references in combo with the online doc is as comprehensive as it gets.

8000 pages and it isn't complete! Be aware that the first four volumes are included in this set. This is the first four of what is suppose to be a 7 volume set. There is coverage of a good chunk of the System namespace, and for that I give this 5 stars.

I also give it five stars because the packaging says that this is the first four volumes of a 7 volume set. These books are packed with content. If you wanted the help for the .NET Framework (1.1) printed, then this is as close as you are going to ever get. I've got this first set and am looking to fill in the other volumes.

Not in the first four volumes (this set) are the following namespaces within System: Windows.Forms, Drawing, XML, Data, and Web. These are in Volumes 5 to 7. Much of the rest of the System names space is included. Examples are primarily in C# and VB. Some are also in C++.

Very cool. Don't pick the set up by yourself. You could hurt your back.....

We got this set of references into our office this week and after a good perusing I can say this is a must-have for any serious .NET developer/shop. For me, I much prefer being able to carry a book or flip through the pages to find something, with the ability to annotate the pages, than to reading the information online.

As posted, this is volumes 1-4 of 7. This provides a great starting point for .NET reference materials and it is obvious from the content that Microsoft is concerned with continuing to provide valuable print references for developers.

I purchased this rather expensive set of texts after reading some "reviews", expecting to see an improvement over the dismal online documentation. For all those who have great expectations, forget it. These books are a complete waste of money. They contain the exact information already available in the .Net Framework SDK, and provide ZERO additional useful information. You'd be better off to save the money for the eventual calls you'll need to make to Microsoft to get some real answers. I am not wowed by a lot of pages. It's the information (or lack thereof) that matters.

My guess is that most of us who actually don't have the time or liesure to thumb through thousands and thousands of pages looking for that killer class library will continue to sweat it out with MSDN. My question for Microsoft is this:

How many people did it take to put the FCL together and to document it? my guess--a few hundred

AND

What's the average amount of developers in any IT shop these days? my guess-- 3 to 5

Please, Microsoft, tell me how you think that people are really going to be able to tap the power of the bizzillions of classes without wasting their ever-shortening production time?