Customer Reviews

Microsoft Visual Basic .NET Deluxe Learning Edition--Version 2003 (Pro-Developer)

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

 

 

I purchased the Deluxe Learning Edition and am very pleased with what I got. I was a little nervous ordering it at first because of the previous reviews stating that the bundle did not include all of the disks.

My package did contain ALL the necessary disks. My box contained 6 disks:
1) Visual Basic.Net Standard Disk
2) Visual Studio.Net Development Environment Disk
3) Complete MSDN Library 3-Disk Set
4) Visual Basic.Net Step by Step Sample Disk from the Book
5) 'Visual Basic.Net Step by Step' Book.

I am a beginner VB programmer and find the book very easy to follow. For those of you that may have learned Visual Basic 6, the author starts out each chapter by describing the general changes between VB6 and VB.Net.

Overall, I find this Deluxe Learning Edition to be an excellent value. Let's just hope Microsoft now has their packaging right!

The book that comes with the kit is very good for those of us who are new to object oriented programming (I am from the old Cobol generation). On the other hand this book is very basic for an experienced object oriented programmer.... so it is very good value for money. However I am giving the kit a rating of 1 star because the kit is NOT complete. Microsoft claimed that the kit came with a FULL version of the "Microsoft Visual Basic.Net 2003 Standard software". However the MSDN library was NOT included in the sealed package that I received.

Without the MSDN disk the software Help features will not work. The Help files for the program are part of MSDN, therefore without the MSDN disk ALL of the softwares help features DO NOT WORKThe book refers to the MSDN library on page 27; implying that the MSDN disk comes with the kit, and that one should install it in order to get help to run. However NO MSDN disk was found in my package I have contacted Microsoft and so far they have been unable to tell me whether it was a error that I didn't get the disk, or whether the kit doesn't come with the MSDN disk. The set-up program asks for the disk on step 3; but none of the disks provided has the MSDN library. Hence without the MSDN library, you won't be able to get ANY help from within the program. If Microsoft solves the problem about the missing MSDN disk I recommend this pacakge to everybody who is interseted in learning the program; but until this problem is solved I recommend people to wait or to buy the program and the book separately so that they get a fully working version of the software.

If Microsoft solves the problem of the missing MSDN disk on this kit, I would raise my rating to 5 stars. Until then I recommend you to NOT purchase the kit. If you can't wait to get your hands on VB.NET 2003 buy the software and the book separately so that you get the full version of the software including the help files.

It is of little comfort that another reviewer highlights the serious oversight by Microsoft to not include the HELP files for the Visual Basic .net 2003 software in this training kit.

I am new to this product and need as much help and reassurance to guide me through the product. Essential to this journey is the HELP file, which requires a MSDN CD to setup - but is not supplied with the CD.

Does anyone from Microsoft care to comment as I would like the HELP file, but am at a loss as what to do?

Unfortunately I agree with my fellow reviewer than without the HELP files this product cannot progress past 1 star.

Sorry, but I cannot recommend this product at this stage.

Microsoft was able to supply the MSDN disks quickly. This package is worth the price because I couldn't find the software alone for less than $150 CDN. A little work to get the whole thing, but still a bargain.

A lot of VB.NET books on the market jump straight into the deep end and assume you have a VB6 programming background. This one does not - it covers stuff that is essential to do most things as well as some other cool features.

I phoned Microsoft (here in the UK) and they admitted it was a mistake to omit the help files CD - they are posting mine. Still it took 30 minutes on the phone to find someone who knew what they were talking about ... The book is ok but I prefer the much larger Programming VB.NET.

This package contains the step-by step book and the VB.NET Standard software. ..Why anyone would buy that and not this package is beyond me!

...For me, the only real downside is that you cannot create your own class libraries. However, I have heard (and read) rumors on the web that there's a 'workaround' for this omission.

Other than that, this package will get you started with VB.NET just fine, and at least for the first few months, you will not miss the functionality that is available in the full version.

This package should have a big warning on the cover, similar to the "batteries not included" warnings on children's toys.

The glaring omission from VB.NET Learning Edition is the Help system. There is none. The install routine prompts you to insert MSDN CD 1. But it ain't there. You are apparently expected to buy it separately, though this is not mentioned anywhere on the cover.

The intricacies of VB.NET are not obvious, even if you're an experienced VB6 developer. Many of the most basic things you are used to do not work. If you need help you can try your luck searching on the MSDN website, but the easy interaction you need and expect from a help system is simply not there.

The book that comes with the package may well be a useful learning tool. It is pitched at beginning programmers as it should be, and as the name implies it takes you step by step through various projects. But unfortunately the minute you step outside the book you are left alone and help-less.

The package as it stands is not up to the task it sets itself, and it should be recalled and amended immediately.

O yes, absolutely, I have always liked hands-on practice. I think it is one of the best ways to learn. In that perspective is 'Microsoft Visual Basic .NET Deluxe Learning Edition by Michael Halvorson' not a bad book, <whispering> it is actually a pretty good book if you only judge on that area. </whispering>. BUT ! (yes, there it is): This book is only effective for those who have NO (Too bad there can be no fontsize assigned, that's why I am just going to say it again) NONONONONO VB experience whatsoever, or rather, no programming experience at all for that matter.

To be blunt: This book borred the living heck out of me ! If you had something or rather ANYTHING to do with VB 6.0 then skip this one. Unless you have no idea what a Timer, Class, Module or Collection is, in which case it turns out to be a pretty nice book for your person.

Another thing: Because thing book is from the good people of the Microsoft Corporation, it loses (or has already lost long ago) any chance of having ANY objectivity whatsoever. So don't expect to read anywhere: "Indeed it is a bit strange that an Array declared like this in VB.NET holds 8 positions instead of the usual 7: Dim MyArray(7) As String", or "Maybe VB.NET would be better of NOT storing a Boolean as 0 and -1 under the hood" ... NOOOOOOO, not in this book you won't ...

If you programmed in VB 6.0. I (humble opinion) strongly recommend reading "VB.NET and the .NET Platform" by Andrew Troelsen or "Moving to VB.NET" by Dan Appleman. Books that made a lot of things clear for me. (And no, I do not have any shares in Apress whatsoever).

Overall a big disappointment.

The book that comes with this package is MS Visual Basic.Net Step by Step. Despite the author's claim that the book appeals to beginners and experienced programmers alike, it is more of a beginner's book. Nonetheless it provides a structured introduction to to VB.NET and that appealed to me because my work in VB to date has always been driven by a deadline, and I have used techniques that perhaps aren't optimal but nonetheless work. However, I cannot find a Product Key in the package! I opened another of this product in a bookshop and could find no product key in that either. So I can't tell you anything about the software, but if anybody can send me a product key for this product (enquiries are being made at Microsoft but God knows how long that's going to take) I would be very grateful.