Customer Reviews

Teach Yourself Java for Macintosh in 21 Days with CDROM (Sams Teach Yourself)

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

 

 

I got this book hoping for a good introduction to Java; I got a garbage-y book and a useless CD-ROM. First of all, the version of the software on the CD does NOT work. I wasted hours trying to relate it to the software described in the book; and it's not even the same thing!!!! If you want us to buy a full version of a compiler, FINE...but please stick to what's on the CD, otherwise the whole damn thing is useless. I went out and got J++ 6.0 and the J++ Programmer's Guide (both from Microsoft) instead, and it is ten million times better. Don't waste your money on this book; in this case, go with Microsoft.

Interesting attempt but the relation of the text to the included software is abysmal. Obviously another case where the writers and programers were not in touch with reality. Overall, worthless for a relative beginner. The simple things were not explained in the least, not even for someone conversant with C.

Worthless, at least to a beginner. The code in the samples and on the disk don't match up, the code contradicts instructions given in the text, unexplained logical leaps are plentiful, and the copy editing is shameful considering these people are accepting money for this thing. Bad, bad, bad! Run, don't walk, as far away from this book as you can!

This would be a 5 star book had the version of Roaster™ provided been a full or at least usable version!

At first, TYJin21Days appears as if it might actually make good on its promise, providing a fairly comprehensive overview to the beginning programmer. Starting at about day 15, however, the book collapses beneath its own weight, descending into an incomprehensible mess.

Lemay seems to be so hopelessly addicted to the "21-day" paradigm that in the later chapters she begins throwing around brain-numbing concepts with abandon, assuming that the reader will assimilate them through osmosis, I suppose. Where earlier I could re-read the chapters and pick-up what I had missed, repeated readings on the most crucial concepts proved futile - and I'm no idiot. Lemay should've gone ahead and made it 30 days, and taken her time with the advanced material.

What's more, the copy-editing on this book is abysmal. Errors are constant and ridiculously inept, making for incredible frustration. I know it had to have been rushed to market, but how many reprintings has it had by now? Even the Hayden Books website is FAR from being current on its errors.

Unfortunately, the options for Mac-Java are sparse, so this continues to be one of the few worth attempting. In the final analysis, I'd give it a B for effort, and a D for execution. I'll think long and hard before I buy another of Lemay's books.

This book lost me near day 13. At that point the author seemed to be trying to put 10 pounds of java info into a 5 pound bag, so to speak, but without explaining many important concepts. As the days progressed I felt less and less comfortable with this book. I realized that many attempts at "accelerated learning" fall flat and are worthless.

I went to the university bookstore here and purchased a java textbook that is used in an introductory (but challenging) computer science course. So far, it seems to be "just what the doctor ordered" however it is not geared to Mac. The name of it is "Introduction to Programming with Java A Problem Solving Approach". There is a fine introduction that starts from ground zero and will benefit all who are new to programming. There are review questions and exercises at the end of each chapter, and also project assignments. A web site takes you to answers and supplemental information about the book. The authors are John and Raymond Dean. The first chapter is great and provides a history of Java and how to download a free Sun compiler onto your desktop.

"Teach Yourself Java for Macintosh in 21 Days" is a good choice for those with some computer programming experience. Examples are clear and don't bombard the reader with too many details and distractions (although this becomes somewhat of a liability later if the reader is too quick to adopt the simplified practices of the early chapters' examples).

That said, it would be well worth your money to get the "Java Starter Kit for Macintosh" (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1568302932/2460-6516335-202138) which is this book bundled with a CD-ROM featuring the FULL version of the Roaster development environment, not the cripple-ware version that only lets you work on the book's examples.

Hard-core programmers can skip this introductory book altogether. Try "Java in a Nutshell".