A number of readers (2
or 3) have requested that I recommend a beginner-level ASP book other than ASP for
Dummies. Because I'm so dedicated, I recently spent several hours in the
bookstore looking over the current selections.
One book stood out
from the mix -- Beginning Active Server Pages 2.0, published by WROX Press. Like
all the best computer books, it's big and thick and red and expensive and, best of
all, it's co-authored by our very own Juan
Llibre.
Instead of giving you
a blow by blow review, I thought I'd see what other people had to say. Somebody always has
something to say at Amazon.com, so I strolled over there to catch a snatch of public
opinion.
The first review, from
John in Tallahassee, says "This book is very basic." (Yup, John, I think that's
why they put that word "Beginning" there at the front of the book title.)
Scott in Seattle
suggests that unless you read ASP for Dummies first, this book might be too
advanced. A reader from Virginia thinks it starts out too slow, then takes great leaps in
subject matter without warning.
Johnny from New York
says the book is an OK book except that it repeats itself too much. He mentions this in
his subject line. He mentions it again in line one of his review. He ends the review with
these words of wisdom, "the repetition just gets a bit tedious."
Pamela from Silicon
Valley thinks, "It rocks! I went from a non-programmer to an intermediate-level
developer in less than a month!” (A few comments come to mind, but really, if the
poor dear believes she's an intermediate-level developer after less than a month, who am I
to dash her hopes?)
Kevin from San Diego
can't get past the errors. He only gives it one star.
Ray from
Carbondale thinks there were almost no errors.
A reader from Bethesda
believes the book is a waste of time. “Since you can’t install PWS on
Win98,” he rages, “It’s impossible to use the book unless you have NT
4.0!” Two helpful readers soon reply, giving detailed directions for installing PWS
on Win98.
A reader
from California complains, "The Authors feel they have to explain and give examples
for everything." A New Yorker adds, “I don’t know how anybody with any
coding experience could possibly stomach the first 12 chapters!”
Chuck
from California believes it has "Too much cool stuff." Meanwhile Greg, also from
California, wishes it had more detail.
Kuala from Malaysia
finds it to be a gentle book, containing more information than the Dummies book, minus the
Dummies jokes (which you might not appreciate, but if you don't, why are you reading this
column now?)
Confused? OK.
One last review. From Nancy in Kirkland:
It's a decent book. If
you don't know how to program, start at the beginning and pay extra attention to Chapter
5, which contains an excellent description of basic coding structures. If you’re a
programmer who's new to web programming, skim the first few chapters. Start paying
attention around the middle of chapter 6 (page 193, to be precise.) If you’re new to
ASP but you already know how to code web apps, skip this book entirely and go on to Professional
Active Server Pages 2.0, also published by WROX.
Oh, one final comment,
to Scott in Seattle. Scott, buddy, unless you're in 4th grade, there is absolutely no
reason to prepare yourself for this book by reading ASP for Dummies first. Get
one or the other. You don't need both! |