Rating:  - good code samples
What stands out for me after reading this book is the quality of the code examples (which you can download from the author's website). There are complete sample programs for every chapter. For example, there's a dialog program that shows you all the different types of common dialogs, examples of SDI / Multi SDI / MDI applications, and a controls program that demonstrates all of the different types of user controls. I think the author's intent with these examples (and the book in general) is to try to cover as much of WinForms features as possible, rather than focus on detailing every which way to use a TreeView control. For such details you need to go somewhere else, or look it up on MSDN.
I thought the second half of the book was better, with its coverage of more advanced topics such as integration of custom components within Visual Studio, multithreaded UIs, and application settings. Where I think the book falls short though is in the presentation, and its usefulness as a tutorial for beginners. First of all, it's important to note that the book does not teach you the basics of C# or .NET. So if you have never heard of WinForms before, you really should start off with an introductory Visual C# book before looking at this one. Problems with the presentation include the fact that the author does not really reference the code examples in the book itself. Typically, only partial code snippets are shown and there is this convention of using "..." in the code sections throughout the book which makes it difficult to follow - I found myself having to flip back and forth between pages to recall exactly what code the author has now considered "superfluous" (in his words).
Basically, the content and coverage are there. But the book doesn't seem to be as polished as its MS Press counterparts. I would recommend waiting for a future edition that will likely use VS 2005 examples.
Rating:  - Delivers what it promises
I found this book useful literally as soon as I opened it. While I've been programming for years, I'm fairly new to Windows, so most of this stuff is news to me. The book addresses a lot of the question marks left by the MS documentation. It comes at the material from a different perspective and takes a "lower-level" look at things, offering a explanation of "why," which augments the "how" that one can find in so many other places. I'd heartily recommend this book to anyone seeking a fundamental understanding of Windows Forms.
Rating: - Magic
Personally, I think this book is magic. Writing my very first C# app I did these way cool non-rectangular dialogs and then couldn't figure out how to get them to be moveable...and just then Chris's book fell open to just the page that showed how to override the wndproc and do what I wanted. Wowzers!
If you're planning on doing any coding for Windows, this is the book for you!
Rating: - Yet another MUST-HAVE book...
This book is THE definitive guide to Forms and Controls programming. It is comprehensive, lucid and contains great examples. It doubles as a teaching book and later as a fantastic reference book. Few books can boast that. I had read the book before I took an advanced .NET training course by Wintellect (Wintellect and DevelopMentor are the premier companies in MS and .NET training). The instructor Jason Clark, (Chris' competitor in .NET training and a contractor for Microsoft) highly recommended this book during the training course and it was the only one he recommended for Forms and Controls programming while recommending at least three books on every other area of .NET programming. Jeff Prosise, also an instructor from Wintellect recommends the book as well. It's really hard to top accolades from one's competitors. I am a bit astonished by the occasional low star ratings. It makes me wonder if these people actually read or even have a copy of the book at all. This book should be included in the MSDN reference library, it's that good (though I don't think Addison Wesley would agree with that suggestion). It contains info that is not even in the MSDN docs.
The last book I remember written that brought you up to speed with such complete understanding of a Microsoft technology was Scott Wingo's and George Sheppard's book "MFC Internals". I need a second copy of this book so I don't have to carry it back and forth to work each day. It's getting a little frazzled. Wish they offered it in hardback. This is the first book I have read that could come with a money back guarantee, and the publisher would not lose a cent. Don't waste your money, BUY THIS BOOK.
Note: This book is best for C# programming. If you are a VB programmer you will probably find Chris' other book "Windows Form Programming in Visual Basic" even better since it will have the examples in VB. You can bet the content there is as good as this book.
Rating:  - Good for beginner.
This book is a good introduction of Windows Forms programming. Author shows his style and history are definitely from the VB world. So if you are a VB programmer, this is probably at your level. Covers Forms well and the standard controls. Was sorely lacking details about more interesting controls such as DateTimePicker and TreeView.
But if you are looking to do custom controls and apply object oriented techniques, you will find it wanting. Relies very much on Visual development and its "magic". Sure wish he would have covered the trapping of dialog keyboard events.
His no-touch-deployment and security chapters makes the book worth buying. Also did a good job with Resources. Would recommend Petzold and this book to complement each other. Bottom line, its worth the buy.
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