Rating:  - First-rate Introduction to VB 2005 book---it delivers, as stated!
A first-rate, terrific job of guiding readers trough the basic features of VB .NET 2005, just like it publicizes. Every single chapter, and every section, includes examples that you can either build on yourself or study from the accompanying CD.
If you're either a totally new programmer or slightly experienced newbie to VB programming, this is the book for you. (Experienced programmers should ensure they read the intro/scope material, as this book is NOT for them.) I breezed through this book, and did all of the examples, in about 20 hours. I should rate this book 5-stars, but I give it only 4-stars, because it would have been nice to also include an additional CD of MS SQL 2005 Server Express and expand a bit more on the chapters associated with databases and dataset manipulation that cover real-life work-related scenarios. Readers like choices so including the option to use MS Access or SQL Server database examples, and adding Access/Sql examples in the book, would have been the ultimate for a beginning programmer's book. Let's face it: One of the greatest strengths of the VB IDE is to rapidly create apps that can consume and manipulate data.
Rating:  - 0 to 60 One Step At A Time
I got this book because I had just accepted my first professional programing job and was feeling extremely anxious. Although I have a Master's Degree in IT and a strong background in programming, I have been teaching Special Education for the last five years. I needed something that would knock the dust off of my programming skills allowing me to refresh my basic knowledge of VB semantics. I read this book in a week, working the exercises, and am now feeling like a capable programmer again. I can honestly say that I have nothing but high praise for this book.
It takes the user from the very basics of declaring variables to simple
ADO, ASP, and XML structures. An excellent book for learning the basics.
Rating:  - Worthless
Another worthless book from Microsoft Press. Microsoft must pay its writers by the word. This book could be boiled down to 25 pages.
Rating: - Great intro into VB
Highly recommended for anyone starting with Visual Basic or programming in general. I bought this book to have a better understanding of how Visual Basic differed from other programming languages I have had experience with before (Java and Python) and I learned a whole lot. The step by step tutorials were great in showing me how to perform basic tasks using the language. I actually have read through this book twice now because 1) it is such an easy read, and 2)it always helps to refresh some of the concepts (especially for me since I can be quite forgetful).
Rating: - Great step by step guide for VB.Net 2005
I've been plowing my way through this text and have found it very helpful and great at explaining the concept of VB.Net 2005. I'm a beginner in Visual Basic, and I am using this as a supplement to my Visual Basic.Net textbook "Programming in Visual Basic.Net" by Julia CAse Bradley and Anita C. Millspaugh. I find that it is great for a beginner like myself, as it is extremeley detailed and shows you every step, though as you progress it expects you to understand more, and isn't as redundant. The author is a Professor, so has a natural teaching ability that shines through, and you alway sget the sense he is right there with you working on it. I would recommend it to anyone who is a VB.Net beginner as a supplement to their text, or just using it by yourself. It also comes with all the files you will need to complete all the excercises on the book included in the CD-ROM. A great purchase!
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