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Author Newbie question about Java book.
Lee

2007-08-27, 8:39 pm

Saw "Java How to Program (7th Edition)" at my local book store.
Looked it up online and saw six reviews that all were pretty
favorable. Anyone else have any hands on with this book? Before I
shell out $90 for a book, I would like to be sure it is worth while.

As a side note, I hate online books, I like having a physical book
sitting next to me as I program. Just easier for me, and how I
learned in the past. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

-Lee

Kevin Sandal

2007-08-27, 8:39 pm

"Lee" <lawentzel@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1188237364.787912.294080@50g2000hsm.googlegroups.com...
> Saw "Java How to Program (7th Edition)" at my local book store.
> Looked it up online and saw six reviews that all were pretty
> favorable. Anyone else have any hands on with this book? Before I
> shell out $90 for a book, I would like to be sure it is worth while.
>
> As a side note, I hate online books, I like having a physical book
> sitting next to me as I program. Just easier for me, and how I
> learned in the past. Thanks in advance for your feedback.
>
> -Lee
>


Have you tried requesting it from your local library? Many will take
requests for books they do not even have and may obtain it. Worth
considering...

Kevin


Hal Rosser

2007-08-27, 11:15 pm


"Lee" <lawentzel@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1188237364.787912.294080@50g2000hsm.googlegroups.com...
> Saw "Java How to Program (7th Edition)" at my local book store.
> Looked it up online and saw six reviews that all were pretty
> favorable. Anyone else have any hands on with this book? Before I
> shell out $90 for a book, I would like to be sure it is worth while.
>
> As a side note, I hate online books, I like having a physical book
> sitting next to me as I program. Just easier for me, and how I
> learned in the past. Thanks in advance for your feedback.
>
> -Lee
>


I suggest going to the bookstore and look thru several Java books to see
which one 'speaks your language'.
Some authors explain things assuming you know c++
some explain as if you know vb
some don't assume.

I like authors Malik and Savitch for expensive books

and there's one book "Head First Java" that has a fresh approach and a
better price.


Roedy Green

2007-08-27, 11:15 pm

On Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:56:04 -0700, Lee <lawentzel@gmail.com> wrote,
quoted or indirectly quoted someone who said :

>As a side note, I hate online books, I like having a physical book
>sitting next to me as I program. Just easier for me, and how I
>learned in the past. Thanks in advance for your feedback.


I suggest getting a good IDE such as IntelliJ or Eclipse. It will let
you find the javadoc for a method at a click. This is so convenient,
I find now I am impatient with paper books where you have to scan by
eye of fiddle with indexes.
--
Roedy Green Canadian Mind Products
The Java Glossary
http://mindprod.com
Lew

2007-08-27, 11:15 pm

Lee <lawentzel@gmail.com> wrote:

Roedy Green wrote:[color=darkred]
> I suggest getting a good IDE such as IntelliJ or Eclipse. It will let
> you find the javadoc for a method at a click. This is so convenient,
> I find now I am impatient with paper books where you have to scan by
> eye of fiddle with indexes.


or NetBeans from
http://www.netbeans.org/
which also has this feature.

You can also access the Javadocs online at
<http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/api/>

These are not a substitute for a book (or set of books) but an adjunct to
workaday programming, whereby you can have references at your fingertips.

Furthermore, Roedy's own website,
<http://www.mindprod.com/>
is chock-full of excellent advice, definitions, project ideas, warnings
against common problems and more.

You will gain subtlety and more robust code by studying any book written or
co-authored by Joshua Bloch, especially
/Effective Java/.

--
Lew
Roedy Green

2007-08-28, 5:52 am

On Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:56:04 -0700, Lee <lawentzel@gmail.com> wrote,
quoted or indirectly quoted someone who said :

>Before I
>shell out $90 for a book, I would like to be sure it is worth while.


see http://mindprod.com/jgloss/gettingstarted.html
--
Roedy Green Canadian Mind Products
The Java Glossary
http://mindprod.com
Mark Space

2007-08-28, 7:17 pm

Lee wrote:
> Saw "Java How to Program (7th Edition)" at my local book store.
> Looked it up online and saw six reviews that all were pretty
> favorable. Anyone else have any hands on with this book? Before I
> shell out $90 for a book, I would like to be sure it is worth while.
>


Oh, that's the Deitel book. I didn't care for the C++ Deital book. I
didn't think it was great for the very expensive price. Stroustrup was
better in the end.

I can't say about Deitel because I didn't pick their Java book up, but
if you want to save a few $$, use the O'Reilly book Learning Java
instead. Nearly half the price, and perfectly fine for starting out (I
did).
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