January .NET Books
In case you just woke up, here’s a quick reminder: it is already 2004! What’s so special about 2004 ? It’s the year we should see the release of the new version of the .NET Framework (code name Whidbey) along with new versions of Visual Studio .NET, ASP.NET and even a new version of SQL Server (code name Yukon). All of the products were unveiled at the last Microsoft Professional Developers (PDC) Conference that took place in October 2003 and already we’re beginning to see books on the bookstores shelves that are focusing on these new technologies. This month, I’ll review two books that talk about ASP.NET 2.0. Keep in mind that those books are based on Alpha versions of ASP.NET and Visual Studio .NET and things may change from the time the products will reach Beta. For those interested on the PDC, check my coverage of the conference at http://www.universalthread.com/Conferences/PDC/2003/
The Wow factor is pretty high here. The new stuff is so cool, the only drawback of such early books is that we still have to wait a year before Whidbey ships. For those who don’t have access to the developers preview (the alpha) of Whidbey, don’t despair, both books have a multitude of screenshots so that you can easily see the new features. Finally, you may wonder is it worth it to read books on such early technology. In this case, the answer is yes because the changes that will ship in Whidbey will definitively affect the way you develop Web applications in the near future.
ASP.NET 2.0 Revealed
Author: Patrick Lorenz
Publisher: APress
ISBN: 1-59059-337-5
Retail Price: $39.99 US
Publication Date: November 2003
Paperback: 381 pages
Online information: Table of content, Source Code, Chapter 2
This first book this month is called ASP.NET 2.0 Revealed. Lorenz starts with an overview of the new features, perfect to get you hooked. Although not specific to ASP.NET 2.0, the author takes time in this overview to introduce the reader to the new languages features of C# and VB.NET. Next, you will discover the new features of Visual Studio .NET for Web development, what’s new with the data controls, how to create master pages, themes and Web parts. There’s a chapter on Web development for mobile devices and one on configuration and administration of the Web applications.
This book was written on a tight schedule (6 weeks) for it to be released at the PDC. It lacks a little polish like diagrams but it’s understandable due to the circumstances. None the less, it’s a fun read because of all the cool stuff mentioned in it. I like the fact that the author moves from feature to feature with a quick explanation, some screenshots and some shorts code snippets. It’s perfect for someone who wants to learn about Whidbey but doesn’t have access to it.
A First Look at ASP.NET v.2.0
Authors: Alex Homer, Dave Sussman, Rob Howard
Publisher: Addison Wesley
ISBN: 0-321-22896-0
Retail Price: $39.99 US, $60.99 CDN
Publication Date: October 2003
Paperback: 498 pages
Online information: Table of content, index, chapter 1 and 5, source code on the authors' Website
A First Look at ASP.NET v.2.0 is also a book about the news features found in Whidbey. The format is different from the usual soft cover computer books, more like an oversize paperback novel. I like that format a lot because I think it’s easier to read and carry around. So much about the format, what about the authors? You may recognize some familiar names here: Alex Homer and David Sussman who used to write for Wrox and Rob Howard who is Program Manager on the ASP.NET team.
Basically, the content is about the same as Lorenz’s book but with deeper information, more explanations and more code. Perhaps the fact that one of the authors is on the ASP.NET team helped but we get great explanations on the purposes of the changes and the new features and I think it’s important because it helps understand the reasons behind those changes. The content, presentation and layout of the book are top notch. You’ll find plenty of diagrams and screenshots to illustrate the new tools. Homer, Sussman and Howard are experienced authors and it shows. It’s even hard to find author’s style differences from chapters to chapters. Like I said earlier, the level of the book is higher because the authors go deeper with their explanations and examples. If you have access to Whidbey, I’d recommend this book because you will be able to go further in your experimentations. If you don’t have Whidbey, no problem, the Wow factor is here also. High praises for A First Look at ASP.NET v.2.0.