WPF book war

Many discussions in connection with an article publish by Jeff Atwood, Coding Horror, comparing two books on WPF.

The first by Charles Petzold, the other by the least known Adam Nathan. I agree with Jeff Atwood for saying that a programming book must be readable and clear for all, but the debate can go further a simple choice between color or black and white.

I admit I read only Charles Petzold book and yes I find it quite hard to read.

Charles Petzold do not like the criticism of its book, and I understand his point of view as a professional and experimented author. (charles it's a pity you don't have comments on your book's blog).

However, the subject, WPF, go beyond the borders of the world of the pure and hard coders. WPF is also addressed to the designers, and as one is at the beginning of a new technology, it is necessary to be able to reach the maximum of audience.

The book of Adam Nathan brings by the color and the many photographs of screen, a good understanding and easy read on this subject.

I imagine authors are already preparing some new books on Silverlight too, and it's important It hink the writing stay 'light' (sorry for the pun!) and open to a large audience, including web designers and artists.

Otherwise WPF and WPF/E as good as they are will stay as a niche for some obscure applications.

When I started digging on Ajax, like many, I used the web but I am an old school person, so a book has more appeal for me than a blog.

But again with Ajax, the published ones are quite rubbish, except one I keep all the time in my laptop bag. And yes it has graphics, photos, and big captions, and no it's not a 'dummies' series. It's the great Head Rush Ajax from Head First Labs.

They really understood how to captivate their readers on a very dry subject!

As for WPF books, those books are the modern approach to complex matters.