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Product: Book - Paperback
Title: Java(tm)2: A Beginner's Guide Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media Authors: Herbert Schildt, Herbert Schildt Rating: 5/5  I'm a networking guy by trade, and have never been very adept at programming, and I've never had any luck with teaching myself any sort of language from a "21 days" book. I'm taking a required course for my degree - "Intro to Programming with Java" and was still having difficulties in figuring out exactly WHY I was typing certain lines. Most books I've read just say "Let's jump right in!" (My college textbook actually says this...) Wait! Let's NOT! Java 2: A Beginner's Guide is very aptly named. Having NO previous experience to draw from, this book does a very good job of explaining things is a very orderly fashion, with plently of examples and even projects to work through. Although I've only completed the first 200 pages, I can honestly say that it's "clicked" for the first time. The going is slow; I would recommend typing each example and think about what the code is actually doing, but I know that my retention rate will be very high. This book makes learning to program enjoyable, and that's quite an achievement coming from me - I greatly dislike writing code. I would whole-heartedly recommend this to anyone looking at code for the first time, as it will certainly make my classroom assignments and labs a breeze. The only drawback to this writing is that I am a third into the book, and I don't appear to have covered a huge amount of material. There's good reason for this, however. The "Complete Guides" to Java are 1200 pages, and are quite hefty tomes. Since this book is branded as a reference for the beginner, I can't really mark it down for that reason. This book does represent a great way to get started on learning the Java language. Jayson TobiasCCNP CCDP MCSE
Product: Book - Paperback
Title: HTML for the World Wide Web with XHTML and CSS: Visual QuickStart Guide, Fifth Edition Publisher: Peachpit Press Authors: Elizabeth Castro Rating: 5/5 This book will not only teach you HTML (in very concise one-page lessons, a great way to learn!) but will continue to serve as a reference. I pick it up all the time when I have a question. The chapters are easy to read and she makes the concepts easy to understand ... its a wonder more computer books aren't written this way. If you need to learn HTML and want to do so quickly yet painlessly, you won't regret buying this book.
Product: Book - Paperback
Title: Digital Compositing In Depth: The Only Guide to Post Production for Visual Effects in Film Publisher: Coriolis Group Books Authors: Doug Kelly Rating: 5/5 I just got my copy of Digital Compositing in depth and already I have learned so much from it. This is the first book I have ever seen with 2 CD-Roms included and the color section has plates that are useful not just 'gee-wiz'. The software and examples represent the real-world problems that I face using video. The definition of terms and step by step explanations and how to sections make this book ideal for anyone with compositing needs. Highly recommended.
Product: Book - Paperback
Title: Empire Earth 2 : Prima Official Game Guide Publisher: Prima Games Authors: RON DULIN Rating: 3/5  Prima's Guide to Empire Earth 2 is an ok reference guide and has good walkthroughs for 4 single player campaigns. Unfortunately, it's not much help with the most difficult part of the game - unit management and overall strategy - and doesn't include quick reference materials. I knock off a star each for the lack of in-depth strategic help as well as a value proposition that isn't great, but since the game didn't include much of this material as it should have I still recommend purchase. First, the positives. This guide has very, very detailed walkthroughs of the single player scenarios for America, Korea, and Germany, along with Turning Point. In addition, it has detailed numbers on every unit and special unit in the game along with technologies and upgrades. Finally, there are a few extra bonuses, like resource locations on the premade multiplayer maps (so make sure never to agree to a game on one!) As such, this is a useful reference as it has a whole bunch of things that weren't included with the game as they should have been. However, this disappoints on the strategy side. While they do discuss civilization strengths and weaknesses, there's not a whole lot of analysis. I expected a detailed breakdown of civilzation versus civilzation by era; instead, the best you get is about half a page per civilization total. Hints and tips are equally disappointing. (An example: "Pay attention to civilzation bonuses." Wouldn't have thought that one up on my own.) Moreover, as Sierra skimped on certain essentials that should have been included with the game - like a technology and unit tree - one would have expected they'd have been included with this guide as say a end-cover foldout. They weren't. Still, this is worth buying solely for the unit reference material, at least until some devotees of the game put that on the web in accessible format. It just that this guide could have been far more.
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