Which book is better?

[jbovell]

Hey, Just want to know what book you guys think I should get..Either:

• MCAD/MCSD Self-Paced Training Kit: Developing Windows-Based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual C# .NET
  
• "Programming Visual Basic .NET by Francesco Balena from Microsoft Press

Keep in mind, I want to get my ceritifaction for vb net and I also want to learn C# after that - although I've heard the transition from Vb.net to C# isn't too much..but anyway, back to the origial point, which book do you think I should get? Please post opinions, because I'm going out to buy it today..Thanks

[Muddy]

Originally posted by jbovell
Hey, Just want to know what book you guys think I should get..Either:

• MCAD/MCSD Self-Paced Training Kit: Developing Windows-Based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual C# .NET
  
• "Programming Visual Basic .NET by Francesco Balena from Microsoft Press

Keep in mind, I want to get my ceritifaction for vb net and I also want to learn C# after that - although I've heard the transition from Vb.net to C# isn't too much..but anyway, back to the origial point, which book do you think I should get? Please post opinions, because I'm going out to buy it today..Thanks

Havent seen the two books before, but Microsoft Press usually provides good books. One you didnt mention "Visual Basic .NET The Tutorials" by Karl Moore is a great book.

[jbovell]

Well I want more of a reference book than a tutorial, I mean i'm going to learn vb.net off of it, but I want a more reference type book..Thanks

--Joe

[Lethal]

Go with Francesco's book.

[hellswraith]

I have the MCAD/MCSD Self-Paced Training Kit: Developing Windows-Based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual C# .NET book.

I wouldn't buy it again. As a matter of fact, I read through the whole thing, it didn't teach me anything. It gives a BRIEF overview of each topic. You won't learn anything but very trivial stuff about each topic. I haven't taken the .net exams yet, but I am sure this book won't help me to pass them based on what I had to know to pass the old MCSD exams.

Just my thoughts.

The best way to decide on a book.... go to the bookstore and spend an hour there. Take two books, and read chapters that coincide with each other. Which did you learn more from? Buy it.

[Edneeis]

Definately, "Programming Visual Basic .NET by Francesco Balena from Microsoft Press, its much better than the other one.

[jbovell]

Yeah, I'm probably going to spend some time there...But thanks, that's kinda what i needed to hear.. And which book do you think is best for the 76-300 exam? or web apps..or any of those needed for MCSD? Thanks in advance, guys, you're providing lots of help

--Joe

[nemaroller]

I bought the Programming VB.Net from the MS PRESS....

and its nice...

but when I need to an example on how to do something... I almost always revert back to my

Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to the .NET Framework Class Library

by Powers & Snell from SamsPublishing....


Between giving up either one, I'd give up MS PRESS book...




http://www.samspublishing.com/isapi/...og/product.asp

[Slow_Learner]

I own book #2 and Balena's writing style is light, very clear, and extremely, densely technical. A huge amount of the book's contents is still over my head. Even so I've gotten a ton of useful information out of it (it's a pretty damn big book). Balena's book is probably the best investment I've made in something like 10 or so .NET books.

[hellswraith]

Here is what I have and the order in which I like them:

ASP.Net Website Programming Problem-Design-Solution - WROX
ASP.NET Data Web Controls Kick Start - SAMS
Programming C# - O'REILLY
MS .Net XML Web Services Step By Step - MSPRESS
Programming Windows with C# - MSPRESS
Developing Web Applications with VB.Net and VC#.Net - MSPRESS
Developing Windows Based Applications with VB.Net and VC#.Net - MSPRESS
MS ADO.Net Step By Step - MSPRESS


I am mainly interested in ASP.Net and C#, so that might be why those books are at the top of my list....

I also tend to like the books that get me thinking about design along with learning new stuff. I really dislike those books that do the 'Do this, Do that, Done', and your left wondering why you would use such a feature.