A few weeks back, I finished reading Applications = Code + Markup by Charles Petzold.
It's a mixed bag of positives and negatives.
On the plus side, Charles' writing style is awesome. The way he breaks down a topic with mild humor thrown here and there, is like an expert cook mixing all his ingredients in just the right quantity to create something ultra tasty. I also like the completeness of the book. It delivers on what it promises - and tells you of everything you need to know about a certain topic.
On the negative side, my personal opinion is that the two logical sections the book was organized in, Code + Markup, is unnecessary. More than unnecessary, it also contributed to the bulk of the book. This is a nearly 1000 page book, so it is a huge commitment in time to read the full thing. The biggest complaint by far though is the lack of screenshots in this book. Hard to do justice to a "Presentation framework" book without the necessary screenshots. So, don't read this book without a computer handy. Get the source code, and match your screen with what the book describes. The problem is, I like to walk upto starbucks with a nice book, and it is just a whole lot inconvenient carrying a 1000 page book & a laptop. Plus I look like a complete dufus juggling between the book, and the coffee, and the laptop on that tiny starbucks table. Terribly unfortunately, MSPress doesn't offer an e-book version of this book, so you really have no choice to carry this 20lb brick with you. On the positive side, I guess you could use it for self-defense if the need arises.
Now I understand that including screenshots would have bulked this book to 2000 pages, but well, therein lies the last part, i.e. reduce the bulk. Combine Code + Markup into what I really need to know, keep your awesome writing style, and keep your focus on getting the concepts across.
Overall, a good book, with some room for improvement. My WPF concepts are crystal clear, and that was the whole purpose - so I like this book.
Will I read the next Petzold book on 3D WPF? Probably.
On
4/8/2007 3:44:51 PM
Bill
said ..
Petzold is one of those authors I've followed throughout my career and have nothing but respect for him. He's brilliant and a superb writer. But something about this book just didn't click with me. Seemed like to dragged on forever before getting into Xaml and just seemed a bit longwinded without really providing substantive information proportionate to the length. Perhaps I think, the biggest issue I have is that I expect so much whenever I see his name on a book - and it's just hard to meet such high expectations.
Speaking of which, is there any way I can talk you into creating a WPF app that illustrates pictures of you walking around starbucks with your coffee, huge book and laptop?
And if you were getting mugged, how would you defend yourself. "Go upside" the dude's head with the book? Drop it on his toe? Tuck it to your chest to deflect bullets and knifes? I'd probably just drop it on the floor and run knowing few people could traverse it in the high jump ;-)
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On
4/8/2007 9:28:50 PM
Sahil Malik
said ..
LOL Bill, or you could just hand them the book to read, and run away cuz it'll take a while to go through 1000 pages?
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