Reviews and Reader Comments

Reviews

If you are considering purchasing this book, it might help to read several reviews as well as the reader comments in the next section. I am aware of six reviews (five are on-line), and have listed them below. If you know of any others, please let me know and I will add them to the list.

1. This is the Amazon.com review: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0201634651/001-7978876-3748636. You will find a comprehensive review, a number of reader comments and ratings, and another more detailed review from a reader.
2. Internet Nexus Reviews: http://www.internet-nexus.com/reviews/reviews_disp.asp?QueryText=65
3. From March 1998 SciTech Book News & CD ROM Books in Print Wireviews: "For those UNIX programmers and computer science students grudgingly or otherwise accepting that Windows has taken over as the computer platform of choice, Hart (Peritus Software Services and consultant) provides a guide to the essentials of Windows 95/98, Windows NT, and Win32 system programming. He probes the mysteries of: the Win32 file system and character I/O, direct file access and attributes, structured exception handling, memory management, security, process management, interprocess communication, threads and scheduling, Win32 synchronization, dynamic link libraries, asynchronous I/O, performance results, and Win32, UNIX and C library comparisons. Includes notes on using the sample CD-ROM programs and, unusual for computer books, a bibliography."
4. In the enterprise zone, go to http://www.skwc.com/essent/w95book_frames.html (or .../w95book.html if your browser doesn't support frames) and then search for this book by title or author.
5. http://www.sdwntug.org/ntnt/ is from the San Diego NT Users Group. Select the Oct-Nov 97 Past Issue, and then select "Book Review"
6. The owner of http://www.skwc.com/essent/w95book.html#win32sp reviews numerous books and has a lot of interesting things to say about Windows. This page is definitely good reading. The last time I looked, the review was at the end of his Section 2. While he correctly identifies some mistakes in the first printing that have since been fixed and are in the errata, I disagree about his comments regarding DLLs and about some other books. He also says that book would only be useful to UNIX programmers (but it will be useful to them). I have had numerous messages from VMS, Mac, and other programmers who have found the book to be useful, and I have also successfully delivered the course to people with non-UNIX backgrounds.

Note: I am fortunate and pleased that all reviews are positive and complimentary but promise to include any future negative reviews as well.

Reader Comments

Roman Andronov wrote: "Bought your book. Very nice, very nice. Actually, this is one of the best programming books I ever read. I enjoyed every page of it. Very simple, very clear coverage. I felt very good after I read it. And I used lots of material right away on my assignment. One more time thanks a lot for a wonderful book."

On March 10, 1998, Andrew Tucker (ast@halcyon.com) wrote: "The grid comparing SetEvent/PulseEvent actions on auto/manual reset events was very helpful in a multiple thread talk I've been preparing. Also, since most of my work lately is with WCE, I found the WCE semaphore class very enlightening. Thank you for writing (and supporting) such a great book!"

"Your book has exceptional instructional content and value, from someone who knows a lot and who also knows how to deliver the materials. The size of the book is about right, and searching for things already covered in a "lesson" is easier than in other books on the subject. I have all three books (Feuer, MFC Programming, and Rector and Newcomer, Win32 Programming) and I love every one of them. Your book is always by my side when I do my projects." -- Ignatius Wong (iwong@spss.com).

"You've done a great job with the book's web page, adding lots of value for the buyers of the book. I like your style and approach to programming and I enjoyed reading your book." -- From Andrew Savige (andrewsavige@yahoo.com) who lives in Australia.

David Poulton from the UK (DPoulton@compuserve.com) writes. "Mr. Hart has produced a detailed and authoritative account of the Win32 subsystem interface- it is a prerequisite for all developers seeking to develop reliable and performant applications." "I would just like to congratulate you on an excellent text (Win32 System Programming), which I have thoroughly enjoyed reading."

Mike Innes, also from the UK, says, "I have just purchased your book, and I must say I am very impressed and pleased to find something that fits so well into what I was looking for. I am a UNIX administrator and as a hobby write code for PC and UNIX (in C). I feel that your book will fill the gaps in my knowledge, specifically Win32. Thanks again for the book - it is excellent. While the content in the book looks A1, I am not completely sure that I can agree with your all comments regarding the comparisons with UNIX. I feel the introduction is a little biased (but I suppose I am too, but towards UNIX)." Note that Mike's additional comments are included under the Windows NT vs UNIX section on the book home page.