the vb.net has code support but the c# has not.
it is diificult to review the book without
translating the vb version to c# to see if the code works

WROX put together another practical readable handbook. Only one problem - the code is unavailable for download. And maybe that would not be so bad if the authors covered all of the code in the text (and they don't).

This book is utterly and completely useless - void of sufficient detail on any subject to be useful. Avoid at all costs.

The .NET Compact Framework Beta 1 was released in April 2002 and this book was published in February 2002 based on a 'technology preview' release. The only reason I read this is because - understandably - there is no other book out there covering the .NETcf

It's a small book of 167 A5 pages written by 4 people. There are 6 chapters starting with an introductory overview of the .NETcf and ending with advice on porting code from existing CE code or the desktop. The second chapter is about the SDE and VS.NET. This leaves chapters 3-5 which go through building a 3-tier application (GUI - middle tier - data tier).

Unfortunately, I found it to be full of syntax/grammar errors and the overall style indicates a piece of work that has gone through little review prior to going public. Irrelevant info is included (how to build Window & Web Service projects on the desktop and MMIT) and some of the relevant info is just wrong (features in Beta 1 added/dropped since PDC release). It will become even more outdated with the next release of the .NETcf in August (the final expected in November).

IMHO, there is much more info and benefit to be gained by visiting the relevant pages of gotdotnet.com and the compactframework newsgroup.

Craig Morris is brilliant and this book is simply the best. It helped me so much with my life and relationship with my computer and cat.