Talk about a tough (and HUGE) subject to cover! Well, I bought this book for two reasons (1) to get a better understanding of C#, and (2) to serve as a starting point for passing the C# for Windows exam. The book served both purposes very well. I read this text cover to cover with the exception of 4 out of 23 chapters.

I saw another review of this book that said something like "1300 page cursory overview" Well, you're probably right. But, I challenge anyone out there to find a book that covers every aspect of .NET that's less that 5,000 pages. Here are a few examples:

1.) There's a chapter on security (there are entire books on the subject)

2.) There's a chapter on ASP (there are entire books on the subject)

3.) There's a chapter on web services (there are entire books on the subject)

4.) There's a chapter on XML (there are entire books on the subject)

5.) There's two chapters on ADO .NET (there are entire books on the subject)

You get my point. This material adds up, and anyone expecting in-depth coverage of everything in 1300 pages should get a reality check. Unfortunately, to really get a grasp on .NET you're going to have to shell out for more books. (So far I have C# in general, web services, and ADO covered. The next purchase will be an ASP .NET book) Can you see where I'm going here? Professional C# is kind of an umbrella for all of the other books. Now, where I find this book does a nice job by itself (not requiring another text) is as follows:

1.) Nice job explaining the C# language itself (including some of the more advanced datatypes), as well as how it implements OO principles.

2.) Nice job explaining what and how the framework is constructed, as well as how a .NET application is constructed.

3.) Focuses mostly on the client-server (windows as opposed to web) side of development.

4.) ADO coverage is enough to get you productive.

There are a LOT of other good features of the book. And most of the subject areas covered provide an adequate presentation of the material. A couple of exceptions are ASP and security. I realize that a book on C# must at least touch on these topics, but it probably could have just left those chapters out. Buy another book. (35 pages on ASP .NET? Don't bother!)

I can't say if it's too advanced for some users. I've never purchased a "beginning" series book by Wrox, I alway go for the "professional". The only thing I would have expected them to do a better job on beacuse you can't really get a separate book on the subject, is deployment.

Anyhoo, I think this is a great book for the purpose for which it was intended. If it was 5,000 pages long, I would have given it 5 stars. For the most part, Wrox usually does a good job. Remember, there are NO silver bullets with .NET books. Unfortunately you're going to have to get at least 4 titles to cover everything well.

Bottom Line: If this is your first .NET book, it's worth it. It was my fourth, and it's still worth it. If you need to take it to the next level, you'll need more than one book - no matter which one you get first.

This is a big and heavy book (I just love this kind), and it covers more apects of C# than any other book on the market. No matter what you want to do with C#, you'll find something useful in this book.

I learned C# from the first edition of this book, and bought the second edition to use for reference. If you have some Visual Basic, C++ or Java background, this is the best book you can find to learn C# (you should also have the basic concepts of OOP programming, although there is an appendix that focuses solely on that subject). After you have learned C#, this is the best book to keep on your desk when you get into trouble and MSDN can't help too much.

If you're new to .NET, the first chapter ("C# and the .NET Arhictecture") will be really enlightening. Chapters 2,3,4 (C# Basics, Object-Oriented C# and Advanced C# topics) cover all you need to know about C# syntax and basics. The book also contains valuable material and plenty of code examples about Windows Forms, ADO.NET, ASP.NET, XML, File and Registry Operations, Working with Active Directory, Web Services and .NET remoting, COM Interoperability, COM+, GDI+ and so on. It doesn't try to cover exaustively each of those subjects, but it's enough to get you started.

Have fun with this big red book. This is definitely one of my favourite programming books, and the price is so low compared to the amount of quality information it has inside.

This book is packed with knowledge. Every page is worth its weight in gold. I read it from cover to cover. Re-doing EVERY exercise manually. Trust me, I know what I'm saying.

I worked with the 1st Edition. Took me 8 months to finish the book thorougly. Yes there is some mistakes and typos. But if you understand the text, you can correct these mistakes easily. As a reward, the exercises I redo is always better than the book's ones.

Some persons complaint that there's too much authors resulting in style discrepancy and the chapters slightly overlap their introduction. Yes it's true. And I found that it's rather a GREAT advantage. Just because each author gives you the best of their expertise. Do you think an author of ASP.NET could give you detailed explanation all the intricacies of the C# & .NET runtime environment?

The repetition of some concepts is not really a waste, this book is advanced. I found that it's rather good. Actually, I found this book doesn't have enough pages. Sometime I can't do better than 3 pages a day.

The chapters related to the .NET and C# language fundamental (Chapter 1 to 10) and advanced techniques (File IO, ASDI, COM+, GDI+, .NET Remoting, Windows Services and Security) are simply wonderful. They represent +80% of the book. I rated the ADO.NET and XML chapters 4 stars. The weakest part is ASP.NET, Web Services. I wish the author had choosen a simpler example and add may be few more chapters. The chapter on Custom Control is OK. In anyway, I can't blame the author, to get serious on ASP.NET, you'd rather buy a specific book.

I particularly like the side notes and the Appendix giving a background comparison C# and traditional languages (C++, Java, VB).

If you expect from this book a collection of recipes of code ready for cut and paste, then you will be likely disappointed. This book is for those who are willing to LEARN. The C# language and OOP concept itself is not that difficult. It's rather the .NET Framework itself and how to use wisely the wealth of its base classes.

One reviewer said "too many authors who don't know their stuff". Not true, while I was redoing the exercise, I perceived the style of each of them. Generally they're good. And when needed, the authors answer to my emails. I'm an experienced programmer, when something is bad, I can see it easily.

I come from a VB + ASP background, thanks to this book, I now have a pretty solid knowledge of .NET and a pure style C# programmer. I have had hard time to grasp the whole stuff but now I can tell you that I'm happy to leave the VB world.

I wholeheartly recommend this book to anyone who want to learn C# _AND_ how to make useful application with it. Be courageous, spend some time, you won't be disappointed.

The writing of this book is too verbose. Some sentences contain more than 5 commas and I thought I was getting lost. It's very difficult to know what the author is trying to explain with those extremly long sentences.
Many examples are not adequate at all. Some of the logics in the examples are so bad, I couldn't see why the author added these to the book. They rather confuse you than helps you understanding the concepts behind C#.

I am sorry but it does look like a rough draft rather than a finished book.

Like many Wrox books of late, this book is a mixed bag. There are some really excellent or unusual chapters that make the book (almost) worth its high cost and then there are many chapters that are poorly written, poorly edited or both. (I liked the chapters on remoting and security a lot.) The book also has a disconcerting habit of not finishing what it starts (like how to print).

While there is no perfect C# book out there yet, there are better books than this one. My recommendations are:

If you a beginner definitely buy Archer's book "Inside C#"

If you have a C++ or Java background buy Gunnerson's "A Programmer's Introduction To C#" (be sure to get the second edition) or Liberty's "Programming C#".

If you want a comprehensive book and can afford only one by Troelsen's "C# and the .NET Platform", if you can afford two buy this book and Troelsen.

It's one of the best C# and .NET Framework introductions, but the problem is that, due to the extent of the subject, all the books that try to cover the whole .NET Framework in a single (even if big) volume are missing the point from a professional programmer point of view.
To have all you need to fully understand the .NET Framework it's absolutely essential to have a collection of books that cover every single topic in detail and they are appearing now.
If you want to save money and buy a good introduction especially about C# or you are an experienced programmer that ventures out to .NET and C# for the first time then it could be a good purchase, otherwise it's better to focus on the topics you are looking for and buy more specialized publications. A professional programmer could find it a little superficial in some parts and due to the usual hurry of Wrox Press to be first on target a little disjointed in others.

Patrick Robinson wrote Nimitz Class with the help of Sir Admiral Woodward who single-handedly commanded the first computor war this world has ever seen. The Battle of the Falkland Islands in 1982. He was the top man in the Royal Navy and every piece of technical jargon is absolutely spot on in Nimitz Class. The book was spotted by Ed Victor (one of the most important literary agents in the world) who quickly became Mr. Robinson's London agent. Nimitz Class has paid meticulous attention to detail, and the way Patrick Robinson writes places him among the best thriller writers of this century. He blew Tom Clancy out of the water in the Italian literary awards this year, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It is a breath taking debut and I believe it really could be the news one day. It has provoked wide military concern, and as a direct result of this book, no foreigner will ever be trained again in England - Ben Adnam scared the Royal Navy away from that idea. Books that lack realism tend not to have the same international effect. Jengo R.

"Nimitz Class" A most excellent "fiction". I read it prior to 9/11 & walked away wondering if an Islamic radical could carry it out, and that an aircraft carrier is in fact a juicy target. Way too many hard-nosed military's gave their misguided reviews here. It's called fiction for a good reason! I'm military savvy, & I never saw it containing military "flaws." Also reminded me of the good partnership the U.S. & British military share & rely on. A co-worker, a former WWII diesel submariner loved it. I also passed it on to a West Point graduate & likewise he really liked it. I passed on a tradition my dad started: read it & pay it forward.

Nimitz Class is a first class 'faction' novel written by Patrick Robinson advised by a British sub commander who is widely acknowledged in naval circles as one of the top submariners of all.

First class locations and story.

If Jack Higgins and Clive Cussler's high praise doesn't sell you this book, read the intro and attempt to deny buying.