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Book Description

The first edition of this book was released at the 2001 Tech Ed conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Since that time, this text has been revised, tweaked, and enhanced to account for the changes found within each release of the .NET platform (1.1, 2.0, 3.0 and now 3.5).

The last version, .NET 3.0, was more of an augmentative release, essentially providing three new APIs: Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) and Windows Workflow Foundation (WF). As you would expect, coverage of the "W's" has been expanded a great deal in this version of the book from the previous Special Edition text.

Unlike .NET 3.0, .NET 3.5 provides dozens of new C# language features and .NET APIs. This edition of the book will walk you through all of this new material using the same readable approach as was found in previous editions. Rest assured, you'll find detailed coverage of Language Integrated Query (LINQ), the C# 2008 language changes (automatic properties, extension methods, anonymous types, etc.) and the numerous bells and whistles of Visual Studio 2008.

What you will learn

• Everything you need to know – get up to speed with C# 2008 quickly and efficiently.
• Discover all the new .NET 3.5 features — Language Integrated Query, anonymous types, extension methods, automatic properties, and more.
• Get a professional foothold — targeted to appeal to experienced software professionals, this book gives you the facts you need the way you need to see them.
• A rock-solid foundation – focuses on everything you need to be a successful .NET 3.5 programmer, not just the new features. Get comfortable with all the core aspects of the platform — including assemblies, remoting, Windows Forms, Web Forms, ADO.NET, XML web services, and much more.

Who is this book for?

If you're checking out this book for the first time, understand that it targets experienced software professionals and/or students of computer science (so please don't expect three chapters devoted to "for" loops). The mission of this text is to provide you with a rock-solid foundation to the C# 2008 programming language and the core aspects of the .NET platform (OOP, assemblies, file IO, Windows Forms/WPF, ASP.NET, ADO.NET, WCF,WF, etc.). Once you digest the information presented in these 33 chapters, you'll be in a perfect position to apply this knowledge to your specific programming assignments, and you'll be well equipped to explore the .NET universe on your own terms.

Average Customer Rating:

Well Written	Customer Rating:
This book is well written and explains the fundamental details of .NET platform. It also touches upon the new features of the language in .NET 3.5. A very nice coverage of LINQ as well. WPF could however have been a bit more detailed.

Excellent	Customer Rating:
I initially downloaded an ebook just to check out how this book is, and i wasnt disappointed. I ordered it a week ago and got it yesterday. I simply love it. Best book on c#

Best Book To Learn C#	Customer Rating:
If only a few books could get six stars, this would be one of them! This book was easy to follow and with good, solid examples that could be typed in as you read along. The only problem is that now I expect too much from the other books that I read...no other book has been able to match this one!

Almost Too Much

Customer Rating:

I needed to catch up on .NET 3 and 3.5, after reading reviews I selected this title. Being a very experienced developer I didn't want another start from the beginning and target everyone book. I have mixed opinion on the book, while there is a ton of info here, I find myself spending lots of time skipping around and over stuff. I was disappointed with such little part of this very large book actually being on the '.NET 3.5 Platform'. Experienced developers don't need a book, targeted to a 'platform', teaching object oriented programming theory. I would have much rather seen these chapters devoted to the 2008 VS IDE. I think all of the info in the book is great and I am sure I will go back to various parts of the book to review 'old' stuff now and then. Generally speaking from a very experienced developer point of view I would guesstimate that I will only use 25% of the book. To summarize, great general resource for lesser experienced developers not as good for the very experienced wanting to update 2008 .NET 3.5 skills.

Interesting detail, useful examples, poor editing

Customer Rating:

I turned to this book after getting frustrated with "Professional C# 2008" from Wrox Press. Each book provides detail that the other leaves out, but this one is better at revealing what goes on under the hood. The editing in this book is worse than in the other one. In fact, I have the impression that it was not edited at all. This one is better at illustrating points with examples, but some of the examples are unnecessarily complicated. The fact that this book is hardcover is a point in its favor.