Ebook: Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition: Build a Program Now!

It starts breaking down around the end of the 6th chapter. One of the instructions tell you to perform an action that Visual C# doesn't support. The companion material (which isn't on the disk, you need to download it) has errors. Upon loading one of the "completed" projects a list of errors popped up. Sad, if the writer can't get his own material right how are we newbies going to get it? In a later chapter you are suppose to debug a file but according to Microsoft's website that file isn't "bugged", it works correctly, so they tell you to skip that project. So instead of fixing the companion material they just tell you to skip it. Sweet.

Admittedly I have not finished the book but so far I've learned very little. The author doesn't really explains any of the terminology (methods & such) but later uses the lingo as if you're an old pro.

I wanted to like this book. The layout & pictures are attractive. The idea behind it - "learn while doing" - is fantastic. Unfortunately, true beginners will probably end up frustrated.