Is it just me, or do you feel like every time you try to find a good reference or example for a particular subject all you can find is stuff that is incomplete, incorrect, buggy, or only works in theory or when the winds are just right?  Also, like most people I have also had painful experiences with a few products or services that left me with the desire to climb on top of the tallest roof I could find and tell the world about it so that: 1) others wouldn’t have to go through the same frustration experience 2) to send a message to companies who continually provide poor service or subpar products that we are smart consumers and we will rebel against such tyranny.  I have also run across an equal number of companies that exceeded my expectations and gave me a “wow” experience, and in turn I have become evangelistic on their behalf.  Really I want this to be a place to share my experiences in terms of what did and didn’t work for me for: software, code, books, training, and some other random topics that temporarily captured my attention.

By Dino Esposito
352 Pages
http://www.amazon.com/Introducing-Microsoft-ASP-NET-AJAX-Pro/dp/0735624135

Publisher's Description: Get an expert introduction to the new JavaScript enhancements (code-named "Atlas") for Microsoft ASP.NET 2.0. More than a basic AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript And XML) script library, the Microsoft implementation brings object orientation to JavaScript, together with enhanced client-side and server-side controls that greatly simplify coding while delivering enhanced Web experiences with any browser. Scheduled for release with the next version of Microsoft Visual Studio®, code named "Orcas," AJAX extensions and tools can be used by developers today. This book offers expert insights direct from the Microsoft product team and noted ASP authority Dino Esposito, as well as hands-on instruction and examples of Web development with AJAX. This ideal reference will be updated online, keeping readers up to date with the evolving tool. The book includes code samples in ASP.NET 2.0 created using C# and JavaScript.

My Thoughts: This is the hot, new technology in the industry and like a lot of its predecessors there are a million people claiming it is the biggest thing since the GUI.  Here is the breakdown of those on the bandwagon:

• 50% don’t have a clue what ASP.NET AJAX means, but they heard someone say it was cool so they want it
• 35% think they know what it is, but are really confusing things like AJAX, ASP.NET AJAX Extensions, the ASP.NETAJAX Control Toolkit, web services, and “Web 2.0” (which I am sick of hearing about).  This is the most dangerous group.
• 15% actually know what the heck is going on, and are reasonably excited

The Good: I admit … I have bought a few different books related to AJAX stuff: Professional Ajax (Wrox), Ajax Hacks (O’Reilly), and Programming Atlas (O’Reilly).  But this is by far the most useful book of them all.  Dino adequately covers the fundamental concepts that developers should know without going into too much detail.  He jams this book with a ton of practical information that a developer would actually use without the fluff.

He starts off by covering the basics of AJAX and the existing tools out there in 34 pages.  Then he dives into the heart of it with chapters on the Microsoft Client Library for AJAX, and the ScriptManager control.  There is even a chapter that covers the AJAX Control Toolkit, which is an open-source, community project containing a ton of components that you would usually expect to pay for.  Some of the other topics he includes are: partial page rendering, accessing application services on the client, and remote method calls.

The Bad: The only con was that the last chapter seemed like it was just thrown together.  When I was 2/3 of the way through it, I was thinking this book was almost flawless … but it took a steep nose dive at the end.  I figured the publisher probably put some pressure on Dino to wrap it up, because they wanted to be the first with a book after the release of ASP.NET AJAX Extensions 1.0.  This might have been smart business thinking, but the text reflected it with a few inaccurate or confusing statements.

Conclusion: Still an awesome book, and well worth the money.  One of the most useful books I have read this year.  Anyone who spends much time in ASP.NET, and would like to become more valuable should pick up this book and read it.

By Bill Holtsnider & Brian D. Jaffe
632 Pages
http://www.amazon.com/Managers-Handbook-Second-Getting-your/dp/012370488X/

Publisher’s Description: The IT Managers Handbook, 2nd edition provides essential information needed to manage the new responsibilities thrust on you (or the ones you would like to have): vital tasks such as creating budgets, evaluating technologies, administering compliance, and managing staff.

A completely updated and expanded second edition that provides practical, easily accessible management advice written specifically for new IT managers:

• Brings you up to speed on those business practices most critical to effective IT operations: recruiting, budgeting, resource planning, managing personnel, and working with vendors.
• Includes expanded coverage on such critical IT management topics as security, disaster recovery, storage, government/regulatory compliance, and project management.
• Organizes information modularly so you can delve directly into only the topics that you need.
• Provides a unique management perspective on those specific technical issues with the most significant business ramifications.
• Includes new material on key technology topics such as open source, wireless, handhelds, outsourcing, offshoring, and operations, as well as updated coverage of e-commerce, remote access, intranets, and LAN/WAN management.

My Thoughts: This wasn’t one of the most fun books I have ever read.  I typically prefer books with lots of code samples, and this was about all the other less technical aspects of my job … but all stuff I really needed to know.  There is some essential, mission critical information contained in those 632 pages that I just flat out needed to read, and if you are reading this you probably need to also.  It covers a gambit of information that is really useful in my day-to-day world, from the laws IT professionals need to be aware of regarding compliance to examples of effective email notifications for scheduling downtime and a ton of other stuff.  I probably reference it a few times a month, but am glad I did make time to read it cover to cover.