Sorry to post this, I realize it has probably been posted a billion times and you guys are tired of seeing posts like this but most of them are c++ and I haven''t seen a Java one lately. ANYWAYS, I will be taking AP Computer Science next year at my high school and I would like to get a jump start this summer. I will be given a textbook for the class but I don''t want to wait that long. I am not a complete newbie to programming. I know most of the basics to c++ and I''ve made a website with HTML and &#106avascript so I don''t need one of those "for complete newbies to programming books" but I would still like it to be simple and understandable. Also my budget is $50 so if you could stay under that I''d appriciate it. Thanks ----------------------------- AIM: Trebor DoD Hompage: www.riding-free.net/gamers_airspace/

Although it may be about $10-20 more than you want to spend, I still feel Deitel & Deitel''s "Java: How to Program" is the best Java book around that starts with the basics and goes through a wide range of subjects. For my Java programming, I''ve been using that book for three years now and still use it more than any other Java book.

(silencer)

For beginners, the Deitel book mentioned is definitely a good choice. It manages to fill the dual role of textboox and reference very well.


"If there is a God, he is a malign thug."
-- Mark Twain

thank you silencer and arild fines, I''ll definitely look into that book.

Also one book "Beginning Java 2 SDK 1.4 Edition" has caught my eye. Has anyone used this book?

-----------------------------
AIM: Trebor DoD
Hompage: www.riding-free.net/gamers_airspace/

I own Beginning Java by Ivor Thorton and it covers a wide range of subjects very throughly. Don''t let the "Beginning" title fool you. This book covers everything from the basics, to extensive gui interfaces and JDBC connectivity. I recommend it strongly.

Bruch ekkels book "thinking in java" is pretty good, and the HTML version is free to download, you can get it here There's also a PDF version somewhere.

I'd also recomend the Java cookbook, riley press. It's great if you know how to code, but not much about java. It's got loads of examples of how to do things. I love it.


My rather foulmouthed asteroids applet

[edited by - fractionMan on March 21, 2003 5:27:12 AM]

Digigamer I checked out "Beginning Java 2 SDK 1.4 Edition" on Amazon and although the reviews are good, someone pointed out that a couple of them look suspiciously like they were posted by publishers. If you''re basing your opinion off of reviews like that, be wary.

Save your cash and check these out.... all free. I am working through one right now (Introduction to Computer Science Using Java), it is total newbie oriented, and the best I have ever seen as far as explanation, exercises, etc. Of course, many (most) of these are not newbie oriented and I plan on advancing through some of them later. Enjoy.

http://www.maththinking.com/boat/computerbooks.html



-Rob --> "Go sell crazy somewhere else, we're all stocked up here!"

[edited by - robininni on March 21, 2003 5:49:29 PM]

My personal references go to:
* Bruce Eckels book "thinking in java" referenced above by fractionMan
* and also to "Java in a nutshell".

"Java in a nutshell" will be more usefull if you already know c/c++ (this for the beginner in java). After you know Java, this book will be great as a handy reference for the default classes java provides you.

NOTE:
A professor of mine recently suggested me a very small book called "The Elements of Java Style". I don''t have this book but i cans see it''s more targetted at how you should develop your style in java programming. Although i don''t think it''s a very newbie book i believe it to be important.