What About SQL Server?
For a book that absolutely depends on a database, this one is remarkably "light" on information about SQL Server. This is one area where I'll give high marks to Microsoft and ... well ... an "I" for "Incomplete" to Murach. With only the tools and documentation provided by Murach, you could be very confused about SQL Server.
This problem evidently doesn't register on their radar, however. Appendix A has the best information about SQL Server but they start the discussion by assuring you that, "you don't need to know much about how SQL Server Express works to use it." Actually, that's true. But you do need to know something about it if anything goes wrong.
Murach points out that you can download the free version of SQL Server, SQL Server Express from Microsoft. But you can also download a free version of their graphical database management tool, SQL Server Management Studio Express. You can get that, and a bunch of other freebies, all wrapped up in a bow if you download the (also free) Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Toolkit.
The Bottom Line
For a no-nonsense book with a laser focus on learning ADO.NET, you can't beat it! But if you like a few detours while you learn, this book doesn't supply them.
