VB.NET 2002 question from complete and utter newbie to programming

14 Jul 2006 1:14 AM

Deke

Hello all...

I recently obtained a copy of Visual Basic .NET 2002. I have been doing
desktop and networking for 15 years, and I am completely burnt out on it.
I would like to move into programming, but haven't programmed anything since
I got rid of my Commodore 64 over two decades ago.

Is VB.net 2002 a good starting point for someone who would like to learn
programming from the ground up? If so, can somebody recommend a good book
that would help me step by step?

14 Jul 2006 1:33 AM

Steven Nagy

Hi,

Actually the 2002 version is getting a bit old now.
If you are going to start anew, I suggest starting with Visual Studio
2005 Express edition which is priced very reasonably: FREE !!!

VB is good for learning to program. Its very verbose, similar to the
BASIC on the Commodore 64 (this was my first language also). But the
concepts are a little different now. You need to learn about 'Object
Oriented' programming and 'Event Driven' concepts, as well as RAD
(Rapid Application Development) and 'Code Generation'.
Google can assist with all of these.

When I was lecturing I was forced to use the Dianne Zak books for our
introductory .NET subject. But I found them patrinising and slow going.
The Dietel reference books are a little better so these might be a good
start.

This might also be an option.. find a university IT student who needs
to make some cash in hand and maybe they can tutor you in .NET? Not
sure what its like in your country; here in AUS our students are
usually very poor and would jump at such a chance. We also have smaller
universities called TAFE's where you can pay a single fee to take a
single course (like $300 or so for 2 hours a week, over 8 to 12 weeks)
and these are also viable options.

I guess it all depends on your understanding of programming concepts,
such as "variables, loops, functions, classes, bits and bytes" etc.

SN

Deke wrote:
Show quoteHide quote

> Hello all...
>
> I recently obtained a copy of Visual Basic .NET 2002. I have been doing
> desktop and networking for 15 years, and I am completely burnt out on it.
> I would like to move into programming, but haven't programmed anything since
> I got rid of my Commodore 64 over two decades ago.
>
> Is VB.net 2002 a good starting point for someone who would like to learn
> programming from the ground up? If so, can somebody recommend a good book
> that would help me step by step?

15 Jul 2006 2:28 AM

Deke

Thank you for the tip on Express.   I downloaded all of them tonight, and
purchased a book on VB Express by Wallace Wang at Borders today.     It had
a pretty high rating on Amazon, and thumbing thru it at lunch, it seemed
like it was pretty beginner-friendly.

Thank you for your response.   Any additional comments are appreciated.

Show quoteHide quote

"Steven Nagy" <learndot***@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1152840826.869503.213720@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> Hi,
>
> Actually the 2002 version is getting a bit old now.
> If you are going to start anew, I suggest starting with Visual Studio
> 2005 Express edition which is priced very reasonably: FREE !!!
>
> VB is good for learning to program. Its very verbose, similar to the
> BASIC on the Commodore 64 (this was my first language also). But the
> concepts are a little different now. You need to learn about 'Object
> Oriented' programming and 'Event Driven' concepts, as well as RAD
> (Rapid Application Development) and 'Code Generation'.
> Google can assist with all of these.
>
> When I was lecturing I was forced to use the Dianne Zak books for our
> introductory .NET subject. But I found them patrinising and slow going.
> The Dietel reference books are a little better so these might be a good
> start.
>
> This might also be an option.. find a university IT student who needs
> to make some cash in hand and maybe they can tutor you in .NET? Not
> sure what its like in your country; here in AUS our students are
> usually very poor and would jump at such a chance. We also have smaller
> universities called TAFE's where you can pay a single fee to take a
> single course (like $300 or so for 2 hours a week, over 8 to 12 weeks)
> and these are also viable options.
>
> I guess it all depends on your understanding of programming concepts,
> such as "variables, loops, functions, classes, bits and bytes" etc.
>
> SN
>
>
> Deke wrote:
>> Hello all...
>>
>> I recently obtained a copy of Visual Basic .NET 2002. I have been
>> doing
>> desktop and networking for 15 years, and I am completely burnt out on it.
>> I would like to move into programming, but haven't programmed anything
>> since
>> I got rid of my Commodore 64 over two decades ago.
>>
>> Is VB.net 2002 a good starting point for someone who would like to learn
>> programming from the ground up? If so, can somebody recommend a good
>> book
>> that would help me step by step?
>

14 Jul 2006 12:39 PM

Grumpy Aero Guy

What steven said, and take a look at

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0735619050/sr=1-2/qid=1152880499/ref=sr_1_2/002-3604651-1970408?ie=UTF8&s=books

I teach VB at a local Technical College, and the book linked above tends to
be the most popular and liked reference that I recommend. You may out grow
it rather quickly, but it is a great place to start.

--
Grumpy Aero Guy

Show quoteHide quote

"Deke" <n*@thankyou.com> wrote in message
news:4eCtg.4246$vO.1769@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> Hello all...
>
> I recently obtained a copy of Visual Basic .NET 2002. I have been doing
> desktop and networking for 15 years, and I am completely burnt out on it.
> I would like to move into programming, but haven't programmed anything
> since
> I got rid of my Commodore 64 over two decades ago.
>
> Is VB.net 2002 a good starting point for someone who would like to learn
> programming from the ground up? If so, can somebody recommend a good
> book
> that would help me step by step?
>

15 Jul 2006 2:29 AM

Deke

Believe it or not, I purchased a cheap copy of that very book through Amazon
right after I bought my copy of VB.net. The term "Step by Step" jumped
off the cover, and the reviews were pretty good.

Plus, I got it for $5.60, shipped, so I couldn't say no.

Show quoteHide quote

"Grumpy Aero Guy" <f*@beerme.org> wrote in message
news:rgMtg.26318$vl5.21697@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com...
> What steven said, and take a look at
>
> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0735619050/sr=1-2/qid=1152880499/ref=sr_1_2/002-3604651-1970408?ie=UTF8&s=books
>
> I teach VB at a local Technical College, and the book linked above tends
> to be the most popular and liked reference that I recommend. You may out
> grow it rather quickly, but it is a great place to start.
>
> --
> Grumpy Aero Guy
>
>
>
> "Deke" <n*@thankyou.com> wrote in message
> news:4eCtg.4246$vO.1769@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>> Hello all...
>>
>> I recently obtained a copy of Visual Basic .NET 2002. I have been
>> doing
>> desktop and networking for 15 years, and I am completely burnt out on it.
>> I would like to move into programming, but haven't programmed anything
>> since
>> I got rid of my Commodore 64 over two decades ago.
>>
>> Is VB.net 2002 a good starting point for someone who would like to learn
>> programming from the ground up? If so, can somebody recommend a good
>> book
>> that would help me step by step?
>>
>
>