Design rich Internet applications (RIAs) for the Web using Silverlight 2, Microsoft's hot runtime application. Available only as an ebook, this concise, easy-to-understand introduction provides complete step-by-step instructions for using everything Silverlight 2 has to offer, including tools for animation, vector graphics, video playback, .NET support for web services and networking, as well as LINQ, Microsoft's native data querying tool. Essential Silverlight 2 helps you take advantage of Microsoft's cross-browser plug-in with:

• Clever ways to create interactive UIs that are more robust and easier to debug and test than what you can achieve on other platforms

• Scores of tested JavaScript and C# code examples that you can reuse in your own applications

• Expert guidance from an author who understands RIA technologies, including ASP.NET, Flash, PHP, and JavaScript

Ready to deliver a more complete Web experience? Essential Silverlight 2 offers a world of possibilities.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 8 Ratings

Junior League Silverlight book - 2008-08-11
Reviewer Rating:
This book format was terrible -- half of the book consists of blank 7x9 pages -- how do you print updates in that kind of punched hole paper -- it doesn't fit into my laser printer and I wouldn't even try to handfeed so many sheets. Index changes, table of contents changes. Topics are kid stuff, most web sites have more detail. I was very excited by the technology and very very disappointed with this book. It was a waste of money.

Waste of time and money - 2008-06-06
Reviewer Rating:
This book is a total waste of time and money if you have done anything with Silverlight 1.0. Most of the content is about basics or JavaScript which is very likely NOT the reason why you are interested in Silverlight 2.0. Half of the book constists of blank pages ;-((

Reworked Silverlight 1.1 Book, Limited Info - 2008-08-26
Reviewer Rating:
I was very dissapointed with this book. I ordered it and got it "hot off the press", desperately seeking a good reference. This was not it.

This book was obviously a Silverlight 1.1 draft manual. It has almost nothing worthwhile regarding Silverlight 2. It also has almost nothing about databinding, one of the most important features.

Good Introductory Silverlight 2 Book - 2008-07-20
Reviewer Rating:
I don't think there's any pretense made about this book not being an introductory book, and as such, I think it does a great job from the ground up.

The add-in sections idea is a clever concept for a technology that's not fully baked yet. How do you get material out the to people clamoring for it on something that is still in beta release?

In my opinion, there's never too much introductory material because everyone learns different ways. There will be plenty of advanced books to go around I'm sure, as soon as Silverlight 2 is fully released. Until then, we're all playing a game of watching and waiting.

What better way to wait than to have something on-target now that will also be on-target later with the pages you either print or purchase and insert yourself.

What I do -- pull out the sections you're reading to take with you to avoid dragging a large book around -- I like it!

-Dave

Not bad but I was hoping it would be more like a Nutshell book - 2008-06-01
Reviewer Rating:
Overall the book was good even though most of the material could easily be found on MSDN or the Silverlight sites, however, I still prefer having it in a book that I can put stickies in and write on. I had hoped it would be more of a reference book like the Nutshell books, maybe they will dedicate a substantial portion of the blank pages to that (hmmm, no reason someone other then the author couldn't write a quick reference and share it on the internet to be inserted into the book). The blank pages are of course the Up-to-date pages that you print updates to. I like the idea except it looks like it's a push model where they email you the link to download the updates, what if your email address changes? Another thing that needs changed is the studs that hold the binding together don't allow you to lay the book open, a notebook ring binder would have been nicer.

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