Will the book "C# 2005 for dummies" help me at all? or do i need a newer version?

Now, normally I'd have asked what your current programming knowledge is, since the answer to your question is heavily related to that. Then I remembered that making a thread of this quality is already an answer in itself.

I'd say yes, it will probably help you lots, since the newer changes from the .NET Framework 3.5 are probably quite over your head anyway, and basic programming knowledge/skill doesn't really expire. That or read one of the countless good internet tutorials, though I guess that depends on whether you prefer reading on screen or paper.


Short answer: If I judge your programming skills right, you need the basics anyway - so yes, it's OK.

Shouldn't it be VC# 2008? 2008's been out for a good while now, I'd have thought nearly everyone would've upgraded by now

And how exactly do the changes from 2005 to 2008 have anything to do with learning C# basics? I pretty much doubt he's going to use LINQ, Lambda Expressions, Anonymous Types, Extension Methods, etc.

If it's for him for whatever reason easier/cheaper to get the 2005 edition, then he should go for it.

Well, my point is Microsoft have pretty much dropped support for 2005, you can't even register it any more. The "For Dummies" series has both 2005 and 2008 VC# editions, I have both. The only reason to keep 2005 is if you have dial-up and can't download 2008, which is highly unlikely. Might as well stay up to date

Fair enough if you're buying it in a store that only has the 2005 book, but if you have a choice between them, get 2008. They're the same price anyway

It's the book he's asking about, not the software. He might have 2k8 installed but is asking if the rules covered in 2k5 will still apply.

And for the most part they will. Obviously there'll be new commands and stuff, along with a lot of code-cleaning info (I imagine), but to get into learning to use it, a book on 2k5 should point you in the right direction.

Well, he has two options. Either buy the 2005 version, learn the basics and then buy the 2008 version to learn the more recent advanced stuff...or buy the 2008 book only and learn everything from there.

Or not buy the 2008 book at all and just look it up on the internet.