5 comments about AutoCAD 2006 for Dummies.

1. This book really makes AutoCAD fool proof. The only problem is, you need to read the boof BEFORE you load your program!
   Pay attention too the details.



2. I would not recommend this book. There are other Autocad books better at teaching autocad. If you want a good book on AutoCad try "AutoCAD 2004 and AutoCAD LT 2004: No Experience Required".



3. Anyone who has attempted to use Autocad in the past knows that it is a very formidable task. At the present time I have only gotten into a few chapters of Autocad for Dummies. What I have read so far is written in plain English and is very easy to understand. I have high hopes for the rest of the book. As with any technical course, the material must be read and reread a number of times to absorb it completely. It is structured in a logical manner and addresses a wide spectrum of AutoCad techniques which I find very helpful. I am confident that with the help of this book, I will eventually be able to produce a usable drawing. Looks to be a good buy!!!



4. AutoCAD is an powerful program. This books takes you into the world of AutoCAD with baby steps. AutoCAD for Dummies throws in a line of humor on every page which keeps the reader from getting stressed about all there is to learn. If you read this book, practice on AutoCAD and then read some more - you'll be a pro soon. To learn AutoCAD also plan to go to some classes !!



5. Middlebrook writes in a deliberately breezy and informal style that is characteristic of the Dummies series. He explains the very latest 2006 version of AutoCAD. Necessarily, in an introductory book, he does not go very deep into the full extent of AutoCAD. But given just a minimal maths background on your part, you should be able to quickly lay out simple two and three dimensional objects using his advice. That maths mostly involves a good grasp of trigonometry and algebra.
   
   If you are already familiar with the 2005 or earlier recent versions of AutoCAD, then avoid this book. You already know enough that you should get a more advanced text on 2006.

No comments about Basic Diemaking.

1 comments about Introducing AutoCAD 2008.

1. I like this book. It is simple and gets to the point. It's like having a teacher or guide by your side.

5 comments about Polygonal Modeling: Basic and Advanced Techniques (Worldwide Game and Graphics Library).

1. I just encountered this book about a year into my coursework and I wonder why it hasn't appeared any sooner. It has a great deal of information that would have been helpful to know up front, such as detailed explanations about WHY things work the way they do, such as typical subdivision (a.k.a. smoothing algorithms.) It also covers modeling specifically for a subdivided final product (and how your cuts and other operations will effect the smoothing in the end) which is also something books don't tend to specifically cover. It's pretty important to know how to control the outcome of your modeling, as most models WILL need smoothing to look good in the end (unless you plan on manually implementing tons of polygons, which isn't a very efficient way to approach things, AND will *NOT* work for game models.)
   Overall, I think this is a really important book to look into if you're serious about 3D modeling. There is a heavy focus on character modeling, which tends to be one of the most struggled with subjects in 3D modeling, and he covers it for both a male and female model type.
   Just be aware... this guy is super advanced and actually ends up with T-junctions in his work because he knows how to effectively control them. This may be confusing to early students, since you taught to avoid T-junctions at all costs. Just be aware that you generally don't want those in your mesh, but when you're advanced advanced enough, you'll know how to make them work FOR you. Just don't jump the gun!



2. This book is a good primer (through the first few chapters) to those just getting started with polygonal modeling without tying itself directly to one program or another. There are many illustrations, so a first read-through of the book will be very quick; there's enough detail in the illustrations and tutorials that you'll spend time delving through on re-reads to practice the techniques. Also useful is that the author displays different approaches on similar-looking models. On the first face, he uses a planar extrusion style beginning with an eye loop; on the second head he box-models and refines the geometry. That flexibility of additive and subtractive methods would be useful to any modeler; perhaps more useful to me since I'm still beginner to intermediate as a modeler. Towards the end, there are specific chapters on Maya, 3DS, and Zbrush which you'l lfind helpful if you have access to those programs- I thought this was a nice surprise, but some may see this as a disappointment if they don't use those tools. It was also refreshing to find in this book more info about the history and development of sub-d mathematics. Definitely recommended, and the concepts discussed will be valid even as some of the program features change.



3. This book has very little anatomy reference. But for actual anatomy I strongly recommend getting an anatomy-for-artist book, the kind that fine-art students refer to habitually. This book is strictly about polygonal modeling, and the advice it offers is excellent. It guides you step-by-step through the process of creation of a "correct" male figure, a female figure, a hand, a foot, a face, an ear. Though not the only way of modeling a human, you can draw a lot of insight from the method presented in this book. This book I highly recommend for beginners and mid-level non-professionals. Professionals should already know all the info presented in this book. Oh and, this book omits many crucial topics: texturing, rigging, animating, scene setup. This book is a tutorial on polygonal modeling only.



4. Our teachers from Lucas and Pixar don't allow us to make triangles on poly. They said that u'd find problems or cracks on render image. At the beginning, I bought this book 'cos i want to know the correct facial lay-out but there r some triangles structure in this book. it doesn't meet the 3D industrial requirement, at least not Lucas' or Pixar's standard. One good thing is that it covers zBrush.



5. I purchased this book after reading the reviews on it here and at several other sites because I was looking for a book to help me learn polygonal modeling in 3Ds Max.
   
   While this book has very much in the way of theory and some instruction it is far too general to be of much use to someone new to the subject or someone new to their chosen 3D package. The term "Basic" should have been left from the title. There are four sections mislabeled as tutorials which are supposed to walk you through modeling a simple human male, human female, ogre, and a cartoon character; however the references to the particular tools you are supposed to use are obscure at best and the direction given in the "tutorials" is more like being shown a hammer for the first time and then being told to go build a house, rather than the widely accepted "click this, now move it here, now click here" formula of even poorly written tutorials. This is the kind of formula I expect when I see "Basic" on the cover and "tutorial" on the back. Also distinctly lacking is the accompanying CD or DVD or at the least the downloads section of a website with the "tutorials" in various stages of completion for reference, all you can download from the author's website is a few hand drawn sketches to use for reference.
   
   If you are VERY experienced in your package than this might be a good choice to bone up on the theory of subdivision, but if you are at a "Basic" level of understanding and need a "Basic" book on the subject - look elsewhere.

No comments about Residential Design Using Revit Architecture 2009.

5 comments about Architectural Acoustics (Applications of Modern Acoustics).

1. Having read some architectural acoustics books, I can recommend this one as one of the best. It is an excellent resource. In fact, I should not have spent some of my money on some oldie books, which were cheap but not as good.
   
   This is an up to date book, and it is worth every penny you spend. If you are a student or someone interested in the topic architectural acoustics, it is a good resource but it has many formulas (sorry if you do not like physics).
   
   With it I have been able to specify to an architect who does not know hardly anything about acoustics how to correct his design for a contemporary church. I also recommend "Handbook for Sound Engineers" as a compliment to this book, for people that are trying to get the best of both worlds -- acoustics and audio. These are both good buys, and can help you very much. Remember that to be a good consultant you need to have a good library of books and this one would be an excellent part of your reference library.



2. The ultimate guide to architectural acoustics covering many topics in a single and nice priced book, It has everything covered and explained to a good level, my only complain is that only basic measurement techniques are explained. However it is a great complilation of knowledge in a single package.



3. In his preamble the author refers to the fact this book took him more than 10 years to write. Given the level of detail and the comprehensive nature of this book, this is not surprising.
   
   There may be better acoustical books available relating to specific niches of acoustics, such as Beranek and Barron's works on concert halls and there are certainly more simple introductions to the subject, such as Egan's book of the same name, but for anybody who doesn't mind grappling with some mathematical equations, this is definitely the best and most comprehensive book on this subject of the 15 or so that I possess.
   
   Like the author, I am also a practicing acoustical consultant and a lecturer in this subject. It's probably splitting hairs, but I suspect that my architecture students might not respond well to this book due to the fact that the illustrations are generally limited to fairly simple black and white drawings and the mathematical approach may intimidate some, but for other acoustical consultants and engineers interested in the field of building acoustics, I would definitely recommend this text.



4. I just received my copy, and have yet to dive into. However it appears up to date (2006) in that it covers modelling and auralization concepts. The scope of the book is expanded compared to Eagan's excellent text. Take a look at the table of contents on line for an idea of the topics.
   
   It appears to be well written. The mathematics of sound are covered. This should be a standard reference text for a general knowledge of architectural acoustics.
   
   July 2007 - I use this book as one of my primary references. It has excellent breadth and detail.



5. I have a copy of Long's Architectural Acoustics and have read a number of sections. The book is remarkably complete and Long has correctly embodied current literature. I recommend it for professionals and architects who have some mathematics. Leo Beranek

4 comments about VB.NET Programming for AutoCAD Customization - Level 1.

1. The book is well written, has tons of code snippets and provides a template so you can use the Express version of Visual Studio to work with AutoCad references.
   
   Met the author at AU, liked his teaching style and realized he is one of the people that actually knows his subject.
   
   Never made the .Net upgrade from VB6.0 and as Autocad enters the 64 bit enviroment, realize it is the best programming enviroment to work with Autocad. This book specialises with the intricies of effectively programming AutoCad.



2. I'm a .net programmer with no autoCad experience. I was recently assigned a project that required autoCad customization with a future of being web-based.
   
   I purchased this book hoping that it would give me the staples needed to understanding how .net works in conjunction with .net. Since purchasing this book, it's done that and more.
   
   The author, Jerry Winters, does a great job of incorporating all the essential basics and more. He clearly explains how to set up .net so that it can communicate and have access to the api .net libraries for autoCad. He also provides a template that ... when installed, makes creating new projects a breeze.
   
   I've been able to learn and now understand basic concepts such as how to call my .net sub from autoCad and how to create an interface that will allow the user to interact with the application.
   
   I've also been able to create polylines and blocks with code. Jerry's book comes with a snippet for each segment he features in his book which allowed me to go through the book at a much faster pace and step through the code (debug mode) which really helped me to understand what was really going on. I've also been able to really use several of the snippets in my current project.
   
   This book truly is a useful tool and I would recommend it to anyone.
   
   R Proctor



3. This author has written several of the VBA books for AutoCAD and they are excellent. He also has done an excellent job presenting at AU. Where my issue is...is with this author's customer service. I ordered this same text from his VBCAD website and I am still awaiting the delivery of this said text after six weeks of waiting. If you don't mind the long wait periods, then this guy is for you, but if you need the text in a hurry, it appears you will be out of luck. Have a look at the BBB for reference.



4. If you're looking for truly useful information on customizing AutoCAD with VB.NET, this book is the only place to go.
   
   The solid, clearly written example code shows you how to interface with the user, the AutoCAD database, and the VB.NET gui.
   
   This book has a prominent place on my desk.

4 comments about West Coast Bungalows of the 1920s: With Photographs and Floor Plans.

1. Great little book on an interesting subject. Lots of detailed drawings and descriptions right out of the old advertising brochures from the 1920's. It would have been nice to know the size of this LITTLE book - I might not have purchased it even at the very reasonable price. It left me wanting more and at a more convenient size.



2. I was a little bit disappointed in this book. I guess I didn't realize that this is basically a reprint of a catalog, all in black and white. I had hoped for some color photos of interiors and exteriors.



3. E. W. Stillwell and Company was an architectural firm in Los Angeles that started business in 1906 and rode the West Coast building boom, eventually creating their own book of house plans. This little booklet is a reprint of their 1919 plan book.
   
   It's a fun read, with 50 house designs offered in its 64 pages. It's a small book, measuring only 6" by 8" and the print is small, but easily legible.
   
   Some of the homes offered by this firm are very attractive and a few are the classic California bungalows with the oriental peak on the gabled roofs. A few of the houses in this book are really quite unattractive. Many of these houses are quite spacious by 1919's standards, measuring 1,000 square feet or more. A few are the more modest worker's homes, with 700 - 800 square feet. It would not be difficult to take these designs and "puff" them a bit, making them large enough for today's needs.
   
   There are a dozen pages of extras, including testimonials from happy buyers, a street scene of these homes lined up like little soldiers in Pasadena, some financing information and my very favorite part, "Age of The Bungalow," a poem written by Ethel Brooks Stillwell (wife of the architect?).
   
   The photos are pretty clear, the floorplans are easy to read and fun to study and the print is also quite legible and dark. For the price (six dollars), you can't go wrong.
   
   Rose Thornton
   co-author, California's Kit Homes



4. I loved this little book. It's small, but every page contains a photograph of the exterior and at least one floor plan. In many cases, alternate floor plans are also provided. Wilson designed classic California bungalows. His designs are under-appreciated, and in many cases inspiring. If you live in or lust after a California bungalow, you'll spend hours pouring over the ideas and plans presented in this book. I consider it a must-have for the library of the bungalow enthusiast.

5 comments about Richard Neutra: Complete Works (Architecture & Design).

1. I am a strong believer that any discussion of a good archtiect must contain excellect picures and drawings. This book is a good overview. It has some excellent pictures, but the selection, organization and orientation of those pictures are sometimes very poor.
   
   THE BOOK IS NOT COMPLETE. Richard Neutra designed the Gettysburg's Cyclorama Center in 1962. It has been visited by millions of people and is facing destruction (or already has been destroyed). But it is not shown or even mentioned in this book.



2. What a lovely book. I am so glad that this book was reissued. It is huge, with lots of beautiful photos of Neutra's work. A must for those interested in California modern architecture and the Case Study Houses.



3. It could better be called the incomplete works.
   It does not contain a description of Neutra's live.
   
   For many realized projects texts are incomplete (e.g. what is the history about realization of the projects?, what ever happened with the buildings?), or even missing, plans are incomplete, missing, or contain errors if compared with the pictures, or not all the floors are represented by plans.
   
   Basically, the book, in spite of its price and weight, looks attractive because of the very good photography and layout, everything else (the texts and plans) are disappointing and certainly not worth the money.



4. Barbara Lamprecht and Julius Shulman have created one the great architecture books about this leading figure of 20th century modernism. As a fan of Lamprecht's excellent writing, the text in this book is, of course, excellent---full of information, opinion and wit. The depth of information provided, including floor plans, is rare in an architectural photo book. Shulman's photos (and some by the new architectural photo star--John Ellis) are superb. The very large format of this book shows off the beautiful buildings to their best advantage. The real wood cover seems a bit odd for a book on Neutra, but it certainly is handsomely impressive. Though [the price] is a a lot for a book, this one's worth it. Buy it now. The second edition might not be so large and impressive, and certainly won't be made of wood!



5. This book is amazing though the photos of Neutra's projects are generally not as large as one would hope. It is amazing how much Neutra created during his career. A brilliant book filled with insightful information and general floor plans of building projects. Best of all, there is even a map as to the location of his buildings.

1 comments about At Home by the Sea: Houses Designed for Living at the Water's Edge.

1. Home built by the water are as popular today as they were throughout the whole of recorded human history. Superbly enhanced by two hundred color photographs taken by Brian Vanden Brink, "At Home By The Sea: Houses Designed For Living At The Water's Edge" has architect Bruce Snider taking the reader on a spectacular tour of twenty sea-side homes from Canada's Bay of Fundy, to the tropical splendor of St. Barthelemy, to such landmark sites as South Carolina's Hilton Head, Massachusetts' Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard, to California's Belvedere and Carmel, to several stunningly beautiful locations in Maine. Floor plans and site planes for most of these showcased homes are provided, as well as seaside vista views, home interiors, decks, porches. Windows, mirrors, building materials and decorative items are set within the context of interior designs. A beautiful book for browsing, "At Home By The Sea" is replete with inspirations and examples for those seeking ideas for their own projects and a welcome addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library reference collections.