AJAX

Ajax in Action
$44.95
So you are going to read a book about Ajax and wonder if does make sense to read this one or another one like Ajax in Practice from Manning, or Head Rush Ajax, Professional Ajax, Pro Ajax and Java Frameworks to note only a few.
If you decide to have a look at this one, take care: the material is really deep. Definitely it is not an "instant" style like "for dummies" or "in 10 minutes", so if you think you will be an Ajax expert after reading 10 pages just
have a look at another one, this one is really for someone who understand that in order to be an expert you have to sweat.
The book starts out talking about key concepts like why Ajax, what is Ajax, what are the alternatives to Ajax, what is CSS, what is DOM, what does it mean to load the data in a browser using an asynchronous way, MVC concepts applied to a web server and some common patterns like Observer, Command or Fa���ade.
Ok now you might already have a clear vision of Ajax basis and the world in which Ajax lives, so let's see the core techniques, and this is what the
authors present starting with the second part, just core techniques.
A few key points: if we look at a page as an application with all the MVC in a page than what is the role of a server, how to code the server side,
do we need to use frameworks for the server side and how we can exchange data.

The book is not really a practical book with pre-build examples ready to be applied, is much more oriented to the theory of Ajax and
assumes a certain level of competency, so the examples are almost all only partial or abstracted.

Starting on the 3rd part we finally see some common examples like keeping the user informed, indicating the freshness of data or designing a notification system.
But this part is not intended to offer only examples, but to be a complete support to someone who already knows the basic and expects a professional view of Ajax.
So now it is supposed to have all the info to create something from zero to the end. Well ...almost to the end because only the end of this part we will see how to add security and how to design for performance.
Now you have all the info about Ajax and want to start your own coding. The book is here to help you: just read the last part, a kind of "by example" full of examples.

Overall, the book is written in an academic manner: intro, theory, examples that prove the theory , advanced stuff, examples for the advanced stuff, practical examples. Nothing new in terms of composition.
My advice: if you like this traditional style, you want a solid background and you have the time and ability to read 600 pages , just do it , you will not regret any single page. Otherwise if you are under pressure, my advice is to read Ajax in Practice, by Manning too.

Professional Ajax, 2nd Edition (Programmer to Programmer)
$39.99
The product is in good shape. The shipping is reasonable and it came few days before I really need it...

Ajax: The Definitive Guide
$49.99
This is not the book to get if you are just beginning with JavaScript and/or CSS. The book is packed with rather advanced JS and CSS, and I have to say that this is the main focus. Not much explaining Ajax rather than advanced CSS I think.

I can't just understand why the writer have so much focus on using frameworks in this book. The main goal should be teaching Ajax.

Guess this book come in handy after some years of experience with JS and CSS.

Ajax For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
$29.99
Nothing makes me happier than when I pick up a title for full price and it successfully demystifies a topic before I reach the end of the first chapter. I'm sure I'm not alone when I admit that although AJAX has been around for a decade now, up until recently I've never had a web development task that would benefit from it. But when I did, boy did I, and I found myself needing to get up to speed with at least the basics very quickly. I've never been a huge fan of the For Dummies series, but this author succeeded in presenting the material in a concise and rapid manner with a writing style that isn't to "cutsie" and doesn't try to complicate or put excessive importance on the subject. I appreciated greatly that once the topic was explained and understood (seriously, first chapter), the remainder of the book whet on to demonstrating usage of AJAX in a practical / production environment showing interactions with web services, XML, server-sent JavaScript, as well as plain text responses.

Although prefect for those that have zero info on AJAX, a decent foundation in HTML and [fill in your favorite web server platform here] is required. Pleasantly enough, server-side development isn't a prerequisite for this book, although later chapters do utilize PHP. Experience with JavaScript is also a must, even though Chapter 2 provides a light tutorial on the subject.

My only caution is that if you are looking to introduce yourself to AJAX for ASP.NET, look elsewhere. Like many other things Microsoft, same name, different critter. Other titles dedicate themselves to AJAX for .NET for a good reason.