Rating: 

I have found my copy of the fourth edition of this book valuable, but as it had become outdated by the years and the new edition boasted xhtml in its title I shelled out for that. I am disappointed.

It is ok describing html 4.01 transitional, but the coverage of Netscape 4 only relics is an absurd waste of space, and creates a suspicion that the authors are either lazy or more likely have not come to terms with the way html has developed. A listing of obsolete browser-specific tags would have been enough - history lessons like Chapter 14 are quite absurd. And suggesting people not to use a DTD declaration if they are not using HTML strict!

The authors pay lip-service to CSS, but one error gives them away. On p. 307 the state that the span tag is deprecated. Anyone can make a mistake, but this one reveals that the authors were not thinking about what the tag was invented for.

I am sorry to be blunt but I think O'Reilly should recognize that the authors are no longer in tune with what html has become and replace them for the next edition if it is not to let its reputation slide.

David Leader