Reviews by Chris Allen

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Microsoft Excel 2013 Step by Step

Microsoft Excel 2013 Step by Step

Chris's rating: StarStarStarStarStar 3.0

On Mar 16, 2013 Chris Allen wrote: Step By Step Microsoft Excel 2013 by Curtis D. Frye
What is so special about the Step By Step format? What do you learn that you cannot learn from other sources? Is it worth you paying money to buy the book? For Office Excel strugglers worldwide, the answer is a definite yes. Full Review >

Shipping Greatness

Shipping Greatness

Practical lessons on building and launching outstanding software, learned on the job at Google and Amazon

Chris's rating: StarStarStarStarStar 5.0

On Nov 18, 2012 Chris Allen wrote: Why I handed my work in late - a good excuse!
I was so inspired by my first reading that I launched into shipping an App just to practice the ideas in the book. Full Review >

Economic Impact of Open Source on Small Business: A Case Study

Economic Impact of Open Source on Small Business: A Case Study

Chris's rating: StarStarStarStarStar 5.0

On Aug 24, 2012 Chris Allen wrote: A sobering counter to over-engineers
Here are some real surprises from some genuinely credible data-mining. Full Review >

Practical Computer Vision with SimpleCV

Practical Computer Vision with SimpleCV

The Simple Way to Make Technology See

Chris's rating: StarStarStarStarStar 5.0

On Aug 8, 2012 Chris Allen wrote: I came, I saw, I took a photograph
I came, I saw, I took a photograph. The NASA rover Curiosity is filming Mars. Computer Vision looks like the next big trend. Full Review >

Microsoft SQL Server 2012 T-SQL Fundamentals

Microsoft SQL Server 2012 T-SQL Fundamentals

Chris's rating: StarStarStarStarStar 4.0

On Jul 12, 2012 Chris Allen wrote: Is it a brave move to produce a book on MS SQL in these times?
The thought-leaders are all about big data on the network and sqlLite on the device. Or is now the time of the noSql backlash? Full Review >

The Data Journalism Handbook

The Data Journalism Handbook

Chris's rating: StarStarStarStarStar 5.0

On Jun 24, 2012 Chris Allen wrote: The Data Journalism Handbook By Jonathan Gray, Lucy Chambers, Liliana Bounegru
2012 may well be the year of open news, says Alastair Dant, of The Guardian. Well yes. News has been open for some time now, but news and the press . . . Full Review >

The Information Diet

The Information Diet

A Case for Conscious Consumption

Chris's rating: StarStarStarStarStar 3.0

On Jun 17, 2012 Chris Allen wrote: Perfect timing, to publish this book for 2012
like many people I know, I reckoned I had my web news diet down to a fine art. I follow people I know, trust and agree with, and then just read the news they alert me to. Sorted. But then . . . Full Review >

Architecting Mobile Solutions for the Enterprise

Architecting Mobile Solutions for the Enterprise

Chris's rating: StarStarStarStarStar 4.0

On Jun 3, 2012 Chris Allen wrote: Truely unusual to see all the mobile technologies covered in one place
It is spring 2012. We need to revisit all our enterprise solutions. Anyone with a serious corporate or personal investment in legacy architecture frameworks needs to think hard about the future. Dino Esposito is one of these people Full Review >

Working with Microsoft Office 365: Running Your Small Business in the Cloud

Working with Microsoft Office 365: Running Your Small Business in the Cloud

Chris's rating: StarStarStarStarStar 4.0

On May 17, 2012 Chris Allen wrote: Working with Microsoft Office 365: Brett Hill
This is a highly relevant and topical subject. I have been looking at how different business units can take advantage of open source,   hosting, and software as a service. So when O’Reilly offered me this book to review I jumped at the chance. Why, firstly, would you choose Office 365?… Full Review >

Android Cookbook

Android Cookbook

Chris's rating: StarStarStarStarStar 5.0

On May 2, 2012 Chris Allen wrote: Android Cookbook by Ian F. Darwin; O’Reilly Media
I read this book, all 661 pages, in a single busy day. Downloaded it over breakfast, devoured it through lunch, raced through the recipes over dinner, and finished it off in bed. Can’t remember the last time a book captivated me that much. Full Review >

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