Vedhas:
Java: The Complete Reference, J2SE 5 Edition covers the entire Java langauge and its core libraries. It also discusses Java Beans, Swing,
applets,
servlets, and shows how to apply Java.
Of course, the book includes comprehensive coverage of all of the new features in J2SE 5. But, as just stated, it fully covers the entire langauge.
Avi:
Like most good programming books,
Java: The Complete Reference, J2SE 5 Edition works for both beginners and experienced pros. However, it is important to understand it is not my "beginner's book." For someone that is just starting out in Java, I would recommend my book
Java: A Beginner's Guide. This is my Java tutorial, which is widely used.
Finally, my complete references are just that: complete references. It would be a mistake to confuse them with anyone else's book.
[ March 16, 2005: Message edited by: Herb Schildt ]