I've been working with Windows CE for almost as long as it's been in existence. A Windows programmer for many years, I'm amazed by the number of different, typically quite small, systems to which I can apply my Windows programming experience. These Windows CE systems run the gamut from PC-like mini-laptops to embedded devices buried deep in some large piece of industrial equipment. The use of the Win32 API in Windows CE enables tens of thousands of Windows programmers to write applications for an entirely new class of systems. The subtle differences, however, make writing Windows CE code somewhat different from writing for the desktop versions of Windows. It's those differences that I'll address in this book.

Isn't it helpful when an arrow on a map points out exactly where you are? So you are here! Maybe you are here because you have used Delphi before and you want to see what is new in Delphi 4. Maybe you are here because your boss told you to be here. Or maybe you are here as a complete beginner who would like to explore the wonderful world of Windows programming. Regardless of why you are here, welcome! I can assure you that the trip will be an interesting one. You will no doubt find it enjoyable, too. It will involve some work, but there will be some fun thrown in along the way. Believe me when I say that there's nothing quite like taking a passing thought and turning it into a working Windows program. I hope you get the fever and lose yourself in hour after hour of programming. I encourage you to experiment as you read this book. Putting the book down and playing around for a while can prove more valuable than the best teacher. Getting through this book isn't a race. The first one to reach the end doesn't receive a prize. I'd rather you spent 21 weeks learning Delphi programming than to rush through this book without taking time to apply the concepts discussed here. By the way, my experience has been that the best way to learn is to have an application in mind that you want to write and then work on that application as you work through this book. Solving real-world problems is the kind of schooling that sticks. So it doesn't really matter why you are here. What's important is that you are here. I'm glad you are here, and I hope you enjoy your Delphi experience. Relax, put your feet up, and have fun learning how to use Delphi. I know I did.

Hey! Socket programming got you down? Is this stuff just a little too difficult to figure out from the man pages? You want to do cool Internet programming, but you don't have time to wade through a gob of structs trying to figure out if you have to call bind() before you connect(), etc., etc. Well, guess what! I've already done this nasty business, and I'm dying to share the information with everyone! You've come to the right place. This document should give the average competent C programmer the edge s/he needs to get a grip on this networking noise.