The Csound book is far from obsolete. Csound 5 added features without breaking backward compatibility.

The Windows installer installs more features (VST plugin, GUI frontend, Loris opcodes), the Windows zip file installs fewer features but installs both a 32 bit sample and a 64 bit sample version of Csound. I don't do live performance, but those who do seem to use the 32 bit version from the zip file. The 64 bit version would work fine too for live performance, but it might run more slowly.

Regards,
Mike

-----Original Message-----
>From: Panos Katergiathis 
>Sent: Feb 26, 2006 1:05 PM
>To: csound@lists.bath.ac.uk
>Subject: [Csnd] Newcomer's Questions
>
>Hello all
>
>I am a programmer and aspiring composer.
>I have a couple of questions in order to start building a relationship 
>with CSound (on Windows).
>
>a) What is the best (not easiest) way to install CSound on Windows XP?
>b) Do i need to purchase and read the CSound Book that is available at 
>Amazon, or is it obsolete?
>
>
>Please assist.
>
>Panos
>-- 
>Send bugs reports to this list.
>To unsubscribe, send email to csound-unsubscribe@lists.bath.ac.uk