There is so much that you will learn from Scott Allen's tutorial on ASP.NET MVC3 that it is borderline unfair to classify it as a MVC3 tutorial. Scott touches on everything from development basics in MVC3 to more complex topics; such as unit testing, Test Driven Development (TDD), caching, security, localization, and so much more. The course should probably be named "Becoming a Great Developer While Using MVC3". Best of all, his course is actually enjoyable to go through. Imagine that... an enjoyable technical course that you actually look forward to.
Superior Quality
Let's face it. Geeks train other geeks. The stereotype of advanced developers being heavily introverted and dull is pretty accurate. This can be expected since most of us spend more time interfacing with computers than we do our families and friends. This usually translates into poor speaking habits and a manner of speaking that is virtually unbearable. Scott Allen changes that notion. Scott comes across as a nice guy and someone you would be happy to shoot the breeze with. Combine his warm personality with his polished delivery and fluid timing and the mix works perfectly to keep even the most geekiest recluse engaged and eager for the next step. Additionally, the tasteful mix of effects (compliments of Camtasia Studio, I believe) complement each video without distracting from the topic.
Not Just for Developers
Scott's MVC3 tutorial is so thorough that I plan on making it required viewing for my entire team; including the guys handling deployments and maintenance of our applications. The last chapter in the course focuses entirely on "Deployment and Configuration." He discusses how to use custom Web.Config files, some of the tools available for packaging and publishing your application, and even touches on some of the challenges that might pop up during the process.
Bringing the Love Back to Visual Studio
One of the unexpected side effects of the course is in my new-found appreciation for Visual Studio and what it can do. For me, the shine has worn off of Microsoft's development tools a long time ago. As with any tool that has been around for this long, most of us aren't impressed by them any longer. Visual studio is so common that it is simply an extension of my daily routine. We all have favorite practices. Our fingers know what keys to hit even when our brain may have long forgotten what the labels are. All in all, Visual Studio is pretty boring. Without even trying, Scott breathes new life into the tool. Scott's superior level of proficiency with Visual Studio and no-nonsense approach brings a refreshing appreciation back to the tool. There were so many "Oh yeah!" moments for me that I am genuinely excited to use crack open my next project.