Question on learning DirextX

What I want to know is whether or not directX 8 made knowledge of D7 and below obsolete.

Direct X8 doesn't have directdraw right? So does that mean learning to use the directdraw functions is a waste of time?

The reason I ask is that almost all books that teach direct X for begginers are using direct X7, are these books worthless now that 8 is the standard?

I want to learn simple 2d directX programming, which is why La Mothe's game programming books tempt me, however if the knowledge they contain is now useless, I suppose i'll just have to wait untill a decent beginner's book for d8 comes along.

Advice?

DirectX 8 didn't make DirectDraw obsolete. There just aren't going to be anymore updates after 7. For what you want to do DirectDraw will work just fine. Lamothe's books are far from useless. I suggest getting one of his Prima series books on DX7 if that's the avenue you want to pursue.

I see, the reason I ask is because i read a review on Amazon.co.uk of one of LaMothe's books which included this line:

"If you've downloaded the DirectX8 SDK then you're in for a surprise. DirectDraw doesn't exist any more! That's right, the first 8 chapters of Tricks have zero relevance to the modern learning developer."

That kinda worried me, so DirectX 8 does still have DirectDraw, it's just that they are no longer updating it? Well, in that case i'll get the book :)

That reviewer is sadly mistaken. The book I learned DirectX from was Iso Game Programming with DX 7 from Lamothe's Prima series and it includes the DirectX 8 SDK. I use DirectDraw exclusively and I use the DX 8 SDK.

Cool, thanks for the info. :)