This looks like a really good book, even if the language use is a bit off.
.net is considered as probably the leading app development environment today, so this book combined with vb.net will be power.
I have done serial interface to wavecom gsm modem some years back using vb 5, at first I struggled with vb's buffers etc. but turned out great.
This book could have been a good help.
Maybe I'll get it as reference.