A+ Certification Training Kit, Third Edition (IT Professional) [Hardcover]

Microsoft Corporation (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 9, 2006 | Series: IT Professional

The A+ Certification program was created by a consortium of companies, including Microsoft, to define baseline knowledge and skill levels for IT professionals who support hardware and software based on the Intel platform. Fully updated to cover the latest operating systems, including Microsoft Windows "RM" 2000, the "A+ Certification Training Kit", Third Edition, applies Microsoft's popular, competency-based learning format to A+ certification test preparation. Entry-level IT professionals, computer service technicians, and other computer science track students can use the kit to build real-world expertise with systems hardware and operating systems -- as they prepare for the corresponding skill areas of the A+ exam. The kit is modular and self-paced, with hands-on, skill-building exercises. The entire course is featured on CD-ROM for easy searches and reference.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 710 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press; 3rd edition (January 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 073561265X
• ISBN-13: 978-0735612655
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.6 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #736,816 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Think Microsoft only does MCSE - think again!, July 31, 2000

By 

Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A+ Certification Training Kit, Second Edition (IT-Training Kits) (Hardcover)

Having taken the A+ exams and having taught A+ for over a year now you'll find hundreds of books and resources to help you on the way, so what separates this book from the others? Simply that fact that book gives you all the information you'll need and you can learn at your own pace.

The book is written to be completed in just over 35 hours, remember that your completion time is based on the schedule you set. Starting with hardware and then covering the software, the book works the exam objectives in fairly complete manner.

From objective like the power supply, ESD, Safety, hard drives, floppies, monitors and video to DOS, Windows 3.X and Windows 95. Remember this book covers the current exam so newer technologies are not included.

The are many hands on exercises as well as exam questions, what this book doesn't have is practice exams and that may keep some people from buying. Filled with diagrams, figures, tables and notes you have everything you need.

The next edition will be updates for the more current exam and the book should then included practice exams in the current testing format. Overall this book is very good and with a little work this book will become the choice of any aspiring technician.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars VERY Microsoft-centric, December 5, 2000

By 

Grant Donnelly (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A+ Certification Training Kit, Second Edition (IT-Training Kits) (Hardcover)

Don't get me wrong, this is a comprehensive book, but while reading you have to keep in mind that it is basically Microsofts "opinion". It presents a history of computing that shines a very favourable light on the Windows operating systems and, as should probably be expected, look after their Intel buddies.

It is not the best book for a study guide, but rather is written in a format that is possibly a bit more logical - it's goal is not simply to get you past the exam, it actually tries to TEACH you what the principles of the A+ Certification are testing.

An experienced technician looking to formalise their knowledge with a piece of paper would probably find this book tedious and boring, but for an absolute novice, I strongly recommend that you read another version on PC history AS WELL to maintain a balanced view - a study guide from a different publisher would probably be sufficient to "round out" your A+ certification reading.

As always, complement with online study guides and as many practice tests as you can lay your hands on.

33 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Do not buy - there is a third edition!!, January 6, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: A+ Certification Training Kit, Second Edition (IT-Training Kits) (Hardcover)

Nowhere is a potential buyer warned that there is a third edition of this book. I made the mistake of getting this book. It is a good thing that I also purchased the Readiness Review which which, to my shock, started testing me on things not even mentioned in the Training Kit. To get the most recent edition - so you do not fail the exam - get ISBN 0-7356-1265-X.