Customer Reviews

MCSE Exchange Server 5.5 Study Guide (Exam 70-81)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I guess I have to give this book 4 stars as I passed the exam first time with a high score! However I suspect that this book should not be used as the ONLY study material. Exchange 5.5 is an exam that requires practical experience to pass. I felt the way it was organised was logical and the "two minute drills" and tests were useful to double check knowledge. I tend to agree with a previous reviewer, the client section was indeed very weak. However, good sections on Internet connectivity and NNTP as well as the usual connectors and planning stuff that is the bones of any Exchange 5.5 exam. That said, you will still need to take trial tests BEFORE the exam, do not just rely on this book!

After taking the Server & Workstation Core exams with a combination of the MS Press books and this series, I was all set for some good assistance with the Exchange book from this publisher. I was extremely disappointed by the content of this book.

Not only is the book very short on information in several key areas, it also lacks any significant coverage of exam essentials like clients. The small overview given of clients is not enough to prepare someone for the exam.

As if the lack of essentials wasn't enough, the book is incorrect in at least one exam question! In a question regarding trust levels, this book is in direct conflict with Microsoft's own Exchange Server 5.5 book. That was in the Chapter 2 exam. It's anyone's guess what other nuggets like that one are awaiting the reader in this book.

I wish I could say that I'm going to buy another book in this series for my last exam, but after this fiasco I'm not going to give them any more of my money.

This book was given to me as a gift, and I used it as my principle reference. Unlike some of the reviews below, I found it very useful, and had very little problems with it. Strong section on Installing and Configuring (with a real nice subsection on managing exchange server sites) I found the two minute drills a great way to retest myself in order to make certain I knew what was important. I'd recommend this to others.

I found that this book has enough technical information but reading it is probably harder than writing the exam. It is unstructured, assumes knowledge of topics not yet covered,not thorough in explanations.I am an MCSE+I and I had so much difficulty with this book that I abandoned it 4 chapters in. I used web resources to write and pass the exam Brian Talbert and Stuart Shay have excellent notes ( search the net for them)and I would read those rather than this book anyday!!

I used this guide to take my exam and failed. I liked the 2 minutes drill at the end of each chapter and the fact it was fast (too fast?) to read. But it positively HAS NOT enough informations to prepare Exchange exam and the questions are too easy compare to what the exam asks. I worked much more hours with my MS courses books and using blank exams and then succeeds. I do not recommend for people preparing the exams and I do not see other valuable usages.

"Typos" are unacceptable in any book that is suppossably preparing the reader for an exam! That "trust value" typo sent me scrurying to my other books and left me pretty confused as to which book was correct (the microsoft book was correct, of course). I've read a lot of these MCSE books now and I've seen even worse typows, but this book ranks as simply unreliable information.

I was very pleased with the quality and depth of this book. The previous submitter appears to be a little off here... Considering the CD that comes with the book contains many many exam questions, I think I can live with a 'typo'. But, isn't that what we call a first edition? I haven't found a book yet that didn't have a typographical error or two. A quality book that, combined with hands on experience and NT Server knowledge will prepare you completely for the Exchange 5.5 server exam.

Not only does this book contain mis-leading and outright incorrect information, it is of absolutely no value if you are studying for the test. You are better off not reading anything, and simply guessing on the questions. Save your money.