Customer Reviews

MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-647): Windows Server Enterprise Administration

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

 

 

If you've used MS Press before, you will experience more of the same in this book. I read the book, used the practice tests, and bought the Self-Test software. I snuck by with a 752 to earn my Enterprise Administrator. The book (and test) focuses on design, and gives you some very nice real-world advice on how to design complex Microsoft-based Networks. It even gives you some managerial advice, which actually gives you a nice sense of pride as you read the book and know what a great certification you're about to earn.

There's no magic to taking MS Exams - my formula for every exam in the Enterprise Admin track was:

1. Read a book. Don't stress over nailing every concept. I used the MS Press books. Just read it leisurely to learn.
2. Go through the practice test CD in the book. Be able to score 80% consistently.
3. Buy a second practice test (I like Self-Test). Be able to score 80% consistently.

For the practice tests, focus on the incorrect answers as much as the correct answers. Know WHY an answer is right/wrong. I don't even use the real cert mode on the tests, I just use the practice mode and learn why the answer is what it is.

Good luck! You'll like the book if you've made it this far.

Great study guide and resource!
In many cases, a Self-Paced study guide is mainly useful for preparing for the test and once you have passed the test, the book becomes a dust collector. This is not case with this book. The authors have done a fantastic job of not only covering the exam objectives, but have also written a book you will find very useful as a reference source and for providing real-world guidance as well.

Many IT books are written by individuals who are obviously subject matter experts, but write in such a convoluted fashion that it is difficult if not tedious to read their book. The authors, in this case, have written an easy to read and follow book. They have done a superlative job of presenting complex subjects in an easy to read manner (try talking about NAP to someone that makes it sound REALLY exciting!).

The book is logically broken down to cover all of the exam objectives - in fact a reference chart is included which breaks each chapter and lesson down according to the relevant exam objective. Each chapter gives numerous real-world examples to emphasize the points covered as well as detailed exercises to reinforce the concepts presented. The authors also include numerous references to Microsoft Best Practices - a nice touch that will prove beneficial to many.

All in all - I would highly recommend this book - not only as a study guide for the 70-647 test, but also as a reference source and even a best practices guide.

This book has a lot of detail and makes a great reference for any of the topics covered. It gives you very detailed instructions. That being said, it makes for a horrible study guide for the 70-647 Exam, which was my intended use. It goes way deeper than necessary to cover the exam topics and is hard to get through more than 10 pages at a time. For Microsoft Exams, I usually study the Exam Cram book(s) as my primary, coupled with the MS Training Kit, and some sort of practice test software... I have had good luck with this combo. For whatever reason, it seems that Exam Cram decided not to write a book for Exam 70-647... this book is a poor substitute for Exam Cram for sure!

These books are well written and comprehensive. Most of the explanations are clear, reasonably concise, and fairly complete, and the books teach a great deal by prose, example, and practice. They are, by far, the best resources I have used yet.

But they still suffer from what I call "Microsoft blindness", the ingrained assumption that the reader (a) has worked extensively in the Microsoft space and (b) has never worked anywhere else. There's a Microsoft Mindset that the writers assume the readers have, and if you happen to be experienced in non-Microsoft technologies, it's almost like reading in a foreign language. If you speak the language well but not fluently, you can translate it, but you struggle to "think" in Microsoft -- or, at least, I do, having long non-Microsoft experience before entering the Microsoft world.

These books could be improved substantially if the writers kept in mind that some readers come from other environments, even if they just did it in sidebars with a signpost here and there, for the things that are quite reasonably obvious to Microsoft devotees that aren't obvious at all to those coming from the outside. One example of many is ongoing references to the .Net development framework. If you haven't developed code for Windows, which is quite possible for an incoming system administrator, many of the .Net references will make little sense, while to a .Net developer they are obvious and intrinsic to the environment.

Microsoft has simultaneously gotten better about playing well with other technologies while making their own more and more comprehensive. Their authors and editors should keep that in mind for future editions.

A good book for learning about Windows Server 2008!

It is reasonably easy to read and presents topics in an understandable format. As with any book, it is impossible to ask questions or get a subject presented differently.

As a professional trainer (Microsoft certified), I warn students that no one source of information will cover all the material that Microsoft tests you on. This book is no exception. The Quick Check questions and end of Lesson questions are very week compared to what Microsoft will test you on. The CD with practice exams was not available, so I cannot comment on the level of questions present. From past experience, the CD's practice questions are equally week.

Pros:

* A well written book for general learning.
* Comes with a CD containing an e-book for when carrying the book around is not practical
* Contains minimal errors

Cons:

* Not sufficient as a sole learning source for taking the 70-647 exam!
* Week questions as compared to the exam

In Summary, I would recremend this book for general learning and with a supplement for those planing on taking the 70-647 exam

This book is not written by the authors stated by Amazon.com as of July 3rd. The CD does not include an evaluation of windows 2008. It is ~50mb and contains 275+ questions and an ebook. 15% off exam expires 12/31/2012.

You will need a lot more than this book to pass the exam. I did not take my exam yet, but after getting this book I feel I spent too much money because it seems to vague and not enough details and I do not think it covers all of the exam objectives. I did not bother to try the included cdrom because they make the fonts too small to read on these new editions and I think my time has been better spend researching and learning on my own and with other books.

The book arrived on time and in great condition. Have no problems purchasing from this vendor again.