Customer Reviews

MCSA/MCSE 70-290 Exam Prep: Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment (2nd Edition)

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

 

 

As many of us IT pros tend to be, we're hands on learners. I bought this in conjunction with the MS press book. By all means, this product by far exceeds the knowledge one is capable to gain from a book. It was filled with hands on exercises. In addtion it also showed screen shots in conjunction with the statement referring to it whereas the MS press book would often times have me refer to a page 3 pages back/forward. I don't find it very inviting to continually have to flip pages to see screen shots. The MS press book didn't trully provide hands on practice as well. As many might agree, to truly understand IT products, a solid foundation of hands on experience is required; this is suggested within the requirements for taking the MS certificate exams. I also found this book to be very useful as a resource within the work environment and keep it on the shelf for quick access. I would encourage all who want to pass the MS cert exam or simply to gain a further understanding of W2K3 Server to read this book and follow the exercises. I have already purchased other books from the Exam Prep line to complete the MCSE course and will continue to do so for other tests I intend to take.

I have over 10 years of professional IT experience, and I finally started working on getting MCSE certified a couple months ago. If you're looking for a good study guide for the 70-290, I highly recommend this book. I had originally began studying with the official MS Press book for 70-290, but I felt there were a lot of areas that were glazed over and not explained adequately. The Exam Prep book is much better - everything you need to know is clearly outlined and broken down very well. I've used several of their books for other certification tests, and quite frankly, theirs are easily the best in the industry in my opinion.

As the title clearly states, this book is on preparing to take the 70-290 exam as part of the certification for MCSE or MCSA. As such, this is not a book on the operating system itself. Indeed it presumes you already have a pretty good idea about Windows Server 2003 before you start this book. In fact, in the opening of the book the author gives you several recommendations for books that cover the OS and how to use it. This book is on making sure that you pass the test.

This book covers the test itself, what you should expect to afind on it, and gives you a very good understanding of those parts of Server 2003 that you should know before going into the testing room. It also includes practice questions and an access key for an online practice test from MeasureUp.

This is the second edition of this book. It is up to date to include Service Pack 2 and Release 2.

Always use 1-3 items like this when studying for any Microsoft test, never rely upon one but let one build upon the other and definitely DO the practice tests, the more prepared you are the more you'll be at ease taking the test.

I took the test and failed it. I don't feel that this book went into enough depth on several issues. I have since purchased materials put out by Microsoft and hope to have better luck.