Customer Reviews

MCSE Core Requirements, Second Edition (4 Book Set with 8 CD-ROMS)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Between the 4 books, I'd say rougly 50% of the information was repeated. Yes, it was a good buy, and yes it'll be a good reference set. But the thing is, the books were designed such that if you only wanted to pass 1 single exam from reading 1 of the books, you could. Hence, all the repeated information. Use a notes/crams book, and then comb through the information that you need to brush up with the Sybex guides. That's what I did, and I completed the core exams in two months.

The Net Ess book is good. Lots of details and well structured. But the other three I wouldn't recommend to anyone that knows how to point and click. First of all, the contents are VERY repetitive between the three NT books (some exercises are even the same, word for word). Secondly, the instructions for the exercises go into excruciating details. e.g. they take up half a page (or more) telling you how to open up something in Control Panel. Well, duh! I definitely advice anyone that knows how to get around in NT to avoid this book set. Lastly, they only cover some very basic stuff, and completely ignored many advanced topics that're required in the exams. However, you can probably pass the exams if you spend some time on exploring NT yourself. To sum it all up, the Net Ess book alone is enough to help you pass the exam (and nice to keep as future reference), but the other three only get you to know about the basics of NT. So get additional materials if you're serious about becoming a professional. By the way, these are only my opinions. Some people may see the above points as the "goods" of this book set. So you decide yourself. Good luck!

For the most part, very well written and exhaustive in content. Very complete in coverage, GREAT study guides. Complement this set with "Core 4: In a Nutshell:" and corresponding Microsoft "Readiness Reveiews" and you'll pass the tests, no problem. Simply the best cornerstone for your Core 4 studies published!

Do you want to pass Core?* Do you have the NT4 operating system?* Do you have access to the internet?* Do you have 2 machines to dedicate to a home network?* If you answer YES to all these questions then you can (with determination) pass. Buy these books and get on your way. There are alot of repeats, but practice makes perfect!

*If NO then save your money for a school.

Well worth the money! Don't rely on the books totally to pass the test but they are well written and have some real content.

I don't know why most everyone says that the Sybex study guides aren't informative enough to pass the exams. I started studying for the MCSE in October of 1998 and passed all six exams ( on the first try ) by the middle of January 1999, and I have never even seen Windows NT or Internet Information Server 4. The Sybex Study Guides and Test Success series were the only study aids that I used. I didn't take classes, nor have I ever worked in a networking environment. If you want your MCSE certification, then don't spend your hard-earned money on classes. Buy the Sybex Study Guides and Test Success books. They are all you need.

Obtuse, and wordy. Authors refuse to abbreviate "Windows NT" and use it repetitively as many as 5 to 10 times per page. The material is confusing. If you are new to the subject avoid this set. As one reviewer said they can spend half a page telling you how to get to the control panel, on the other hand they will frequently make reference to something with no indication at all where to find it. Most important while you may be able to derive the information needed for the exams, this set does little in the way of preparing you for them. It only gives very brief overviews of what is required. I find the New Riders to be very helpful others might be trancendors and exam cram.

I got these books as my very first books. Sybex does get you in thinking you get the full training videos on CD, but not true. Their "test" CD's are just the tests out of the book, the end-of chapter tests. I would recommend these books very highly. The Networking Essentials is a Very MUST have for anyone.

But, for the other books, you need to have the OS and these books and the Exam Cram books to pass the tests the first time around.

I scored 866/1000 on the Net, and 833 on Workstation, and 866/1000 on Server, and 900/1000 on Enterprise.

Chris Royce, MCP

Their 3 NT books (Workstation, Server, Enterprise) really only deal with the absolute basics of what is tested on the exams. The Networking Essentials book is premium - the only book you need to pass that one exam.

But to pass the other 3 exams you need to supplement what this series gives you. The 3 NT books only go over the basics, not some of the more advanced material that is covered on the exams. You CAN pass with only these books, but it might be difficult. You may want to also buy the red CRAM pack book series by a different publisher.

I'd say this series covers a good 75% of what is tested on the exams. I don't regret buying them, you just have to supplement the NT books ;)

The book cover all topics in those subjects. Explained clearly. Of course, you should not only rely on these books, real experiences on operating NT is also important. It will let you remember the concept deeply. Besides, do some questions like transcender's before exam really help. I think this is the formula to pass the exams.