Customer Reviews

MCSE NT Server 4 in the Enterprise Exam Cram

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

 

 

Wait a minute. Criticizing a book a errors, especially technical errors, when it is usppoed to be preparing you for a technical exam IS A SERIOUS MATTER. How can somebody pas of a book and have the publisher do the same thing when it is wrong. These books that tell you "the only reference you will need is these books" then these reviewers who did great only did so when they used these books in CONJUNCTION with several others. These books are flawed and many of my students have complained about the amount of errors and confusion they have had. Excuse me when I sound pretentious but when I pay money for a book, I expect it to be accurate. The previus author should have asked himself this question, "Would I want an SAT or a GRE prep book riddled with errors!!" I think not.

I didn't like this book at all. Just read it and tried couple online tests. Some subjects not covered at all. Provides some very basic info about some basics. I already had a bad experience with ExamCram NetEss (see my review) and would give no another chance for ExamCram series. Sorry Ed. Now I have to buy more books to prepare for 70-068. Wish me good luck !

I studied one week for this exam. I used this book and the Trancenders only! It was enough to pass the test. I scored 688 and passing is 560 (7/7/99). Here is the deal...Have confidence in your own ability to study. DO NOT listen to all the hype about how hard the exam is and how many people fail the first time. They are not you. Who knows how hard they studied before the test, or how long they have had hands on. You best bet is to build you confidence by taking all the practice exams you can find on the net (Careful of errors). If you can consecutively pass the practice exams, you are good to go!!!

This is a great book for reviewing what you have learn about NT SERVER 4.0. It is by all means, not the most accurate of all books though. Still this book should reinforce some if not most of the concepts and working of WindowsNT.

I took my Networking Essentials test using only a Microsoft Press book which filled me with alot of information that I didn't need to pass the test, just to much information. It took me 3 trys to pass it. I then started purchasing the Exam Cram series, I bought the next 4 books and passed each test on the first try. I must be a genius or some of you just don't get it. There were some errors in the book but hey if you know it is wrong there must be some learning going on right there. Once I pass my TCPIP test I will have obtained my MCSE using only the Exam Cram series and Transcender of course.

The material is good, but I think they should have used different questions. The chapter on RAS was taken straight from the server book- which is fine- but so were the questions! That's kind of cheap. How about a little value-added for those who bought a second book?

I have read many on-line reviews of study guides and have seen a few very negative reviews written on the Exam Cram series. I do not know what one should expect from a study guide other than passing the MCSE tests. I have used Exam Cram and Transcender tests for three MCSE tests and have learned much more than from the certified MS training that cost $1,000+ per week. I have passed all test on the first attempt, and I received a perfect score on my last test. DO NOT LET WHINNING BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR STUDYING OR YOU WILL FAIL!

Study hard test easy.

I used this book in conjunction with an instructor led course and trancender. This should not be, by any means, the method for learning the material, but a great way to review it and study for the test. Don't just memorize the questions and answers, but understand the concepts and why the answers are right. This book will help you focus on the right topics to pass the test, unlike the Microsoft Press books that have you spending time on material that you'll never see again as an system admin., let alone on the exams.

I don't want to be drawn into any sort of "jihad" here, but I really have to respond to "andy@gc-consulting.com from Greensboro." First of all, I find it somewhat ironic that your "review" is "riddled" with more errors than the Exam Cram book that you so passionately complain is "flawed!" Second, did you read ANY of my review past sentance two?!? More importantly, did you UNDERSTAND any of my review past sentance two?!? NOWHERE in my review do I advocate purchasing ONLY the Exam Cram book! In fact, I clearly recommend purchasing Sybex' Study Guide IN ADDITION TO Microsoft's own NT Server ResKit. Furthermore, I go on to recommend purchasing Transcender's practice exam material to further prepare one for Microsoft's examination procedures. Moreover, if you--"andy"--had, in fact, read the Exam Cram book, you would know that the authors CLEARLY do NOT recommend using their book as your sole study material! In fact, at the end of each chapter, they reference other sources that a reader would do well to look in on for elaboration on a particular subject. (The book's claim is "the first and last book you need to read before taking your certification exam." I don't take this at all to mean that this is the "only" book you need to buy.) The fact that you have "students" speaks volumes to me about your possible motivations for being so critical of such study material. It represents an obsticle to your profession in the sense that these types of books empower the average individual to go out on their own, study, prepare, and take MCSE exams without ever having to step foot in your "classroom" or any other classroom, for that matter. At least my review offers some valid suggestions for potential MCSEs on how to achieve their goals ON THEIR OWN. I don't see any such suggestions in your review. That said, let me say that I think that "training classes" are great if you have the $1,500 per class that many "technical schools" are charging for instruction on MCSE certification! The more preperation the better if you can afford it, I say!!! But there has to come a point where the average working stiff like myself has to say, "how can I justify paying all that money for a $100 dollar test???" Finally, to answer your question, "no," I would not "WANT an SAT or a GRE prep book riddled with errors." Who in their right mind would "want" such a book?!? But the reality is that books are man made artifacts and as such they are subject to errors like any other artifact. Use the Exam Cram book only as an additional tool in your test preperation arsenal--NOT as your ENTIRE exam prep arsenal!!! Hope this helps somebody go out there and CRUSH those MCSE exams.

Yes! Alright already!! The book has ERRORS!!! Okay! Are you nay-sayers happy now?!? (Probably not, I realize, or else you wouldn't be called "nay-sayers.") But seriously folks, this is an excellent tool for MCSE preperation that some "DOGBERT-esque" NT Sys Admins will rifle through and immediately dismiss as "trash" because of its "technical errors" and "depthless writing!" (Picture an up-turned nose with a "humph" thrown in for good disdain after that last quote.) My reply to those who are truly concerned about passing the MCSE tests is to get the "errata" from Coriolis; buy the SYBEX study guide for the Enterprise exam (Sybex is CONSISTENTLY rated well in terms of readablity and technical credibility), and pick up Microsoft's "NT Server Resouce Kit, Supplement 2" to use as a cross reference. Try reading the study guide first (cross referencing the ResKit), take a practice exam or two (Transcender's if you can afford them), apply the errata to the Exam Cram book, READ the Exam Cram book (definitely cross reference here), take a couple more practice tests, read your "cram sheets" and review notes, and, finally, go CRUSH that test! Pass all six MCSE tests this way and you too can become a pretentious "DOGBERT-esque" NT Sys Admin.