Customer Reviews

MCSE Windows 2000 Security Design Exam Cram (Exam: 70-220)

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1 star:		(14)

 

 

This book is absolutely terrible! I truly and honestly cannot believe that someone was actually paid to write it. I cannot tell you how bad this book is. I mean, I would have given this book NO STARS if it were possible. The author writes as if he is writing his doctoral thesis in physiological psychology instead of a book for computer professionals preparing to take their Microsoft Exam 70-220: Windows 2000 Security Design. Even when you know what the author is talking about, you don't. Consider the following example of his drivel:

"Just as the study of animal physiology provides a rationale for many peculiar behaviors, you better understand functional adaptations in a business workflow when you explore the limitations in the underlying structure that caused it."

Translation: DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!

<excerpt> "..You might assume that because of the increase in use of the Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) in software development and the emphasis on software interoperability across non-Microsoft "cultures" (e.g., Novell, Unix, and Machintosh), a major Widows 2000 theme is a scalable organizational structure."

What!?! While the contents of the book appears to be presented in a logical order, it reads like a list of unrelated thoughts. You may think this is an isolated example but it's not. That excerpt was from Chapter 2 - Security Overview. I assure you there is plenty more where that came from.

I would definately not recommend this book, and it just reinforces my belief that since the NT 4 series, the quality of Coriolis books has seriously suffered. I'll stick with Sybex.

I agree with all previous reviews. This book is not what you come to expect for an ExamCram. The author may understand the concepts he is presenting, but presents it in such "businessease" that it is EXTREMELY difficult to follow. This was the biggest waste of money I have ever invested in a preparation guide! DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK! The authors writing is horrible!

There is not much I can add to the other reviews. However, I believe that it is important for everyone who purchased this book to add a review. I used Exam Cram for NT 4 certification. I used the Exam Cram for the Win2K Core exams, but I was disappointed with the quality. Now, in what appears to be a downward spiral in quality, the 70-220 Exam Cram is an embarrassment to what was arguably one of the most widely used MCSE study guide series. Coriolis made a huge error in publishing this book. The reputation of Coriolis, which has published quality books in the past, is now seriously tarnished. I will certainly think twice before considering any Coriolis books in the future.

I started reading this book and that's about as far as I got. It is so hard to follow, so abstract, and very very dry. I though maybe I was the only one that thought that about this book so I started reading reviews and come to find out I'm not the only one. I would strongly discourage anyone, and I mean anyone, from spending money on this book or even accepting this book as a gift. Stay far away from it. Now I have to spend more money on another book. I'm very disappointed in Coriolis.

Sounds much more like a Master's Thesis than a training guide. I am upgrading my MCSE 4.0 to 2000 and thought the 70-220 would be a worthwhile and useful elective. After reading the sybex book, I have found that it is just that. However, this exam cram is so dry that it will not even put you to sleep - leaving you with a constant hangoverish headache. Don't make the same mistake I did.

William Erb - MCSE 4.0, CCNP, CNE, BSCS, CNS

This book is technically correct.... but thats about it. Phillip writes at such "Consultese/Thesis" level, that I found it painfult to read. And I already know this stuff!

Raymond MCSE, A+, CIW MSD, I-Net+

I wish I had taken a look at the reviews for this book before purchasing it. I actually had to go to five stores before finding it. Dimwitted me took that as it was a hot item hard to keep on the shelves. When in fact, it is more likely that the stores had a bit of commonsense and kept it off the shelves. I actually made it to Chapter 4 before I realized that I could not remember what I had read just a few pages before. I actually believe I know less now than I did before. I cannot comment on the technical accuracy of anything in the book, because I cannot remember any of that. I am simply haunted by the writing style of the author. The only thing "crammish" about this book, is the author's desire to see how many words and acronyms he can cram into sentences. As for those sentences, they leave you hunting for the point as you trudge through a barrage of pointless dribble. This could have been the shortest book in the series if the author had made a point to stick to the point.

I don't recommend to buy this book. It contain only basic contepts (bad writed) and unstructured heap of terms.

I'm MCSE+I.

P.S. I didn't get any question on exam 70-220 about contents of this book.

The author's longwindedness and excessive use of ten dollar words to convey two dollar concepts, and his is both irritating and surprising in a guide allegedly written to help experienced Win2K network security readers cram for a certification exam.