Customer Reviews

MCSA/MCSE Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment Exam Cram 2 w/ CD (Exam Cram 70-290)

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

 

 

I just took the exam, and trust me, this book simply doesn't go far enough. Some material on the exam doesn't even appear in this book, and other material goes in to much more detail than the book does. Example: visual basic scripting; I got a couple of questions that required some knowledge of VBS, but this book didn't touch it. Another example: using the automated system recovery tool is covered, but not in enough detail to help you pass. I also upgraded, for about $60, the test and took, and scored very high on the four practice tests. These tests bear no resemblance to the real thing in form or content. Little help, if any. If you want to pass, find another book.

This is a good review book in some respects and in other respects it is average. Look for my reviews of the other 70-290 books to get a complete view of my opinions concerning the material offered for training. I think that that the main reason for the various praise of these training books ( from great to no help) is because each person encounters a slightly different test. I am convinced that Microsoft makes the test harder if you fail it the first time and for what reason I really can't figure out. It's like you have seen the test in one form and Microsoft wants to make sure that you don't use the "preview" of the actual to pass it the second time. This book helped me for the first test but didn't really help for the second actual test.
On the first test, I had vbs which this book doesn't mention.
It seems that each book offers some different perspective on the subject and a person shouldn't rely on just one source of training. This book had some good sections in it but shouldn't be used solely as training material.

I studied this book and made up some flash cards. The book includes two practice exams, too. I also took one "Prep Logic" practice exam. On the day of the test, I was really sick (throwing up), but I still managed to pass the exam. I am amazed that these books only cost around $20. I don't know how anyone can complain about $20, but I think these books (The exam cram series) are a GREAT value.

My recipe for success: These books + some hands-on experience + extra practice exams = pass everytime

It took me about 2 months to work though this book, and it was worth every minute of it. I used this book and a small at home lab I set up to test out some of hands on work before writing. All of this and the TWO practice exams PLUS the PrepLogic exam that is on CD was the best tool I needed to pass the exam. And pass the exam I did. I've been a fan of the Exam Cram series for years and again they have not disappointed me. There may seem to be a lot of information to cover... but it's all well worth it. Thanks Que Publishing for helping me out yet again.

I would recommend this book to anybody that is about to take 70-290. I would say a word of caution though about this book. It is truly intended to be a suppliment to actual training from either a interactive self-paced class like Test Out or Prep Logic. If you try to pass the 70-290 with this book alone you may run in to difficulty. Also, I would recommend exam insurance from Microsoft if your testing center allows it.

Passed exam 70-290 this afternoon thanks to the good foundation this book laid for me. However, don't rely too much on the contents of this book for in-depth study and analysis of core components in Server 2003. It just presents the first layer of what you really need to know in order to pass the test.
Instead, use this as a guide to compertamentalize your study strategy as you moved through the more targeted content that other guides may provide you. I strongly recommend complementing this book with either the Transcenders or Testkings (the legal ones!).

This book is a great way to start studying the 70-290 Exam. It is well organized and tries to cover most of the topics. The book is interesting and useful as a reference book for the real life.

Unfortunately this book does not cover all the objectives for the exam. For example for the SUS topic it contains less than one page of information. For IIS and printers, it is the same problem.
Some other books like Sybex contain an entire chapter !!.
There are some topics with shallow information.

I strongly recommend this book for beginners. With the help of the TechNet and a practice exam (like Boson or transcender), you can pass the exam.

The CD does not contain questions similar than the real exam. It would be great if the CD contained simulation questions and more questions like the real exam.

It took me about 2 months to work though this book, and it was worth every minute of it. I used this book and a small at home lab I set up to test out some of hands on work before writing. All of this and the TWO practice exams PLUS the PrepLogic exam that is on CD was the best tool I needed to pass the exam. And pass the exam I did. I've been a fan of the Exam Cram series for years and again they have not disappointed me. There may seem to be a lot of information to cover... but it's all well worth it. Thanks Que Publishing for helping me out yet again.

This book is not enough to pass the exam, at least the exam I received. To many holes on security. My test was 1/2 security type questions and needless to say I did not pass. I did have a home test lab and did every lab at least twice. In my lab I had 98, 2k, and XP home and Xp Pro. I do have extended experience in the networking world. I did buy the XP Pro Manual as well and I am equally disappointed. I did purchaced additional manuals to pass the the tests. Exam Cram manuals WERE one of the best.

"Over the years I've read countless books of this kind in preparation for tests. After reading the books and then taking the exams, I've invariably been pretty disappointed with what the book actually provided me with. Even when I purchased several different books, I've usually come up short in one aspect or another. This time around I only bought one book, and as it turns out it was all that I ever needed. This book is a comprehensive resource. The presentation is straightforward and concise, yet detailed enough to give you precisely what you need to know. As with all such books , it assumes a certain amount of prerequisite knowledge on the part of the reader, which I found to be totally consistent with my own level of mastery. I was generally fairly comfortable during the exam itself, and again, yes, I passed, so I guess that says it all!"