Customer Reviews

Mastering Windows 2000 Professional

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a rehash of a Windows NT book for the most part, with a LITTLE veneer of Win2000 features tacked on. He has a whole chapter on the dorky PAINT program, but only a few pages on TCP/IP setup features and doesn't include the advanced features.

This could have been a good 200 page book with a bit more thoughtful selection of material. As published, it's a mediocre 1100 page boilerplate job.

If I only had one book on Win2000 Professional, this 2nd edition would be it!

Note: The first edition of this book was good for beginners but did not go deep enough for power users. However, in the second edition, the Minasi we all love from his classic "Win2000 Server" is back--and he is at his best. The 2nd edition is still useful for beginners, but it also has the meat that power users are looking for. Very clear and totally comprehensive.

I disagree with the first reviewer's assessment. This book is quite good and useful. It's more than a rehash of the win2k online manual or any other book (as far as I know). Instead it contains good, practical information you can use every day.

I got this book last night and read most of it in 24 hours. I still like the "Windows 2000: The Complete Reference" better for its clarity and technical accuracy, but if you are not into technical details this book (Mastering Windows 2000 Pro) may be for you. From setting up win2k to using win2k (who still can't use Windows?) to trouble-shooting win2k, the information is all there, and the book makes a good read from cover to cover as the authors write very succinctly.

If you are just a user, as opposed to a technician or sysadm, this book is about right to get you started on win2k. I love win2k for its performance and reliability (not a single crash so far!), and this book makes an excellent companion. (If you need more in-depth coverage, Windows 2000: The complete Reference is worth checking out.)

When I bought Mark Minasi's first edition of "Windows 2000 Professional" and read it, I said to myself...Mark Minasi can do better than this; what in the world is going on. Had Mark lost his touch? Is he no longer #1? And, if you read the other bad reviews found here (they are all about the FIRST edition), then you can plainly see that I was not alone in my concern. Well, of course Mr. Minasi had not lost his touch. The reason for the not-so-good first edition really does not need to be addressed here. The main thing is that the SECOND edition is classic Minasi, with all of the important information you will need to get onboard with Windows 2000 Professional, coupled with his engaging wit and humor. So, the recommendation from this senior systems administrator is as follows. DAYTON SAYS: BUY THIS BOOK ....just remember to get the SECOND edition.

I'm tired of reading reviews by individuals like Alain Maashe-Mengueme, and Steven M. Toth, whining about the MCSE exam. This book was obviously written (as are most of the books I've read by Mark Minasi) for the mainstream and power USER. And as such, it is well written, and complete with very useful information.

I've read many computer books (my substitute for formal computer training)- quite a few of them by Minasi, and I have yet to be disapointed by one of his works.

Mr. Maashe-Mengueme and Mr. Toth, If you're looking to pass your MCSE exam, purchase a book that's self-described to help you achieve that purpose, but don't give negative reviews to a fine title that never claimed to do such!

Also, I really appreciated the review by hbj200 who reviewed other books on the same topic and was able to compare them, (something lacking in most other book reviews), and rated the book based on what it really is, a book for users. Keep up the good work hbj200. See you soon in the top 10!

Just the premise of using an operating system daily for critical content and not having a resource like Minasi's MW2k is setting yourself up for trouble. Murphy's Law has never been proven as authentic as often as in the world of computers, and it is only by offering a great review for this book and heartfelt thanks to Minasi for writing it that I can hope to persuade people to realize the priceless value of this tome. Priceless, because a signature talent of system failure is to make whatever irreplaceable work you have disappear forever. Even though I backup religiously, twice I had found myself in the situation of loosing client material at the hands of system errors, both of which I was able to solve just by referencing Mastering Win 2k. Just the chapter "Fixing Windows 2000 When It Breaks" alone justifies the price of this book. I had originally planned to use this book only when needed, but after experiencing the wealth of valuable information in one chapter I am now reading it cover to cover. If you use Windows 2000 professionally or just somewhat regularly, you need "Mastering Windows 2000", period.

I was disappointed in this book. The majority of the almost 1000 pages are written for people just stumbling in from the backwoods who've never seen a computer. There are a few tidbits of detail to be gleaned by the experienced user, but more often than not the book spends too many words explaining operations or features that even the most casual user of any Windows OS already knows.

I had hoped for a book that took me deep into the W2K Pro OS, but this one barely let me beneath the surface. A far better book for the experienced is the Windows 2000 Administrators Pocket Consultant, which I purchased at the same time as this one. The Pocket Consultant is getting all the thumb marks.

This book is a well-written, great introduction to Win2K. HOWEVER, it is of little help to experienced NT users looking for ANY technical detail about Win2K. I am sorry I bought it without more thoroughly examining it. I (and many other people, I believe) really need much more detail.

This was one of the best written books on Windows 2000 I have ever read. Instead of just preparing you for a test or substitution as a reference manual this book actually explained how Windows 2000 works and how to get it up and running on your system. Helps you decide what options you need/want and how to use them. Very helpful.

I was disapointed with the book. It might be useful for a novice user, but it doesn't get into the detail which I was expecting. I have been pleased with other Sybex books in the past, but this one probably won't make it on my reference shelf. If you are an advanced user searching for a rather technical book, I would not recommend this book.