Customer Reviews

Oracle 9i: SQL Exam Cram 2 (Exam Cram 1Z0-007)

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

 

 

As an experienced DBA, I found this book clear and concise. I especially like the accompanying CD with a PDF version of the entire book. I prefer to use an electronic search to find a page in a book, so this really is a bonus to me. The tests in the book and on the CD provide useful, informative explanations for all test questions -- one of the best ways I know to get prepared for the Oracle exams. I have taken the Intro to SQL exam for Oracle9i certification, and this book really does cover the contents of that exam thoroughly. It is an excellent study companion.

I am studying to become an Oracle DBA. Gavin Powell's Book is superb! I learned so much from it so far. The author is also friendly and really concerned whether you understand the difficult concepts that a newbiee faces in learning Oracle. Like a gem you unexpectantly find at the beach. Buy this book!

Like another reviewer said, the facts are just kind of tossed out there without much in the way of explanation. The written practice tests in the back of the book are some of the worst I have ever seen. Many of them are obtuse in the extreme; they will have you scratching your head wondering if they were written with any concept of reinforcing knowledge, or just simply to make you feel stupid and/or impress his DBA buddies.
Pass on this one.

Better overall then Dawes and Thomas.
This guy writes with experience.
Where Dawes and Thomas is mostly a reprint of Oracle Documentation.

Better in these areas:
- User setup
- Single row functions and Group functions.
Far more detail on topics.

The Book comes with electronic exam, that DOES NOT REQUIRE the CD always be inserted in your computer!!!

Negative: Software does not run on a Mac, you will need virtualization software, like virtual PC to run, but it works.

This book is tough to follow. The information is simply listed out, not explained, making it hard to learn. I felt that there was value however in the MeasureUp test on the included CD. For learning Oracle PL\SQL I recommend Oracle9i: SQL With an Introduction to PL\SQL by Lannes Morris-Murphy instead.