46 of 46 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Working on your MCSE? Then get this set of books, July 18 2006
By Michael Coburn - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: MCSE Self Paced Training Kit Exams 70-290, 70-291, 70-293, 70-294 Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Core Requirements (Paperback)
This was my sole study guide for the MCSE Server 2003 based certification path, and I was not disappointed. The format is clear and easy to read. The books do a fantastic job of outlining WHY you are learning something, not just WHAT you need to know to pass the exam. I think this is what sets MS Press books apart from the competition: the book itself is structured to the best LEARNING format, and NOT to just passing the exam. I came away from these books with a much greater appreciation for Microsoft's Server and AD technologies (I come from a Linux background since 1995 and I'm the first to knock MS), and these books will be on your reference shelf for years to come -- or at least until the next version of Server ships.
It took me since August, 2005 until August, 2006 to obtain my MCSE. These books are BIG. You'll find yourself re-reading chapters multiple times. First to get the content, then to do the practice questions and end of lesson/end of chapter questions, then finally to review the end of lesson/end of chapter summaries right before writing the exam. But don't be discouraged. The knowledge that these books impart will allow you to THINK through the exam questions, rather than just basing it on memorization techiques.
If you're going to do your MCSE and really want to LEARN, then get these texts. If you just want to pass the exams and never work on Servers, then look elsewhere.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good with caveats, Jan 22 2007
By J. W. Neary - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: MCSE Self Paced Training Kit Exams 70-290, 70-291, 70-293, 70-294 Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Core Requirements (Paperback)
MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit includes 4 books and a CD. Each book focuses on a particular exam: Exams 70-290, 70-291, 70-293, and 70-294. Together the books are some 4000 pages. While Microsoft has improved the format by including deeper, more focused coverage of exam objectives, case studies and troubleshooting scenarios, there still are many wasted pages and this could have easily been printed with 3000 pages or less, saving a few trees and making the books easier to work with. After wading through an exam, I still felt I needed something more as a final prep. I purchased Stanek's "MCSE Core Exams in a Nutshell" for this purpose. Stanek packs 2X the detail into 800 pages, making it a terrific value. For 70-292 and 70-296 upgrades, he also provides a roadmap through the guide to make upgrading easier. On the MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit CD, there's 300 practice questions per exam, with a customizable test engine. The CD also has a120-day evaluation version of Windows Server 2003. The 15 percent exam discount voucher is good toward all four exams (but check the expiration date as its a limited time offer). Overall, MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit is a good choice.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well Done., July 10 2006
By Alexandre Borges "Alexandre Borges" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: MCSE Self Paced Training Kit Exams 70-290, 70-291, 70-293, 70-294 Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Core Requirements (Paperback)
I've belonged to the Unix world since 1993, working with low level stuff as kernel, device drivers, virus, assembly, C, etc.. and now I'm trying to learn Windows a bit and have enough conditions to take all tests (290, 291, 293, 294). No problems. This a very good kit about MS Windows 2003, well written, well organized and deserve 5 stars.
Dan Holme worried with all details for us and provided a clear text about MS Windows 2003. Stay calm. It's very easy to take the
exam.
Alex (Sao Paulo - Brazil)