MCSE Core Required Exams in a Nutshell: The required 70: 290, 291, 293 and 294 Exams (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly))

List Price: $49.99 Discount Price: $24.99

Customer Reviews:

Kim [Posted on 2007-01-06]
The book has very up-to-date information and has been a beneficial study guide and learning tool. The book has improved my chances in passing the certification test as well as understanding the concepts. It will also serve as a beneficial resource in the future.

Good deal! [Posted on 2007-01-11]
As a technical trainer, I'm always looking for more information. Once again, Stanek has come through with a book that's chock-full of good information. Perhaps it could have been bettered by the addition of more screen shots, but then that would have made the book thicker. And, remember, this book is a review-type book. If you've already studied standard texts dealing with the core exams, then this book is a good after-read. His Hightligter's section is a great idea!

Poor Choice [Posted on 2007-03-05]
This book is poor. The editing is horrible with lots of confusing language.

Extremely informative [Posted on 2007-04-19]
This book explains everything dealing with Server 2003, it's a great investment, if you're trying to obtain your certifications, this is a great guide to use. It provides explanations and details of key components needed to know for the tests. Also, there are practice tests at the end of each study guide within the book!

It's truly worth the money!!

Super as a final review before the test. [Posted on 2007-09-14]
This is a very well written book with a lot of very important information in it. I believe that it is the only MCSA/MCSE resource I have come across yet that has a section on WSUS which is lightly tested on 70-290. I used this book as my sole study literature for the 70-290 and passed with a score of 828. Of course I did use testing software, but this was the major source. I found the material for that test to be spot on. Just a few weeks ago I used this book for my final review after studying for the 70-291 (failing with a 678, one question in DNS would have done it) and again found it to be very useful. However, with the depth of the testing done for the 70-291 it is difficult to say this book is sufficient even for a final review of the 70-291. It is true that the book covers the most essential concepts for topics such as DNS, but my experience from my test and from discussing with others (some of whom had taken the test multiple times before passing) is that this test focuses much more on the advanced points of DNS than it does on the essentials. It is simply assumed that you have mastered the fundamentals and I believe the book, as "the notes you should have taken," should focus more on those advanced topics and only outline the basics.

Final verdict: four stars.

70-290: An excellent pretest, final review.

70-291: Adequate to very good in all topics except DNS. I highly recommend Windows Server 2003 Help and Support as well as TechNet for some of the finer points on this. I also highly suggest supplementing lots of labs on WSUS for this test as well. *I passed my 70-291 and there was even more WSUS on the it the second time.*

70-293: Very good review. I do have to disagree with the author's observation that the 293 is the hardest of the core exams. It was certainly easier in my opinion than the 291. The material covered was essential and the final test/labs were very in line with the test.

70-294: This book certainly covers the 290 and 294 the best. I read the MOAC book, used the included test prep software and reviewed with this book and passed. It was all I needed. The coverage it gives for this test is very practical and easy to read and under stand.

I believe this is a very good boook to help you pass the tests and will serve you well as a refresher for any technical interviews.

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