MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-431): Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Implementation and Maintenance (Pro-Certification)

List Price: $59.99 Discount Price: $32.50

Customer Reviews:

Good value for money [Posted on 2008-01-04]
Good book to have and I like the packaging.

No regrets for this business

Great Book, Great Author [Posted on 2008-01-05]
I bought this book because I had the opportunity to take a training course by one of the co-authors, Mike Hotek. Mike is an awesome teacher as well as writer. This book had very clear practical examples ranging from how to create a table to replication and database mirroring. I found that if you want to learn the just-above-the-basics of SQL 2005, this book is for you. Even if you don't know anything about SQL 2005, this book will give you an insight on how to get started.

The chapters are organized quite well, starting with how to install SQL 2005 and moving on to creating basic objects.

I would recommend this book for several reasons:
1) A great reference on basic SQL syntax as well as the main functions of SQL 2005
2) A great learning tool for the exam.
3) Easy to read and understand.

Great job on this one. I have already purchased the 443 and 444 books and am eager to read into those as well.

Book and Software dont work together [Posted on 2008-03-02]
Many examples in this book can not be compleated with the "Evaluation Software" the is included with the book. Chapters 14, and 15 both reference features not included in this version of the software.

The book has been reading very nicely and I believe that I have learned a lot from it but I have become very frustrated with the way the not all the examples/practice areas can be accessed with the limitations of the included software

Useful for experienced SQL Server users [Posted on 2008-03-04]
I'm about 1/3 of the way through this book. As a moderately experienced SQL Server developer, I find the book useful as an exam prep beause it briefly reviews and previews the information, although it relies on the reader already being somewhat familiar with the subject.

For example, the text explanations and code snippets are good, but there are very few screenshots or other figures.

Don't get this book if you don't already have some experience with SQL Server.

Do get this book as a review or summary of what you'll presumably need to know for the exam.

Conrad

not a good book to use for a job  [Posted on 2008-03-26]
I had to use this book for a class. It has many mistakes and the quizzes at the end of the chapters ask questions that weren't even covered. Everyone in my class including the instructor agreed that this was not a good book. It either barely discusses or doesn't even cover things that the quizzes ask you about. I am going to find another book to study from before I even think about taking the test. The labs were terrible also, some of them couldn't even be completed as set up by the book. I wouldn't even waste my money on this.

Click here for more details and discount information...