[.ca] MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exams 70-290, 70-291, ... (ISBN 0735619530)

From Amazon.com:
In the certification craze of 1999-2001, tens of thousands of people earned their Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) ratings. Those certifications are expiring now, just as Microsoft is coming out with Windows Server 2003 to replace the Windows 2000 family of operating systems. There may be a real opportunity for those who earn the Windows Server 2003 certification--and that's where MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit: Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Core Requirements comes in. This four-book set (which comes with quiz software and a 180-day laboratory version of Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, plus a coupon for 15 percent off the cost of each of the four exams), combined with some hands-on practical work, should be all you need to earn the new MCSE rating or the Microsoft Certified System Administrator (MCSA) certification. Each of the four books (each with a separate author) covers the published requirements of a single exam. Coverage tends to be text-heavy--even procedures rely mostly on text and use few screen shots. This goes to reinforce the fact that these are serious books for people with a pretty good idea of what they're doing already. Chapters typically begin with conceptual coverage of their subjects (using diagrams to illustrate the relationships among network entities in many cases) and move on to illustrative procedures to try. Chapters then conclude with carefully considered discussion questions. The answers to the questions appear in an appendix, complete with explanations of why the correct answers are what they are. --David Wall Topics covered: The published exam requirements for the MCSE/MCSA core exams: "Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows 2003 Server Environment" (70-290), "Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure" (70-294), "Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure" (70-291), and "Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure" (70-293).

Much better than i thought:
The usfulness of this libary has beaten my expectations. As i ordered this libary, i thought that this books is extremely technical and that the topics are discussed more difficult that they really are, so that i would be more confused instead of trained after reading. I thought first that i therfore would use it only as a reference instead of a training kit in the case that i can't find the answer to a technical question in other books. After i read a few pages in these books, i was suprised of the high quality as a training book. The different, rather difficult topics are explained in a very easy, good understandable and easy to follow manner. The learning process is very well-balanced. After i've realized that, i had used this books as my primary training kit and successfully passed the exams mainly with the help of this books. I can highly recommend this libary to anyone who is learning for the MCSE Server 2003. Of course, to sucessfully pass the exams, there is also the need for a lot of practical experience. You cannot just read the books and then think that you can pass the exams without problems if you do not have the appropriate experience. For me, this libary was one of the key parts to successfully pass the exams. And if i can do it - you can do it too.

What a waste of money!!!:
I bought these books to prepare for the 2003 exams. I can't believe how shallow, and poorly written these books are. The practice exams are a joke, the material and the technical coverage of the books are for novices. If you don't know how to create a user or a group in AD, then these books are for you. But, don't expect to sit the exam and pass based on these books. If you think you can use these books as reference, then think again.

Software:
The only good thing about Microsoft Press is the trial software provided. It gives you the opportunity to get some hands on practice on your home computer.

Much improved--great buy!:
Earlier editions of the Microsoft Training Kits were not particularly thorough, well written, or real world. The three volumes I've used in these new editions, though, 290, 291, 294, are 100% IMPROVED. First, they are EXCELLENT as learning tools (I really wonder why others believe that they're too brief. And they include real-world case studies that did not exist in the earlier editions. But the best part of this new series is the extras, especially the exam practice and test prep information, READINESS REVEIW. This gives you the value of a "study guide" plus an entire "exam cram" type book. With the 10% exam discount vouchers and the eval software,this is a great package!

Great if only for the evaluation:
After passing both Comptia criteria electives, MCSE was next in line. I chose these books for the 6 month evaluation copy of Server 2003 which is indubitably essential 'hands on' before the required examinations. Unfortunately these books are full of intellectual goobledegook - not geekspeak. I believe this was a deliberate attempt to confuse the reader. 2003's nature is an intuitive NOS - not that complicated. To be fair it is stated that you need over 12 months experience of installing maintaining Windows in order to start this course: yet from the start the authors fall short of any explanations of the "what's and why's" of 2003 environment; instead they compiled a short list of facts. In comparison the previous Windows 2000 server manuals \oby microsoft\c demand the same credentials yet are packed with charts details and easy to understand explanations. I contrasted each chapter of Windows manuals, ONLY the 2000 manuals are self explanatory. Note: 2003 is just a souped up version of 2000... This is given 3 stars, for its evaluations cd - 6 months of hands on will prepare me for the Windows Server 2003 exams. Also its logical step by step instructions covering all areas from setup and advanced configurations. I will need other books before taking the MCSE though...