Rating: 
Summary: The Devil's in the Details...
Review: I cut my teeth on Mark's NT books, all of them presenting the in-depth level of detail I needed to do my job - and then some. I've lost track of how many times that "detail" has saved my bacon, allowing me to understand and anticipate potential problems before they reached crisis proportions. I found this same level of detail in his Win2k Server book; and again in Windows 2003 Server. I usually always combine Mark's book with a plain server administration book, if I need that level of brevity. But for depth of understanding, clarity of presentation on complex subjects, and really feeling like I "know" the stuff, I always find myself returning to Mark's books.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Book
Review: Once again, Mark Minasi has gone to great depths to provide an absolute superb book.
If you want to learn Windows 2003 Server quickly, easily then this is the book for you. Again Marks comical style of writing makes the reading both entertaining and fun, but at the same time very professional. This guy really knows how to make learning fun.If there is one book you buy this year, this has got to be the one... Well done Mark..
Rating:
Summary: Great technical read
Review: After buying this book, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the thourough examples and Mark's conversational style of writing. As a consultant, more times than not, I need to understand the technology, not just download the Microsoft HOWTO from the support web site. Mark gives you reason behind the decision to make a mouse click not just click here and here and now you have a split-brain DNS. I like this so called "fluff" and the points in the book where he says, "I used to do it this way but here is the problem, so now I do it this other way." If you need concise, try MSDN documentation, if you want to know and understand the difference between DNS stub zones, conditional forwarding and when you could use each, try this book.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: Short and simple, the best book I have read in a long time. I have more than my share of Server books and this one is by far the best one in my collection. I work on one of the largest Active Directory's in the world and this book has helped me out tremendously. Kowledge is power and plenty of power in this book
Rating:
Summary: One book fits all readers, well show me that book
Review: Perhaps some people feel this is possible well show that book.
What's the big deal its just a book, its not like the wholly scriptures,
Well perhaps not like some people look at religion but for the few hundreds of thousands who has read any of Marks books it comes pretty damn close. I don't want to compare the two directly because this will not end well and might offend some.
I read the 2k edition. The new book will not sit on the shelf for much longer; time has not been on my side with vacation coming etc.
I have read some of the new 2k3 book and I think it's a shame that some people buy tons of books only to find out this has most of what you ever need, sure no book can cover everything about a program like server 2k3, but this comes close at least of what I have read so far.
Oh yeah there are bound to be mistakes etc in this book.
My advice is to get used to having nothing in the world without errors.
I am sure Mark like any writer wants to know about all them, but hey lets play nice when we point them out.
Any way just my two cents.
Rating: 
Summary: Decent, but a sleeping pill nonetheless
Review: I am a fan of Minasi's older books, but this one does not hit the mark. I would go and use Technet before mastering this book. I did get a lot out of it, (dont get me wrong, the book has a lot to offer), but is it worth the 75 thousand pages you need to wade through? I would rather just read technet instead. I guess, this would make a decent reference instead as trying to read it straight through may kill you.
Rating: 
Summary: Recycled and stale
Review: I yield to no one in my admiration for Minasi's early books but this particular vehicle has been retreaded too often. Mark needs to start over fresh -- write a new book -- he and his coauthors are just going through the motions these days. Whole chapters are "search and replace" jobs. For this kind of money, readers deserve a new book, not a recycled Mastering Windows Server 2000.
The whole book has a very tired feel.
Rating:
Summary: The worst computer book I've read in the past 5 years.
Review: I thought the author was a good one. But this book really destroys his fame. Simply put, the book is targeted toward kindergarden kids. You cannot learn much from reading it. I wasted my time and i don't want you to do the same thing; don't buy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Decent, but not great like the older Mastering Guides
Review: The older guides were better. This one wasnt great, but it was better than the Dummies guide which was pure junk. This book because of its enormous size and lack of flow really just kills you, but its pretty good if you want to nail down Windows Server 2003, IF you can keep the book in your hands long enough to digest it. Its just too long and drawn out. So far though, out of the 4 books I read, this one is rated number 2. Dummies, was last. Next up, I am reading the Delta guide and will post on that in a month. Hope this helps.
Rating:
Summary: A well written practical book
Review: Once again SYBEX shows that you cannot go wrong with their books.
Mark Minasi has done a great job and especially in one of the topics I have always suffered headaches, DNS.
Split "Brain" DNS is something that really splits your brain but with this book help I managed to get it going.
I am a MCSE and books like this help to quickly stay in the game especially when CLEAR explanations are put together.
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