Mastering Windows Server 2003

Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive and Easily understood
Review: I am an MCSE, NT 4 and Windows 2000, and I have my CCNA, A+, and Network +, and I have developed a much greater understaing of Windows operating systems in general, and Server 2003 specifically, by reading and completing the activities in Mark Minasi's book. It's true, that there is quite a bit of material, but ther topic requires it if one is to develope a thorough understanding on the Windows servers.

I enjoyed Mark's humor and comments throughout the book, and I believe this makes the book more enjoyable to read, and less like any other IT book published. Most technical manuals and books I have read (there have been too many) are as dry as the Mojave desert, and it's about time we are able to read an educational IT book that makes IT both entertaining and educational.

I would recommend this text to anyone who would like to develope a thorough understanding of Server 2003; for those that want a quick fix to pass a MCP exam, this would not be for you.

IT should be fun, at least most of the time.

Rating:
Summary: The more things stay the same...
Review: I remember the first Minasi "Mastering" title I bought, and I liked it. It was funny, had some great information, and was easy to read. This one still has all of the same material. Unfortunately, it's also got a lot of material by Mark's co-authors, who don't write very well. I've found a lot of errors. And honestly, it's tough to wade through a thousand pages of material looking for what's new. I'm returning this and picking up Windows Server 2003 Delta Guide. It was recommended in a magazine editorial and promises to just cover what's new - and that's what I want. Mark, you should go back to writing the whole book yourself, and then it would at least be worth it for the humor.

Rating:
Summary: Massive Orientation on What Counts
Review: Mastering Windows Server 2003 is an exceptionally well written reference and 2000/2003 orientation. Do not be influenced by the few negative reviews seen here on Amazon. I picked this text up at Thacker Ray's and spent nearly a half hour with it before leaving the store. I liked this manuscripts clean, conversational approach to problem solving and feature implementation. This is one book you can read with pleasure from cover to cover.

The book excels as a technical reference as well, giving the reader pertinent information quickly, with proper examples and possible difficulties. I especially appreciated the comprehensive coverage of DNS and AD which must take up more than 400 pages in all.

If you are looking for an enjoyable read, detailed concept tutorial and an outstanding reference, then look no further. My only regret is that I did not notice Mark Minasi's Windows XP and Server 2003 Resource Kit before purchasing this manual. If I would have known of the kits availability I would have purchased that instead.

Rating:
Summary: Whatever happened to brevity and clarity? Agree - overrated!
Review: Used to be a time Mark wrote excellent stuff - probably all by himself. Judging by this one, that time's long gone.

Even if you are completely new to the Windows 2003 platform with no experience from Windows 2000 or NT, this one's agonizingly LONG and full of fluff to really add too much value (compared to the effort in going through it).

Makes one wonder whatever happened to brevity and clarity. I appreciate bigger book when the subject justifies it, when it's written in a clear, concise and interesting style, when the author really thinks who he's targetting and what he has to offer to these people. This one clearly doesn't.

Bharat Suneja
MCT

Rating:
Summary: Legibility problems plague this book
Review: I think Mr. Minasi has something interesting to say but my eyes couldn't handle more than 30 pages! The text size used throughout the book is too small and not bold, making it a hard read.

I was sure the pdf version on the CD-ROM is more readable so I copied it to my Desktop and double-clicked it. I found it had "strings attached" -- you needed to have the CD in the drive to read the pdf. (If I recall correctly, it still wouldn't let me print anything either.) Incidentally, when I open the pdf now it claims that some component is missing and refuses to load. I guess I'll try reinstalling the thing.

I'd suggest that before buying you go to a bookstoe and read 10 pages of this book. Make up your own mind.

In the past I liked Sybex book but no longer. Any company that treats legitimate customers so poorly is not getting my future business. If you could recommend a "good" book on Windows 2003 Server I'd love to hear from you. (I gave my Minasi book away to the library).

Rating:
Summary: Good...but not Great
Review: This book has ok for anyone that has the time and patience to read over 1,600 pages of text. I too agree with an earlier review that the book does contain too much "fluff" and does not get to the point of the pertinent material in a concise mannor. The small text is very hard to read and the glare from the glossy paper used to print this book make the book hard to read for more than an hour at a time.

If you have already read the Mastering Windows Server 2000 by Manasi, don't waste your money on this book. About 90% of this book is just a reprint of the material in the previous book. Manasi would have done better in writing a book that was geared toward just the material that was new to Windows Server 2003 and saving about 1,000 pages in the process.

My recommendation would be to find one of the other book that are available for Windows Server 2003 that are more "to-the-point" and specific to the subject matter of Microsoft's new Server 2003 release.

Rating:
Summary: Over-rated and Over-written...
Review: Life is too short to wade through literally hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of pages that desperately need the use of a judicious editor. Did you ever meet anyone who talked and talked and talked and talked and talked and talked until you were ready to quite cheerfully choke the life out of them? Well - that's Mark Minasi in a nutshell. Way too much pointless jabbering and useless prattle to be of any real practical use. There's a lot of really first-rate information here but good luck trying to find it. What treasures you do find are not worth the tedious hunt you need to embark upon. The sections written by Minasi are relatively humorous but you can always tell when he dishes the material off to one of his four co-writers - the material becomes dense, poorly explained and virtually unreadable. The book lacks a coherent narrative thread and jumps around and meanders in a manner that is sure to infuriate a careful reader. Honestly, Mark Minasi is by far the most over-rated tech writer in the industry. I think his popularity is due to his easy conversational style which is liberally interspersed with occasional bits of humor which essentially appeals to readers who aren't quite ready to tackle more academically challenging titles but realistically reading the book is like listening to someone who just WILL NOT SHUT THE HELL UP! One last note the type font is ludicrously undersized and consequently quite difficult to read and the book itself is printed on cheap glossy paper that effortlessly gives off a glare-induced headache. There are better books out there. I'm sending this one back and purchasing the "Windows 2003 Server Administrator's Companion." The sample chapter that I ran across seemed to be well-written and structured in an intelligent manner. I think a lot of people BUY books written by Mark Minasi but I would be willing to bet that not very many people are able to actually read one from start to finish.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down...
Review: I received my copy of Mark Minasi's book, "Mastering Windows Server 2003", the other day. I don't normally sit down and read a technical book from front to back; however, once I started reading it, I just couldn't put it down! Mr. Minasi has a style of writing that makes even the driest of subject matter interesting. I like his examples of how to accomplish something, and at the same time tells the pitfalls and the "best practices". His sense of humor is appreciated. I already own Mastering Windows NT Server 4 and Windows 2000 Resource Kit both at work and at home. And, again, I have purchased this book for both. I use these books before I go searching anywhere else. His books have been the end of many a heated debate on how things should be implemented. You just can't go wrong with purchasing Mark Minasi's "Mastering Windows Server 2003".

Rating:
Summary: Before even buying it; MCSE NT3.51/NT4.0/W2K, MCT, CCNP
Review: ...I am also practical. Though Mark always puts in his books that they are not for certification, his is the first book that I will shell out my own money (what other endorsement do you need)!! I now teach at Montgomery College, MD and University of Maryland, University College in the evening and work for the Department of Treasury, FMS in the networking branch.

So I still recommend Mark's Mastering books for certification to learn/certifying for hands on experience/certification knowledge. Are there study guides sure, but get your office to buy those as well as the $300 resource kits but if you need one book get Mark Minasi's "Mastering Server 2003". As soon as I have some time between projects in the wan area, I buy THE book on Server 2003

Rating:
Summary: Probably the best
Review: If you can read and understand this book, you know 2003 period!!! Don't let the bad reviews about the humor distract you. Yes IT is a serious business, but to say that humor in IT or in an IT book is unwarranted is just obsurd. If you are in this business with no sense of humor, well I sure hope we never cross paths.