Rating: 
Summary: Good
Review: I have Minasi's Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 Mastering books. I would recommend Mastering Windows 2003 to most but I would also recommend Windows Server 2003 Inside Out. Having both books is a Godsend. Windows Server 2003 Inside Out has become my goto book for the indepth stuff especially monitoring, maintenance, Active Directory, networking, printing. Inside Out has the best coverage of DNS, DHCP, and TCP/IP. Mastering is still my goto book when I have to deal with Mac to Windows support or Unix to Windows issues or NetWare to Windows. Mastering is good for issues with older OSs like connectivity to Windows for Workgroup clients.
Rating: 
Summary: Not much content
Review: This book has a lot of pages full of the obvious, but not enough detail on the difficult issues to be of any real trouble shooting value. I get far more valuable information from the help menus within Server 2003.
Rating: 
Summary: Very difficult to follow
Review: Completely disappointed. I honestly don't understand what the raves are for this book. The chapters are dense, it's very difficult to follow, and try to find something when you need it I dare you. It's like Minasi doesn't know how to articulate himself. I found myself wishing he'd get to the point. And what's with all the coverage of Windows for Workgroups and other archaic OSes. Does anyone use Windows for Workgroups?
Rating: 
Summary: Best of the NT Server Books
Review: This is a great book! If I could only have one book from which to learn NT/2003 and use as a reference then Minasi's book would be my choice. He has a great talent for explaining complex concepts in simple terms while still covering the subject in depth. As a working Systems Administrator, I find this book and its predecessors to be invaluable. I have purchased many books on Windows NT/2000/2003 but I always come back to this one. I would stress I have no affiliation with either the author or the publisher. I am a working Systems Administrator and I just can't praise this book enough. If you want to learn Windows Server 2003 then this book will teach you what you need to know.
Rating:
Summary: Probably the best
Review: Definately, outstanding book. I'm a Microsoft MVP on Windows and I think this book helped me a lot.When you read some other Windows Server books, you may find boring. That's normal because technical books are not stories. But, learn windows server by reading this book will not feel boring. It's not only a great book on technical view, but also a very interesting book. If you want to buy ONLY ONE windows server 2003 book, buy this one!
Rating:
Summary: Where's the Meat at?
Review: Truly a disappointment! I'm new to Server 2003, but far from new to computers & windows. Theories, history, the evolution of networking ... none of which I cared about! Just show me step by step how use Server 2003. How do you add users, computers, setup domains ... the basics, so I thought. Don't waste your money.
Rating:
Summary: Fine book, CD version is limp!
Review: I am the Publisher of an IT Pro computer imprint that has tried producing competing books to Mr Minasi's for many years. Having published computer books since 1994, I can say with considerable experience that there are few computer books that stand the test of time and remain head and shoulders above the rest from edition to edition: MASTERING is one of those titles. Mark and his coauthors have set a standard that they should be proud of. Reviewers who complain about the fact that the book is too long and dense (excuse me, why did you buy a 1700-page book???), repeated information from his earlier editions (I suppose you'd be happier if MS changed every feature each time rather than making progressive improvements???), etc., make me believe that a certain audience hypercriticality and sour grapes must be part of the cost of success. My advice to potential buyers: pay attention to the audience that has spoken by buying this book over 2 to 1 over all others in this edition as well as the others. If this is not a five-star computer book, I don't know what is!
| 
