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Rating: 
Summary: Check this out...
Review: First of all, I won't write a review if I cannot give a product at least 4 stars. I do have to give this one 5 though.
I don't like everything Microsoft Press publishes, but this book is quite good. I was very new to SQL and had to learn quickly. This book and "The SQL Server 2000 Book" by Anthony Sequeira saved me from severe panic attacks.
If you want to learn about SQL Server 2000 take my advice, PLEASE!
Rating:
Summary: If you want to pass the exam or just learn SQL 2000 Server..
Review: I have several year of experience with SQL 7.0 and was looking for the resource to tell me the distinct difference between 7.0 and 2000. The book reads well and has plenty of hands on step-by-step labs (if needed). Really the book is two books in one. The second part of the book is preparation for the exam with scenario-based questions. Additionally, the book comes with the usual 120 day Evaluation Edition of SQL 2000 server. Plus a second CD with supplemental course material, electronic version of the book (part 1), scripts for the lab, a test engine ("Electronic Assessment"), ect.I used the book as the primary source for studying for the 70-228 exam (passed the first time)along with BOL for fine points mentioned in each chapter. I found reading the book forward and then backward increased overall coverage due to interrelationships between chapters (don't worry the book reads fast). Even if you have no experience with SQL server, I think the book will do the trick. If you have no experience with relational databases, I would suggest picking up a source on database design.
Rating: 
Summary: nowhere near enough
Review: Supplemental material is absolutely required. The book provides relatively scant information on what appear to be the most heavily weighted exam areas. The exercises don't really prepare you for the exam since the exam questions focus on abstract/theoretical concepts as opposed to practical application in realistic scenarios. The study test questions are a pretty good inidcator of the difficulty of the questions on the exam, but there are at least a few errors; one of the more glaring ones tells you one thing in the pre-question objectives section, another thing in what is supposedly the correct answer to the question, and then BOL completely contradicts both of those. All in all, it is a pretty sad effort especially considering it is from the same company that produces the software in question.
Rating:
Summary: Two Stars
Review: This book focuses on the lifeless details, and really lifeless exercises. That makes it hard to stay awake. There is not a lot of meat. You could not use it for a reference, too much filler and makes the assumption of no particular expertise by the reader. It leads the reader in the exercises and the accompanying CD to believe that the test is about memorization of fine details that would take years to memorize. I have taken a half dozen certifications, they are not about memorizing details. I do not expect to take the certification exam after plodding through this book. This book is pretty much the way other Microsoft Press books are written, some may be happy with that, but I find they kill my interest.
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