Rating: 
Summary: Better ways to prepare
Review: Although this book will probably help get you "ready" for the test (70-229), you will need several other resources to gain a true understanding of the concepts set forth. The excercises are far too general, but the essay type reviews at the end of each chapter are extremely helpful. I would suggest Professional SQL Server 2000 Programming and SQL Server 2000 Developer's Guide as companions.
Rating: 
Summary: MCS Training Kit
Review: Aside from an occasional good definition, this book is an example of how not to write a technical book. The authors assume so much on the part of the reader that even this IT pro has difficulty following him. I am certified in 7 and I found this book quite incomprehensible. I am getting the Wrox series to see how good they are. I generelly find MS-Press books to be rather good but this one seems to be a copy of Books Online. In fact the authors skip over so much material casuaslly refering the reader to see "Books Online." If I wanted to do that, I wouldn't have gotten the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Not enough
Review: Good reference book, and covers subject matter decent, but still leaves a lot of details that you are tested on out. This is one of the harder Microsoft exams, so study hard for this one. I would definately use another resource if I had it to do over again.
Rating:
Summary: Not Specific
Review: I agree with Wayne Plourde. This book does not contain any specifics on the functions of SQL Server. Whole Chapters on Stored Procedures, Triggers and Indexes aren't very helpful. The exam is a lot more specific to the interactions between objects, not the code itself.
Rating:
Summary: Don't buy if you are new to SQL Server 2000
Review: I find this book particularly hard to follow. It contains much theories and little useful examples. The book is dry and poorly explained. To benefit from this book, you need to have worked with SQL Server or somewhat familiar with the tools and terms. If you are new to SQL Server 2000, save your money and look for something better.
Rating:
Summary: Good Review Material
Review: I would not recommend this book to someone who needs a comprehensive textbook or manual for SQL Server. I would recommend it to someone who feel they know SQL Server well and just want to get ready for the exam. It seems to do a pretty good job of identifying the exam objectives and giving you summaries and practice exercises for those subject areas. If there's a lot of stuff in the book that you don't know - or don't understand - then you probably need to learn more of the basics of SQL Server. Get another book, read Books Online, or maybe take a class. Use this book to identify your weakpoints - and then go from there. The CD contains a fully-functional 120-day evaluation copy of SQL Server Developer edition that you can install on your PC. This can really help because you need to practice things, and try stuff out in order to do well on the exam. The exam is oriented toward problem-solving, not just regurgitating facts. I don't see how anyone could pass the exam without being able to try things out and practice with it.
Rating:
Summary: Good Review Material
Review: I would not recommend this book to someone who needs a comprehensive textbook or manual for SQL Server. I would recommend it to someone who feel they know SQL Server well and just want to get ready for the exam. It seems to do a pretty good job of identifying the exam objectives and giving you summaries and practice exercises for those subject areas. If there's a lot of stuff in the book that you don't know - or don't understand - then you probably need to learn more of the basics of SQL Server. Get another book, read Books Online, or maybe take a class. Use this book to identify your weakpoints - and then go from there. The CD contains a fully-functional 120-day evaluation copy of SQL Server Developer edition that you can install on your PC. This can really help because you need to practice things, and try stuff out in order to do well on the exam. The exam is oriented toward problem-solving, not just regurgitating facts. I don't see how anyone could pass the exam without being able to try things out and practice with it.
Rating:
Summary: Sloppy proof-reading wastes good beginners guide
Review: If exam's are your motivation then this is only the starting point not the "Learn by rote" you need to guarantee success. If you're new to SQL Server then this training kit does what would be an excellent job if of gently introducing you to the world of SQL Server and relational databases, let down by sloppy proofreading. Some examples: Page 106 has three tables to illustrate normalisation: a book table and TWO author tables. I think what they meant was a book table, an author table and an AuthorBook table and someone just didn't check the table captions. On page 73 the sp_helpprotect stored procedure is introduced. The example won't work because the stored procedure is called sp_helprotect. And when you hit brick walls with examples (try turning debugging on - the book makes it sound dead simple, the reality is you'll hit an "unable to connect" message that requires extensive research and additional work if you're running SP3) there's nowhere to turn. It's a shame because the book does an excellent job in other ways. But it's lazy. It gives the easy and obvious examples and sample questions and whenever anything that might require a bit of real explanation comes up if you're lucky it says "Go read somewhere else", if you're unlucky the subject doesn't come up at all. I'd still recommend it as a "gentle" way into SQL Server for those new to databases, but it could have been so much better with just a little more effort
Rating:
Summary: Sloppy proof-reading wastes good beginners guide
Review: If exam's are your motivation then this is only the starting point not the "Learn by rote" you need to guarantee success. If you're new to SQL Server then this training kit does what would be an excellent job if of gently introducing you to the world of SQL Server and relational databases, let down by sloppy proofreading. Some examples: Page 106 has three tables to illustrate normalisation: a book table and TWO author tables. I think what they meant was a book table, an author table and an AuthorBook table and someone just didn't check the table captions. On page 73 the sp_helpprotect stored procedure is introduced. The example won't work because the stored procedure is called sp_helprotect. And when you hit brick walls with examples (try turning debugging on - the book makes it sound dead simple, the reality is you'll hit an "unable to connect" message that requires extensive research and additional work if you're running SP3) there's nowhere to turn. It's a shame because the book does an excellent job in other ways. But it's lazy. It gives the easy and obvious examples and sample questions and whenever anything that might require a bit of real explanation comes up if you're lucky it says "Go read somewhere else", if you're unlucky the subject doesn't come up at all. I'd still recommend it as a "gentle" way into SQL Server for those new to databases, but it could have been so much better with just a little more effort
Rating: 
Summary: THE BEST FOR THE EXAM
Review: if you are a SQL developer and you want to pass the exam just read this book with some practice test like selftestsoftware and you will pass the exam,this book is really informative telling you what you want to know (even if you are a SQL developer),i don't know why other reviews didn't like the book(maybe they didn't get the practice test with the book),this is the only book prepare you for the exam.
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