Rating: 
Summary: Very Confusing Book
Review: After using a Cisco Press book to study for the CCNA exam, using this book to study for the 2K Server exam was a BIG disappointment. This book was not written by an author and it shows. It was mashed together using material from no less than 10 'contibutors' and some of them have very poor writing skills (which apparently the copy editors don't care to compensate for).The book starts out stating how important it is to know the 'why' as well as the 'what' due to the new format of the 2K exams, yet the book is filled with instances where a concept is introduced never to be explained (command-line switches, using CD-ROMs with RIS, etc., etc.). This tends to raise more questions than it answers and only confuses the reader. I wouldn't have the slightest idea how to correctly answer an exam question based on the way the information was presented in this book. The material on boot and system file locations was so confusing and poorly written that I e-mailed one of the editors for clarification. (They agreed with the concerns I expressed about the presentation of the material.) I've been working with 2K Server for about 6 months and have installed my share of servers so it's not like I'm not familier with the material. If it confuses me I pity those without much experience who try and use this book to pass the exam.
Rating:
Summary: Very Confusing Book
Review: After using a Cisco Press book to study for the CCNA exam, using this book to study for the 2K Server exam was a BIG disappointment. This book was not written by an author and it shows. It was mashed together using material from no less than 10 'contibutors' and some of them have very poor writing skills (which apparently the copy editors don't care to compensate for). The book starts out stating how important it is to know the 'why' as well as the 'what' due to the new format of the 2K exams, yet the book is filled with instances where a concept is introduced never to be explained (command-line switches, using CD-ROMs with RIS, etc., etc.). This tends to raise more questions than it answers and only confuses the reader. I wouldn't have the slightest idea how to correctly answer an exam question based on the way the information was presented in this book. The material on boot and system file locations was so confusing and poorly written that I e-mailed one of the editors for clarification. (They agreed with the concerns I expressed about the presentation of the material.) I've been working with 2K Server for about 6 months and have installed my share of servers so it's not like I'm not familier with the material. If it confuses me I pity those without much experience who try and use this book to pass the exam.
Rating: 
Summary: EXCELLENT!
Review: An excellent book - however (as with most study guides) real-world experience is a must. This book encompasses a lot of information, some of which you will not find on the exam, but I used this title along with the transcenders and passed! I've also used the Win2k Pro book from Syngress with success and plan to use the rest of the series to finish off the Win2k MCSE.
Rating: 
Summary: Nice !
Review: Choosing this book as a study guide for the 70-215 exam was really good , the book is written in clear , easy and straigt forward way. I passed the exam with the help of this book and Trans. , worth the money , a lot of real world senarios.
Rating:
Summary: Two Thumbs Up
Review: Excellent coverage on RIS, DHCP, WINS, DNS, etc. There are a TON of hands-on exercises in this book which really helped cement certain aspects of the OS for me. (A bonus was that most of the exercises were also shot in video, and included on the CD- If there's any confusion at all you can follow along on the CD)While i have not yet braved the new MCSE exams yet, I really believe that I'll be better prepared due to this particualr book.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Get it
Review: I first bought the Sybex book, memorized it, and took the test. I failed. I found out that the Sybex book didn't have nearly enough information, and I decided to buy this book and try again. What a fool I was. This book didn't help at ALL and I failed the exam once again! I got a PERFECT on all of the questions in this book - what a waste of my time! I ended up getting the MSPress book and passed with an 860. Don't waste your time - get the MSPress book.
Rating:
Summary: Good foundation for 70-215 Server exam
Review: I found the Syngress 70-215 to be a good core study guide for the 70-215 exam. I really like the layout of the book. The authors do a good job at focusing on important key topics. I consider this series a step above the Sybex books (at least the 70-217, and 70-216 which I read) that seem to be more of a step by step/screenshot owners manual. In contrast the Syngress book has many brainteaser example boxes and end of chapter two minute drills that reinforce and clarify what you just read. The two minute drills are also helpful for review as exam day gets closer. Each chapter has plenty of step by step lab type exercises also. The end of chapter questions are usefull for learning, but are not an accurate inidicator of exam readiness nor anything like the real exam questions with few exceptions. The exam I had hit real hard on disk configuration (dynamic versus basic, repairing, performance, and fault tolerance). After so far passing four exams (70-210, 70-215, 70-216, 70-217) I have come to a conclusion about W2K MCSE book reviews. Book reviews seem to be all over the board. I believe this is due to the fact that a lot of people are counting on a book alone to prepare them to pass an exam and when they fail they blame the book. As a NT4.0 MCSE I can tell you the new W2K exams are a LOT tougher. The new tests are not based on a regurgitation of facts but a clever measure of wide based competence of W2K Server technologies. The Syngress book in the preface does a good job explaining this. Microsoft is trying to separate the wannabees from the dedicated and knowledgeable. A MCSE study guide is just one part of the preparation process. Another is "other souces" such as help files, technet, Microsoft website, white papers,and Resource Kit. Lastly of course is a LOT of real hands on W2K Server experience which can be either on a real or practice network and assumed knowledge of basic networking concepts including tcp/ip. I feel no study guide can cover 100% of what is going to be covered on an exam (maybe 85% to 90%) after all the Resource Kit is 7000 pages long! I do feel though that the Sygress 70-215 book does its part as a great core study guide.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT AUTHORS
Review: I have read this book from cover to cover and it teaches Windows 2000 Server very well. The authors of this book have created a masterpiece. The book not only helps prepare an experienced MCSE for the test but also could be used as a desk reference as it contains many hands on exercises and explanations. The CD is wonderful...much more comprehensive and thoughtful than others. The price is right. If you are new to Microsoft networking you might find most topics in this book difficult to understand; furthermore, I would highly suggest using more basic study materials first and GET SOME HANDS-ON TRAINING!!!
Rating:
Summary: Passed the 215 exam with this book
Review: I like the overall review of 2000 server. The only complaint that I have with this book is that it does not cover GPO policies and fault tolerance configuration well. Got 900 on the certification so I can't complaint that this book did not get me ready. It has good end of chapter review and good screen shots so you don't have to do every lab. Good luck
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Value
Review: I picked this book up as my primary study resource for the Server exam, and am really glad I did. I really liked the way this book is laid out- quality objective coverage, with enough hints as to what I *really* needed to know to pass. I liked this book so much that I just picked up the other three Syngress MCSE 2000 study guides for the Core exams.
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