Java 2 Certification Virtual Trainer

Rating:
Summary: Learning Java From the Bug Kings?
Review: I bought this software primarily to get another angle on the certification test, but this software is unusable!

I installed it on two different machines (one Windows 2000, the other Windows 98), and in each case it failed to run properly. In one case (W98), the user could do nothing, since the left navigation applet crashes and so allows for no navigation. In the other (W2000) the user could take a test, and it would display a your score, but it would fail when the user attempted to display any question that had been previously graded.

The software is built upon Java applets that run in a browser, but it fails with null pointer exceptions (as seen in the Java console), all over the place. If I were Simon Roberts, Philip Heller, or Michael Ernest, I'd feel like hiding where no one would find me. I mean, here they are, with their names on this software that's supposed to teach Java, and the Java code that's driving the application crashes with null pointers?!? Sad, very sad. I'm just glad I didn't pay retail.

Rating:
Summary: Just buy the book
Review: The software basically covers the SAME EXACT INFO as the book and 99.99% of the times its word for word the same. Why spend extra money ? Just get the book. Also, on my computer there were about 15 - 20 test questions where some html tags were not interpreted properly and were therefore indecipherable in some cases (I do know HTML). The book is great. Just get the book. The authors could have did a lot more with this concept, but sadly they didn't. I did pass the SCJP test and their book helped a lot.

Rating:
Summary: "Must-have" software for the serious Java Cert student
Review: This is an excellent tool not only for learning ALL of the Java Certification material but also for charting the progress of your study.

It allows you instantly to review your progress. And with it's comprehensive review questions it's very useful for helping to pinpoint troublespots or missing areas in your study.

This is the only tool I've come across that easily helps you determine if what you THINK you know is the same as what you ACTUALLY know.

After completing all of the many review questions and practice tests contained in this product, the Exam itself was almost an anti-climax!

It deals especially well with some topics like Threads and IO which are really not covered all that well with other guides.

Initially I was somewhat concerned with the rather steep cost of this guide but as it turned out it was well worth the price!

Rating:
Summary: "Must-have" software for the serious Java Cert student
Review: Worthwhile complement to "Complete Java 2 Certification." Offers practice and timed exams. Keeps statistics. Allows review of answered questions. Provides explanation for each question. Good investment.