Rating: 
Summary: Passed the Exam using it as guide, but some errors
Review: All in all, with the information in this book plus some hands-on experience, I was able to pass 70-270 without much problem. However, there are several misprints and inaccuracies in the text that I didn't find covered in the "Errata" section on the book's website.
While I can't expect a book to be 100% error-free, there seemed to be more than just the "slipped through the editorial cracks" stuff. A non-technical editor possibly wouldn't have known that Remote Desktop runs on port 3389, instead of 3398, for example. The little "gotchas" in the book can be damaging on the exam if you don't thoroughly know the rest of the material well.
Hey, I'm not complaining. I passed the test. :)
Rating: 
Summary: Nice Stuffs on CD-ROM, Easy to Read, but Not Deep Enuf
Review: i am a cisco certified, and graduated and working in data communication field.
for certification exam, i mainly use sybex products and sometime cisco press, this is the first time i tried products from osbone and i foud out that not just sybex can produce good products in certification realm.firstly, i have read this book cover to cover, but i haven't taken the exam yet, so i can't really credit this book as how well it serves its objective of preparing for Win XP (70-270) exam. i have 2 winxp 70-270 books, one from microsoff press and MCSA Box Set from osbone. i can tell u that this book is a lot far better than microsoft press product (i am very disappointed and will never buy a book from micosoft press again...really), but not sure if compare to sybex products. stuffs in this book: PRO: (5 stars)
- book was well written, easy to read and very fun, the chapter's review question may seem to b too easy, but i think the purpose of it is to make sure u understand the important topics in that chapter b4 u move on and b able to apply it later. the real hard and tricky questions will b in the cd-rom and it is the questions that we should focus on (that's for exam), not the chapter review questions (that's for explaining concepts).
- the accompany cd-rom is damn cool, i love it
- especially the video scripts which show u how to perform most of the excercises in the book. it proved to b very useful for me in duing chapter's review bcoz i don't need to reread every steps in each excercise again, just sit and watch again and again which save a lot of time and also easier to remeber.
- the test engine is also very nice, very varity, u can du open and close book quiz, or exam sim, this is 100 times better than kid stuffs from microsoft press. but still, i am not sure if the content of the test engine really close to the real exam bcoz i haven't sit for the exam yet.
- the win xp sim is also nice, i think it won't really match exactly to simulation questions in the real exam, but at least i learn that the way to config or du some setting in the sim is not the same as duing it in the real OS, there are different roles, and the roles of duing it are provided here, and i am sure i won't du some stupid mistakes in the real exam such as "why can't i click this twice". CON:(-1 star)
- after reading this book cover to cover,yes most of concepts are well presented, but still it is not deep enuf (at least for me as a network admin), and still leaves a lot of questions bhide, this may lead to not serving its objective well as exam preparation (just may) as i mentioned ealier, i haven't sit for the exam yet, so i can't tell u guys if this book serve its objective of win xp 70-270 exam well means how good it will help u pass the exam. i reviewed it as one of reader who finished reading it cover to cover and i like the book especialy the cd-rom. i will come to give another review after i have a chance to sit for the exam. thanks to other reviewers, especially the one who passed and recommend reading exam readinese from microsoft press b4 taking the exam, i shall du that.
Rating: 
Summary: Makes a great door stop!
Review: I bought this book to study for exam 70-270. I can not remember if there were reviews of other titles available, or if I bought this book on good faith, regardless. This book is one gleaming, steaming, dungpile of wasted time and money bound in a Hardback for you pleasure. The technical content presented, combined with the quiz method provided in the self tests will assure you waste hard earned money. I read this book cover to cover, and just happened to read a review before taking 70-270. Heaven looked down on me. You have a sense when performing the end of chapter self-test question that "This seems too easy. Or, the wrong answers are too easy to isolate." Dont waste your time or money. Oh, and btw, if you see one of these books in your local book store, and you happen to need to relieve yourself... Put it to good use and bring it in the bathroom with you.. No silly, dont read it.. Wipe your arse with it.
Rating: 
Summary: Does not meet criteria..
Review: I bought this book to study for exam 70-270. I can not remember if there were reviews of other titles available, or if I bought this book on good faith, regardless. This book is one gleaming, steaming, dungpile of wasted time and money bound in a Hardback for you pleasure. The technical content presented, combined with the quiz method provided in the self tests will assure you waste hard earned money. I read this book cover to cover, and just happened to read a review before taking 70-270. Heaven looked down on me. You have a sense when performing the end of chapter self-test question that "This seems too easy. Or, the wrong answers are too easy to isolate." Dont waste your time or money. Oh, and btw, if you see one of these books in your local book store, and you happen to need to relieve yourself... Put it to good use and bring it in the bathroom with you.. No silly, dont read it.. Wipe your arse with it.
Rating:
Summary: Revised Review
Review: Initially I wrote a review of this book and gave it a single star. My reason for this was - I really did not learn anything new in the book. I wrote the review based on my experience. As such, I nicknamed this book XP for Dummies. I failed this exam the first time - having only used my experience and this book. There was quite a bit on the exam that is not covered in this book (nor apparently did I have the experience with these items). I passed the exam a couple days later after reading through the MS Readiness Review for the XP exam. I would highly recommend this book - for people that already know quite a bit about XP. It assumes you know most of it. I would not recommend that book for people new to XP. I think though, with the combination of the two books you should do well. So, since I initially gave this 1 star as far as being useful for the MCSE (but said that for a person new to XP it would be 5 stars) - I have edited this review and given it 3 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Revised Review
Review: Initially I wrote a review of this book and gave it a single star. My reason for this was - I really did not learn anything new in the book. I wrote the review based on my experience. As such, I nicknamed this book XP for Dummies. I failed this exam the first time - having only used my experience and this book. There was quite a bit on the exam that is not covered in this book (nor apparently did I have the experience with these items). I passed the exam a couple days later after reading through the MS Readiness Review for the XP exam. I would highly recommend this book - for people that already know quite a bit about XP. It assumes you know most of it. I would not recommend that book for people new to XP. I think though, with the combination of the two books you should do well. So, since I initially gave this 1 star as far as being useful for the MCSE (but said that for a person new to XP it would be 5 stars) - I have edited this review and given it 3 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: A very good study guide or classroom guide.
Review: Recently I was asked to help a company convert several users from Windows 95 and 98 to Windows XP. The technicians who were going to provide support had little or no experience with XP. The company had used this series of books for 95, 98, NT Workstation and 2000 Professional so naturally they chose it for XP. Over the two weeks of using this book I found that as an instructor this book is a great manual for the classroom, providing the students with over 80 exercises as well as self tests and lab questions. In short this book made teaching the class easier for me and better for the students. Covering every test objective with topics ranging from installation, configuration and setup to hardware, networking and troubleshooting to desktop configuration, printing and faxing you have a very complete reference manual to work with. I liked the fact that the examples were more than just data they seemed to be examples from real world situations. The cd include has MasterSim include with another 40 plus hands on simulations for the students and PracticeSim with exam that not only test the student but also assess the progress. Overall a very good study tool as well as a reference manual.
Rating:
Summary: Not a good value for anyone
Review: Test preparation in a VERY general sense. If I wanted a book that simply told me "what I should know" I could have written it with 30 pages in paperback. Don't let it's size fool you. Even its included tests are easy and nothing even close to that you'll get have on the exam. The material on the CD makes it look even better. But its just more vague material. This book is also not the detailed reference that you by with the smaller book.
Rating:
Summary: 100% coverage in very general terms
Review: Test preparation in a VERY general sense. If I wanted a book that simply told me "what I should know" I could have written it with 30 pages in paperback. Don't let it's size fool you. Even its included tests are easy and nothing even close to that you'll get have on the exam. The material on the CD makes it look even better. But its just more vague material. This book is also not the detailed reference that you by with the smaller book.
Rating:
Summary: Good for general overview
Review: This is a good book to use as an introduction to Windows XP. The book is easy enough to read (unlike some computer books/sleeping pills) with decent explanations of the concepts, however, it is not comprehensive enough to use as the primary source of info to pass the exam. The sample test questions are not even remotely like the type of questions asked on the 70-270 test. If you buy this book just be ready to purchase others as well before you take the test. This book used in conjunction with the Examcram book, and with online resources was enough for me to pass the test.
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