Rating: 
Summary: BEWARE - THIS BOOK SHOULD NOT BE ON THE MARKET!!
Review: The book itself is full of glaringly inaccurate information (i.e. it states the master database is copied as a template for new databases... when it's actually the model database). And the software on the CD is completely useless. The testing software only has 150 questions in it (75 for each test, and there is no difference between the "Practice" and "final" tests) and contrary to what is stated on the back cover, there is no adaptive testing engine (I perused the Jet database where the test data is stored). Also, the majority of the answers in the test are incorrect, and the explanations given for what they say is the correct answer does not even match the question. Don't waste your money buying this book... it is 100% useless. I even went to the publisher's web site to complain, and they don't even list the book on their own website any more. Guess they figured out how bad it is, yet they still keep selling it. I even wrote to them to see if maybe they had updated the bad software... no response from their "customer service", so I called them and they would not even talk to me about the book because "we don't provide support for discontinued titles". Yet they keep right on selling this "discontinued title".
Rating: 
Summary: CD-ROM Test Software Useless
Review: The content is reasonable. There are a large number of step-by-step processess with screen shots, which I consider filler.The self-test software on the CD is unusable. It has blank questions. There are also multiple-choice questions that should use checkboxes, but use radio buttons, resulting in only being able to choose one answer. If you happen to choose the first right answer, the answer is scored as correct even though you didn't answer the others. I'd like to get my money back for this book and buy a better one. I hope this review prevents others from falling into the same trap as me. Good luck with your certifications!
Rating:
Summary: Buyer Beware - A Beginner's Guide packaged as an Exam Guide
Review: There certainly is a growing market for exam guides; unfortunately many publishers are repackaging their existing Beginner's Guides to try to fill the void. This book is an EXCELLENT guide for someone wanting to become a DBA, or to fill the gaps in their own experiential database. The downside is that this book will NOT prepare you for the exams - in fact, it doesn't even come close. Cheers for a easy-to-read book, but Jeers for misleading the buyer.
Rating:
Summary: Actually deserves zero stars
Review: This book is full of glaring errors, and the testing software is ABSOLUTELY USELESS. Everything in the tests is incorrect. You're given questions that ask you to "select the two methods...", but are only allowed to select one answer. In addition, the test data is just plain wrong. The software gives explanations for your supposed wrong answers that have absolutely nothing to do with the questions. Complete waste of money. DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK if you want to learn anything about Sql Server 2000 or want to prepare for the test.
Rating:
Summary: Least informative reference book ever
Review: This book is the least informative reference book I have ever purchased. The book will not help you pass the MCDBA exams (70-228 and 70-229), nor is it a good reference book for your job. First of all, there are many aspects of T*SQL that are missing. For example, how can one write a book about the Select statement without such basic topics as "Having" and "Group By"? Secondly, the information is frequently wrong. Not misinterpreted, but plainly wrong (i.e., SQL*Server will reject your syntax). Finally, the questions in the "sample" tests have NO relationship to the actual exams. I cannot think of a book that has provided less true information and more misinformation than this one. If I could rate this book with negative stars, I would do so.
Rating:
Summary: Horrible
Review: This book lacks so much crucial information needed to pass the exam. I read the first half which covered 228 and then grabbed the readiness review and was shocked at how little information the All-in-One book covered. I'm not even going to bother reading the second half for 229, and am looking for another title before attempting the 228 exam.
Rating:
Summary: DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!!!
Review: This book will not prepare you to pass the SQL 200 #70-228 exam. The questions on that exam are much more detailed (scenario-based) than what is offered through the book. You'll think you're cruising right along when you score 90% overall on the practice exams...only to find that the software is telling you that you scored 15 out of 12, or 140% on some section. Additionally, the software will only allow you to select one answer, and will tell you that only one answer is correct, when in fact, there are two correct answers....I can't have any faith in the quality of the book if the exam software is flat out wrong.
Rating:
Summary: absolutely horrible
Review: Why didn't I read the reviews before buying it? Because this is the book that the store had, and I wanted to start studying. Ugh. Yet one more reason to buy books at Amazon :) Anyway, the book is full of glaring errors, the questions/answers at the end of each chapter are often mismatched, and you learn very little by reading it. You might even be dumber after reading it. As other reviewers have said: stay away!
Rating:
Summary: absolutely horrible
Review: Why didn't I read the reviews before buying it? Because this is the book that the store had, and I wanted to start studying. Ugh. Yet one more reason to buy books at Amazon :) Anyway, the book is full of glaring errors, the questions/answers at the end of each chapter are often mismatched, and you learn very little by reading it. You might even be dumber after reading it. As other reviewers have said: stay away!
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