MCAD/MCSD Self-Paced Training Kit: Developing Windows-Based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual C# .NET

Rating:
Summary: Just the facts Ma'am
Review: To get right to the point, what everyone wants to know about a certification book is "Can you pass the test by using this book alone?". The answer is YES. There were only 2 or 3 questions on my test that weren't covered in this book. If you've read certification books before then you know how rare it is for one book to be adequate. But you had better know every nook and cranny of its content because the .NET tests are harder than the old MCSD tests. You must know conceptually how to use what is covered. You can't just memorize. But you must also memorize things like events, properties, and methods for the most obscure objects. This test is also 2 hours 45 minutes long, so be prepared and good luck.

Rating:
Summary: Not Enough to Pass the Test
Review: Unless you have practical experience using VB.NET, this book is not enough to pass the test. It covers all topics, but too lightly in many areas. The practice test on the CD is only useful to point out that you need to continue to study after you fail it. It simply displays a score. I recommend purchasing one of the practice tests suggested on the Microsoft website in addition to this book. I also purchased the core reference by MS Press which has been very helpful. However, the topic of security is not covered at all and it's a topic you must know.

Rating:
Summary: Tears of joy
Review: While it was not as informative as some other books. I have never layed eyes on this book yet feel compelled to review it. My dad always told me "idle hands are the devil's play things" Maybe that is why I took LSD when my hands were idle, who knows? But this book I am sure is very good and I hope you read it and get confused because this is not for dummies!!