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Rating: 
Summary: It's fine.......
Review: Hey..I think that this book is really good for the Net+ exam..but I still say that U need another source to prep for the exam (another book) and with lots of practice tests U'll be ready for the eaxm....
Rating: 
Summary: Fine if you don't care about accuracy
Review: I have used this book in a class that I teach and can say that although it has gone through several editions the content has not improved. The chapters are arranged in a seemingly random order and there is no flow from topic to topic. Information that is provided is superficial or erroneous. It is quite evident to me that a person relying on this text for a better understanding of networking would be better off reading the Sunday comics.
Rating:
Summary: Fine if you don't care about accuracy
Review: I have used this book in a class that I teach and can say that although it has gone through several editions the content has not improved. The chapters are arranged in a seemingly random order and there is no flow from topic to topic. Information that is provided is superficial or erroneous. It is quite evident to me that a person relying on this text for a better understanding of networking would be better off reading the Sunday comics.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Material, Comprehensive
Review: I used this book to study for the Net+ Certification Exam. It has everything that was covered in the exam. Good book; well written and organized. The exam is tough, I recommend reading the book cover to cover (except chapter 13 which doesn't seem relevant).
Rating:
Summary: Good book, but Ms. Dean needs to refresh herself on OSI
Review: The book has gone into great detail, but as someone who has adopted the Cisco doctrine on OSI this book misses the mark. Tamara Dean goes into detail explaining what happens at each OSI layer yet gets confused when it comes to the Transport and Network layers in Chapter 2. According to Cisco Semester 1, segmentation, sequencing, and acknowledgment are all part of Layer 4 -- Transport. Network, layer 3, deals with IP addressing and path selection/determination. Cisco makes sure to keep the functions straight. I hope in future editions Ms. Dean does repeat herself by blurring the OSI lines. We as IT students have to rely on professional technical writers to give us the right information so we can achieve the knowledge necessary to not only achieve certifications but also apply what we learn in our professions. If there is one IT job, in my opinion, that doesn't exist, but should, it would be a "QA technical editor." Someone simply to read books like these and make the necessary corrections (typo's and such) in cooperation with the author BEFORE publication of multiple copies. IMHO.
Rating:
Summary: This book makes you dumber
Review: This book is completely useless for learning anything about networks, as it is filled with inaccuracies which would be hilarious were it not for the fact that students across the country are actually using this paperbacked cheatsheet in classes by allegedly accredited institutions. The only things this book is good for are starting campfires, emergency toilet paper, and for passing exams that are based off of the completely erroneous material in the book. For example, only in the alternate universe the book was written in would these test questions make any sense:Question 8 True/False 2 points
The use of subnet masks simplifies TCP/IP communications and ensures that data are transmitted to the correct applications.
Question 20 Multiple Choice 2 points
Which does not rely on SMTP?
a. POP2
b. HTTP
c. IMPA
d. POP3 If you're expecting to learn about networks, this book will actually make you more ignorant and clueless. If you're expecting to get a job after taking a class that uses this book, I hope you're good at flipping burgers.
Rating:
Summary: Better geared as a reference book...
Review: This book is well-organized and contains all information relevant to the Network+ exam. Reading this book straight through is not necessary because it covers topics in much more detail than you need to know for the exam. This is a great reference book to hold on to. I would recommend buying this book, as well as Mike Meyer's Network+ 2nd Edition, and using this book to fill in the various holes left by Meyers. Meyers' book fails to address certain areas in enough detail, especially TCP/IP & IPX/SPX models vs OSI model, Remote Access, WAN Technologies, and Network Troubleshooting. This book by T. Dean does an excellent job in these areas. Also, the end-of-chapter questions in this book are far more chalenging than the easy questions presented by Meyers. The only pitfall, since this is a textbook geared towards the classroom setting, is that the book does not include the answers to these questions or to the practice test at the end of the book. The answers to the chapter questions can be obtained from the publisher. However, I was not able to get the answers to the practice test. Also, I was disappointed to learn the CD-ROM only contains the digital edition of the book, and no interactive exams.
Rating:
Summary: Great for a Novice
Review: This book presents the material well, is informative, and includes mostly well written review questions at the end of each chapter. Also at the end of each chapter is a really helpful chapter review, after reading the book a second browsing will be required. My only gripes with the book are that there are no answers to the questions (online or in the appendix). To prepare for the Network+ exam I read this book, made notes while I read, reviewed the material a second time, and took several practice tests. I like the book so much that I've decided to keep it as a practical reference book. It has great instructions on most major NOS installs. Buy it, study it, and understand it.
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