Rating: 
Summary: A Must Have
Review: Networking Essentials is a dry and boring subject, and there's no 2 ways around it. You're dealing with a lot of memorization, cable lenghts, topologies, IRQ's and the OSI 7 Layer model. The good thing the Dummies book does is keep things light and sometimes humorous, so the subject matter doesn't come off as dry as it really is. I studied from this book, and then the Exam Cram book, and scored a 900/1000 last week on the test.
Rating:
Summary: Good book, but throw away the CD
Review: Of the five "MCSE for Dummies" books I've purchased, this one has been the best. A couple minor obvious errors, but fewer than in the other books of the series. Between this and the "Core Exams in a Nutshell" you'll do great.The CD, on the other hand, is only good for target practice. The sample test questions on it were poorly worded and the diagrams looked like they were drawn (badly) with some primitive low-res monochrome editor. I was supposed to identify what kind of connector this thing was, but it looked more like a broken Fruit Loop than any connector I've ever seen. I still don't know what the dang thing was. And the "QuickLearn" game to build test taking speed... well if you've got a week to develop the hand/eye coordination required to become competant at this Asteroids-like game then it might be just fine for you. I, however, ran out of patience when it took me half an hour just to get the blasted space ship in the dock so I could get a shot at answering one question. In summary: Book good. CD bad.
Rating:
Summary: Good book, but throw away the CD
Review: Of the five "MCSE for Dummies" books I've purchased, this one has been the best. A couple minor obvious errors, but fewer than in the other books of the series. Between this and the "Core Exams in a Nutshell" you'll do great. The CD, on the other hand, is only good for target practice. The sample test questions on it were poorly worded and the diagrams looked like they were drawn (badly) with some primitive low-res monochrome editor. I was supposed to identify what kind of connector this thing was, but it looked more like a broken Fruit Loop than any connector I've ever seen. I still don't know what the dang thing was. And the "QuickLearn" game to build test taking speed... well if you've got a week to develop the hand/eye coordination required to become competant at this Asteroids-like game then it might be just fine for you. I, however, ran out of patience when it took me half an hour just to get the blasted space ship in the dock so I could get a shot at answering one question. In summary: Book good. CD bad.
Rating:
Summary: Good book, but throw away the CD
Review: Of the five "MCSE for Dummies" books I've purchased, this one has been the best. A couple minor obvious errors, but fewer than in the other books of the series. Between this and the "Core Exams in a Nutshell" you'll do great. The CD, on the other hand, is only good for target practice. The sample test questions on it were poorly worded and the diagrams looked like they were drawn (badly) with some primitive low-res monochrome editor. I was supposed to identify what kind of connector this thing was, but it looked more like a broken Fruit Loop than any connector I've ever seen. I still don't know what the dang thing was. And the "QuickLearn" game to build test taking speed... well if you've got a week to develop the hand/eye coordination required to become competant at this Asteroids-like game then it might be just fine for you. I, however, ran out of patience when it took me half an hour just to get the blasted space ship in the dock so I could get a shot at answering one question. In summary: Book good. CD bad.
Rating: 
Summary: Confused
Review: One of the test Questions on your CD read: "George works in the Comco home office. Everyone has been given a brand-new state-of-the-art Win95 PC. George has a database with a list of the 57 offices and employees that are part of Comco. He wants to share this database with 15 people in the office. What would you recommend to George? A: Peer-to-peer network B: Token Ring C: Server-based D: Ethernet E: Just print a report, copy it, and pass it around the office" The answer shows "A & D" Is this correct when MS recommends that no more than 10 computers should be on a peer-to-peer network and that over 10 should be Server-based? Just need to know 'what the trick is' - taking the test next week.
Rating: 
Summary: use this book with caution
Review: Overall this study guide has a sloppy and hurried look to it. First the good news, it has the clearest and most concise definitions of the OSI reference model I have seen in print. Not just one set but two. There are some other gems scattered thru the text as well, the section on modems was another highpoint. Now the bad news, and the reason this should be used only in conjunction with a library of other references or not at all. Minor mistakes such as mislabeled or totally inappropriate diagrams show up right out of the starting gate in chapter 2, which is where the review of Networking Essentials material starts. One whole chapter has a bogus title (the chapter Troubleshooting Network Adapters should have been Troubleshooting Networks), which doesn't inspire much confidence in the authority of the text or in its editing. The text rightly points out the importance of distinguishing between RJ-11 and RJ-45 connectors and then makes the point by getting them mixed up over 2 pages. There are also numerous obvious references to material which at some point was supposed to be in the book or believed to be in it somewhere, but is not. I purchased the book primarily for the test engine because it appeared that it would help me identify areas I needed to study. However, there are so many mistakes in the answers and questions themselves (those that aren't pure gibberish), that it can't be used for that purpose. I can't really recommend this study guide, unless your study style is enhanced by running down omissions, oversights and errors. I have found the exam cram study guide and transcender self test cd most helpful in preparing for the exam.
Rating:
Summary: Basically a useful tool, has some flaws.
Review: Overall, I found this book to be well writen and a useful companion to the MS Press Official Curriculum textbook on Networking Essentials. I would not recommend it as a "stand alone" study guide for the MS Networking Essentials exam. (70-058) The Networking Essentials For Dummmies book directly contradicts the MS Press Networking Essentials book on several issues/specifications, and the practise test module on the CD that shipped with the Dummies book I purchased contained many errors, including some answers that were mis-matched with the questions, some answers that contradicted the MS Press book, and some answers that contradicted the Dummies book. On the other hand, the author of the Dummies book is very clear about focusing on certain key issues and specifications for the purpose of passing the 70-058 exam, and I found that to be very helpful. Again, I think it's a valuable tool, but I wouldn't trust it as "gospel".
Rating:
Summary: Basically a useful tool, has some flaws.
Review: Overall, I found this book to be well writen and a useful companion to the MS Press Official Curriculum textbook on Networking Essentials. I would not recommend it as a "stand alone" study guide for the MS Networking Essentials exam. (70-058) The Networking Essentials For Dummmies book directly contradicts the MS Press Networking Essentials book on several issues/specifications, and the practise test module on the CD that shipped with the Dummies book I purchased contained many errors, including some answers that were mis-matched with the questions, some answers that contradicted the MS Press book, and some answers that contradicted the Dummies book. On the other hand, the author of the Dummies book is very clear about focusing on certain key issues and specifications for the purpose of passing the 70-058 exam, and I found that to be very helpful. Again, I think it's a valuable tool, but I wouldn't trust it as "gospel".
Rating:
Summary: Great study tool, but not by itself...
Review: Read this one after studying Sybex Net Ess, really helped to focus and narrow info needed to test. Plus filled some holes Sybex missed. Read Sybex then this, cram with Microsoft Readiness Review, you'll be ready to test! I got an 833...
Rating: 
Summary: All the Rewards in Half the Time!
Review: Score big with the exclusive 10-Point Dummies Edge. Complete with a CD-ROM loaded with exam questions written just for this book by Microsoft certified experts, "MCSE Networking Essentials For Dummies, 2nd Edition," brings you everything you need to pass the exam-and make every second count. The 10-Point Dummies Edge 1. Study with Microsoft-certified experts who know their subject inside and out 2. Use Quick Assessments to find out what you know-or don't know 3. Master the real-world skills tested on the exam-"The Dummies Way" 4. Cut through the jargon-and answer questions faster 5. Spot and avoid test traps-look for Instant Answer icons 6. Take a study break with the exclusive QuickLearn game 7. Practice with 100s of unique exam questions just like the ones on the exam 8. Create multiple test-taking scenarios with our customizable test engine 9.
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