Rating: 
Summary: Like reading cotton candy
Review: 75% fluff, 25% substance. I'm only about 1/2 of the way through the book (so weigh my opinion accordingly) but I can already tell that this book has some major gaps in it. I was able to make it through his minimal coverage of Data Sources and Data Classes (as I understand it, two rather important concepts) only by indepth searching of the MSDN Library (since setting up DSN's-required to run his ludicrously skimpy examples-is "beyond the scope of this book"). As a MS Certified 3-year VB veteran, I feel tremendously sorry for anyone with less experience trying to use this as a study guide. Looking forward, I see lots and lots of information on server-side administration/configuration, but virtually no code. Not a good sign. There should be a better study guide out by now, and if there isn't, wait for it.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent prep for exam
Review: A great, thorough review of exam material with practical information too. Make sure you know the interface well for the exam. Exam software with book was a really useful exercise.
Rating: 
Summary: I Wrote
Review: As an MCSD, this book has an adequate supply of study materials. However, some of the other reviewers are, to say the least, a little strange. When you take a Microsoft Exam, one does not "write" the exam, they "take" an exam. Past tense is not "wrote", but "took". I am a little let down that people attempting to attain their MCSD would be studying to "write" the exams.
Rating:
Summary: Great reference for the exam!
Review: Even if all you do is VB programming, you may not pass the exam without a guide to Microsoft's specific exam objectives. This book covers every one of them - a good idea is to check them off as you go through the book once you've mastered them. Exam software good break from studying text.
Rating:
Summary: Wow, what a great book!
Review: I found myself at a loss when I needed to write my MCSD 70-176 exam and I needed to find a thorough study guide. I picked up this book and it was easy to read and understand. I passed my test and I can't imagine using a book with less information because I know I wouldn't have passed. It has been a great referance and resource. I'm definitely going to buy the whole series.
Rating:
Summary: This book is thin on facts, and heavy on fluff and weight!!
Review: I found that this book was extra heavy in weight, but lacked much of what you need to pass the exam. I'd suggest getting the Exam Cram series for this test, unless you are new to VB 6. If you are new, I still wouldn't suggest this book, I'd suggest getting one of the VB 6 in 21 days books, and follow up with the Exam Cram material. You couldn't use this book to get certified, unless you used the weight of the book to knock an MCP on the head to take his certification. I passed both VB certs, but I found that this book was a waste. Good luck on your exams!
Rating: 
Summary: Don't buy this, unless it is on sale! (by Brian Russell)
Review: I have never written an online review yet, but let me tell you, this book caused such anger in me I had to write one. People that liked this book...well, I don't know what is wrong with them. Maybe they are talking about the Desktop exam book. I used the Desktop book a little to prepare for that exam, and didn't find it to be too bad. This one though, my oh my, why did this get published? Sure it goes over stuff, over and over and over again....and really not telling you anything you didn't learn for the desktop exam. Oh, they touch on everything, but thats it. I can't see how anyone can honestly say they go in-depth on subjects in this book. The only thing they go in-depth on is installing different apps, and if you need that, well, you don't need to be taking these exams. I feel like the authors don't really know what they are talking about and they just threw together a book to make some money. Don't get this book, get something else. Try the MCSD in a Nutshell book, it goes into things a little more, and in half as many pages.
Rating:
Summary: Looks like it was taken from several white papers
Review: I like this book for the fact that it goes straight to the point. To the point of being like a compilation of several whitepapers. Not really, organized in a way that a beginner might understand. Some topics are redundant because the authors have each of their own version of a particular topic. The topic about MTS for example is very hard to follow if you do not have some experience with it.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Great
Review: I prepared for exam 70-175 using only this book and no other supplementary material and I passed, sorry, aced the exam. The depth of the end of chapter questions sometimes exceeds that of the actual exam.
Rating:
Summary: Good Study Aid
Review: I read Syngress' Desktop book as well, and like that one, the Distributed book worked for me. I have some knowledge of VB, and this book explained things well. I wouldn't recommend a terrible book to anyone, and I have recommended this one to many of my associates at work. Give it a try... I don't think you'll regret it.
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