Rating: 
Summary: Great study guide
Review: Being an MCSE for about 4+ years now, I have never taken the "paper-MCSE" route by reading a few of the gazillion cheat books and web sites out there alone. If you want to pass 70-28, you had better be prepared for it by using the product extensively. This test isn't like the TCP/IP or NT Enterprise exams. I would suggest using the product in a real-world environment for a while supplemented by this book before you even attempt to take the exam. The author gives great tips and the information is pretty accurate for the exam topics. Besides, you have a couple of years to pass the exam so settle down and learn the info first before you become certified in it. When you're ready, read this book and you'll be okay.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book, lots of hands on.
Review: Highly recommend for anyone interested in MCDBA. The book reads incredibly well and is very thorough in its contents. If you have SQL Server 7.0 set up on your PC at home, you will find the hands on approach in this book to be an excellent way to learn. Yes I'm sure it has errors, why should this book be any different than the other thousand or so computer books on the market.
Rating: 
Summary: excellent book for preparing for exam 70-028
Review: I am in the process of obtaining my MCSE. After reading the reviews on Amazon.com, I went ahead and ordered the book. This has been an excellent study guide, especially if you read the examples and actually do the examples in SQL 7.0. Only downfall, there is several errors throughout the book and practice tests. I will respond again after I have taken my test
Rating: 
Summary: A good basis but not the be all
Review: I am no stranger to Microsoft and certifications. This book assumes that the reader knows the lingo of databases, and yet it fails utterly to prepare one for the certification exam. It does not give enough detail for a beginner, but would probably bore the advanced user of Microsoft SQL. I have the latest version of this book, and the errata posted on Sybex's website are already corrected in it. Nonetheless, after a year in circulation, most of the T-SQL statements printed in the exercises STILL have incorrect syntax. Imagine spending 2 hours to debug an excercise which should have taken 5 minutes! I used this book in conjunction with the Transcender test (which was previously a "guaranteed pass" combination for me). As always, I learned some from the book, more from the BOL, but the most about practical application from the Transcender test. Sybex has a lot of work to do to make this volume worth the price I paid. I'm buying the Microsoft SQL Self-Study Kit right now...
Rating: 
Summary: Too many errors; not enough practical application...
Review: I am no stranger to Microsoft and certifications. This book assumes that the reader knows the lingo of databases, and yet it fails utterly to prepare one for the certification exam. It does not give enough detail for a beginner, but would probably bore the advanced user of Microsoft SQL. I have the latest version of this book, and the errata posted on Sybex's website are already corrected in it. Nonetheless, after a year in circulation, most of the T-SQL statements printed in the exercises STILL have incorrect syntax. Imagine spending 2 hours to debug an excercise which should have taken 5 minutes! I used this book in conjunction with the Transcender test (which was previously a "guaranteed pass" combination for me). As always, I learned some from the book, more from the BOL, but the most about practical application from the Transcender test. Sybex has a lot of work to do to make this volume worth the price I paid. I'm buying the Microsoft SQL Self-Study Kit right now...
Rating:
Summary: Read Couple of Times
Review: I have found this book to be adequate in assisting future MCDBA's or MCSE+I or MCSD on the exam. I have just recently passed the exam with almost perfect score out of 50 questions. You must read this book at the same time do the following exercises in the book. If the book wants you to create a DB then create one. If the book wants you setup some type of replication then do it also. This will enble you to understand the functionality of the DB and how to administer it. You may have to read the book few times like I have. I bought the book and passed the exam in four weeks. Not to boost myself. But if you follow the exercises in the book and review prior to going to the exam you should do well. Good Luck.....ALL.
Rating:
Summary: Good on SQL 7. Not so for exam.
Review: I have read this book from cover to cover and performed all the exercises in it. Found the usual amount of errors: exercises that fail, wrong figures, etc. It is still better than most. You will learn a great deal about SQL Server 7. The one error most annoying is the fact the authors wrote the book with SQL installed on a domain controller, not on a member server per Microsoft's installation instructions/recommendations. Once I figured out what they had done then Chapter 5 and parts of Chapter 8 worked since my install was on a member server. Remember the SAM on the member server never receives a copy of the SAM on the PDC so you have to tell the member server about domain accounts by logging onto the member server itself and placing them there via user manager. However this book does not do much for the test. I have taken both the Beta Exam and the Live Exam and passed. The chapter review questions are extremely easy. Compared to the real exam this book lacks the scenario type questions you will see that are given to you from the perspective of "you're the consultant on site. How would you do this...". While this book did cover traces and replaying them it was a very light run. It did not cover how to modify them and then replay them. Also not covered were issues with NT that could cause SQL to halt/fail. If you plan on taking the test I recommend the following strategy: Use this book Use Transcender (I was a Beta tester and it is excellent) Use Books Online or better yet buy the actual documentation set. Good Luck Steven C. Grigsby, MCSE, MCT, MCP+I
Rating:
Summary: Good
Review: I have started reading the first few chapters and found it as another awesome study guide. I don't know how well it prepares me for the exam, but definitely it's easier to read, and well organised. I will write another review after taking the exam. However, a recommended book to read and to learn SQL 7.
Rating:
Summary: Good
Review: I have written a review on this book before. Now I have passed the exam, and therefore would like another (better) review on the book. I like the book, and the writing style. It's good on SQL. It might be weak on some areas, but overall, it's a good study guide for 70-028. Recommended. You should have noticed that there is no *one* single good book for the exam, therefore, be prepared to work on some external source like BOL and M$'s white paper. What I have heard is that it's better than the MOC, but relly don't know. Yes, I passed the exam after 2 tries. If you want to pass the exam just on this book, then forget it. It won't be sufficient. Use it as an introduction to SQL7, and read BOL and white paper!!! Then you will pass.
Rating:
Summary: It's accurated and coverd a wide range then MOC
Review: I passed 70-028 using Sybex SQL Server 7 administration study guide with MOC & Books On Line. I think that the MOC was good for detailed in some areas. But it's not sufficently detailed for preparing exam... BOL was great for mastering SQL 7. But, you know, it's hard to find someting you want. So, I thought that Sybex Book was accurated and coverd a wide-range of topics. It's easy to read. Good coverd for a wide topics. Prepare it for Hard exam!!!
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