Rating: 
Summary: no good
Review: this book is very confusing and had some errors on many pages. very poorly organized. i had real hard time understanding matterials. i read other books (new riders) and found them a lot more helpful. i passed the exam on the first try after one month of study. i didn't know anything about networking prior to this book. I read this book about 3 times, but, i came to conclusion that this book did a little to help me pass the exam. my thanks goes to New Riders book, not this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Ms NE book
Review: This is a good book, but if you do not know anything about nets, this book is not for you, look for another, it is interesting for that people that have any idea and they want to deep the knowing.
Rating: 
Summary: you'll need more than this book alone to pass the exam
Review: I purchased the whole core series of these books, and read the NetEss book once, over a week, followed by Microsoft's own publication. I took MANY test exams, and went to a 2-day school. All this over a 2-3 week period. I did not pass the test. Not even close!! I suppose it helps to know that I have very little prior knowledge of networks, and no hands-on experience to speak of. So, coming from a different field to the IT industry is more than a 'quick-cram'. I hope to take the NetEss exam again AFTER I take the NT 4 exams. I have heard that's recommended??
Rating:
Summary: Buy this book to pass the 058 exam
Review: James Chellis and co. did an admirable job of bringing together the various concepts and technology that are tested on the Networking Essential exam. The materials and practice questions reflect well on the actual exam. I would venture to say that if you read this book cover to cover, twice, you will have covered 95% of what's needed on the exam. However, Microsoft's scenario questions are substantially harder than the ones in the book, and you need to think laterally to avoid being tricked. If there is one weakness in this book, it is the somewhat less than adequate coverage of troubleshooting network problems. The exam has quite a few questions on troubleshooting, and luckily some hands-on experience helped me through. Some people think it is wise to take at least one NT exam before taking the Networking Essential one, and I agree. This is actually my first MCSE exam, but there are at least 6-7 questions that would make a NT expert laugh. I read this book twice, and also browsed through Microsoft's SSK, and passed with 931 on the first try.
Rating: 
Summary: This book did the trick for my exam.
Review: I took one week to read the book, about 100 pages per day, then studied via sample tests etc, and reread sections that the tests showed weeknesses in. After a total of two weeks, I wrote the exam and got a 948. Luckily, some of my own technical knowledge from other fields filled in some of the blanks, but I think everything you need is here. There are a few errors in the book, but they are fairly obvious. I wrote this exam first, but after seeing the exam realize that at least NT workstation probably should have been written first.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent knowledge source for NetEss test
Review: I used this book as my only text in preparation for my Network Essentials exam. I recommend it to anyone of intermediate to advanced general PC knowledge. Some others have criticized the accuracy of some information in the book - certainly there are a few inconsistencies, however I found it overall to provide an excellent basis from which to write the NetEss exam (my score was 931/1000, after 6 weeks of intermittent study with this book).
Rating:
Summary: Ever heard of proofreaders?!
Review: Dang, doesn't anybody *proofread* the books in this series put out by Sybex and approved by Microsoft?! The book is *littered* with errors both in the body of the text and the sample tests at the end of each chapter! I also found that to be the case with the TCP/IP study book in this same series. Gotta love it when their answers to the test questions contradict what appears in the body of a chapter! Makes me wonder if the people that wrote the tests even bothered to read the chapters! The individual who scrawled his (or her) name on the back of the book as being "Technically reviewed and approved by" should be ashamed. Or, maybe it's an illegible scribble for a reason. Hire some proofreaders, Sybex/Microsoft!
Rating:
Summary: Get this book if you want to pass the exam!
Review: This was the only title I read and I passed the exam first time with 896. There are lots of mistakes in this book...grammatical AND factual, so try and get the errata from the Sybex site. Supplement this book with the MS Prep Exams and 'Braindumps' from the net and you will pass no problem!
Rating:
Summary: Good study guide, but use in conjunction with sample tests
Review: The book provides a good structure for self instruction. Each section ends with a quiz and a re-print of all quiz questions with answers is included in an appendex at the end. This was very useful. I would strongly recommend using it in conjunction with sample / practice MCSE exams. The Transcender exams were closer to the real thing than the MSPEP. The CD that comes with book is not of much use.
Rating:
Summary: Good as a supplement, but.....
Review: It is a great supplement *IF* you are also using the Microsoft SSK, or if you have prior knowledge of networks. After taking practice exams, there were questions that weren't even touched in this book. It's great if you don't feel like reading all 800 pages of the MS book. Next edition, I suggest they try proof reading the book, because the high number asinine typos should have been caught.
|
