Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional (Academic Learning Series)

Rating:
Summary: Save your money or buy used!
Review: I was required to buy this book for a class at school. Otherwise, I would never have spent that much money. We discovered several errors in the book and labs during the term, and the enclosed cd does not even include a trail version of W2K Pro such as comes with the Server books. I passed my MCP for this subject using Exam Cram and hands-on experience. I did not find this book to adequately explain the material needed for the Microsoft Certification exam.

Rating:
Summary: Save your money or buy used!
Review: I was required to buy this book for a class at school. Otherwise, I would never have spent that much money. We discovered several errors in the book and labs during the term, and the enclosed cd does not even include a trail version of W2K Pro such as comes with the Server books. I passed my MCP for this subject using Exam Cram and hands-on experience. I did not find this book to adequately explain the material needed for the Microsoft Certification exam.

Rating:
Summary: There are better choices than Microsoft Press.
Review: This book presents way more information than the reader will ever be presented with on the MCSE/MCP Windows 2000 Professional Test. Microsoft has their own strange way of explaining things that don't always come across to the reader as easily. In a classroom environment the instructor will be spending a lot of time adlibbing.

This book is a rip-off. I presume this is for 3 reasons. One, it's by Microsoft. Two, it's an academic/text book. Three, it's hardbound with a CD-ROM. Even then, that doesn't justify the almost (price) price tag. Since it IS a Microsoft Academic Learning Series book, and thus used as curiculum in many schools, then I suggest you find and buy a used one (there should be plenty out there).

There are plenty of lab errors and this series probably drives professors insane. EVERY computer you set up for the class MUST be EXACTLY the same or there will be mass confusion when the class attempts to do the labs together. My PC had Zip Drive in it and the others in the computer lab did not, consequently I had the joy of adding a letter to every drive reference after "C." When the lab said to do something on D drive, I had to do it on E. So, please take this warning to heart. Hopefully students in a Windows 2000 class have enough computer literacy to understand the complications and work around them themselves.

Unfortunately, schools seem to feel that official Microsoft (or Microsoft Approved) curriculum is the best way to teach Microsoft applications. That's a poor assumption. Students and schools would be better off finding some 3rd party material.

Sybex's "Mastering Windows 2000 Professional" and "Mastering Windows 2000 Server" are MUCH better choices for learning and using Windows 2000. The best part is, months down the line you can at least continue to use them as a good reference.

Rating:
Summary: There are better choices than Microsoft Press.
Review: This book presents way more information than the reader will ever be presented with on the MCSE/MCP Windows 2000 Professional Test. Microsoft has their own strange way of explaining things that don't always come across to the reader as easily. In a classroom environment the instructor will be spending a lot of time adlibbing.

This book is a rip-off. I presume this is for 3 reasons. One, it's by Microsoft. Two, it's an academic/text book. Three, it's hardbound with a CD-ROM. Even then, that doesn't justify the almost (price) price tag. Since it IS a Microsoft Academic Learning Series book, and thus used as curiculum in many schools, then I suggest you find and buy a used one (there should be plenty out there).

There are plenty of lab errors and this series probably drives professors insane. EVERY computer you set up for the class MUST be EXACTLY the same or there will be mass confusion when the class attempts to do the labs together. My PC had Zip Drive in it and the others in the computer lab did not, consequently I had the joy of adding a letter to every drive reference after "C." When the lab said to do something on D drive, I had to do it on E. So, please take this warning to heart. Hopefully students in a Windows 2000 class have enough computer literacy to understand the complications and work around them themselves.

Unfortunately, schools seem to feel that official Microsoft (or Microsoft Approved) curriculum is the best way to teach Microsoft applications. That's a poor assumption. Students and schools would be better off finding some 3rd party material.

Sybex's "Mastering Windows 2000 Professional" and "Mastering Windows 2000 Server" are MUCH better choices for learning and using Windows 2000. The best part is, months down the line you can at least continue to use them as a good reference.

Rating:
Summary: Win2000 Profsnl/Labmanual/cd
Review: This book was in good condition even though it was use, one ding, lab book was new, cd was mint in the book, this coud have been sold as new in the school bookstore at City college, smood transaction, shipping was fast, 3-5 days I'll be buing my MS books from you guys from now on.