MCSE Core-Four Exam Cram Pack

Rating:
Summary: Certainly helped me!
Review: I just took the Workstation exam, and passed with a high grade. I used the Exam Cram, NT Workstation 4.0 by Sybex & transcender test. I feel the Exam Cram book was extremely useful for the review, although I don't think I could have read only this book & passed. However, the authors themselves recommended the Sybex book, and state clearly that the Exam Cram books are not to be used as your only study material. There were some errors (including on the review card where they say that winnt.exe /b is for an installation using boot disks - it's the opposite, a bootless install!), but the errors were obvious, and didn't cause me any problems - if you knew the material at all, they jumped out. All in all, a worthwhile investment. I also highly recommend the transcender tests. Server test is next!

Rating:
Summary: Exam Cram Core and Proxy / TCP-IP
Review: If you cannot pass the test with these books as your guide/resource, then you are one of the 70% that Microsoft does *NOT* want as an MCSE! These books are direct and to the point for *ANYONE* with limited knowledge of networking Microsoft products. I passed 6 tests within 6 weeks, thats 1 test per week with these books as my guide to further my education of MS products. Paper MCSE's need not apply!

Rating:
Summary: Exam Cram Core and Proxy / TCP-IP
Review: If you cannot pass the test with these books as your guide/resource, then you are one of the 70% that Microsoft does *NOT* want as an MCSE! These books are direct and to the point for *ANYONE* with limited knowledge of networking Microsoft products. I passed 6 tests within 6 weeks, thats 1 test per week with these books as my guide to further my education of MS products. Paper MCSE's need not apply!

Rating:
Summary: Helpful, but uneven
Review: So far I've used the NT Server 4.0 and Workstation 4.0 books of this set. The Workstation book was far better than the Server book. The latest printings have weeded out most of the errors mentioned by other reviewers. It's clear as you read that the books were written by three people who split up the work. Some chapters are insightful while others are a complete waste of time. Some topics necessary for the NT Server test are covered better in either the Workstation or Enterprise books, so I'd recommend reading them all if you have the time. The books only cover topics tested by the Microsoft tests, and that can be a moving target. There were topics now on the tests that were not covered at all by the Exam Cram books. Another bothersome issue: the authors insist on using their own terminology (e.g., "VFAT" is used in the book but NEVER used in the tests) instead of kowtowing to the Microsoft usage. While admirable, this is not the place. Authors, it's time to send some people in to take the tests and report the new questions. But bottom line, as others have said, if you've prepared for the test with a thorough exam prep book, these books are a good last-minute refresher.