MCSD Visual C++ 6 Desktop Exam Cram (Exam: 70-016)

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Summary: You can actually learn MFC from this
Review: After buying about 5 MFC books, this is the one that actual was the most helpful when trying to code something I had never done before. The book is a simple cookbook for DOING things in MFC and COM and and actually gives you the steps and a little theory behind how it works.

When you are serious about learning how to code MFC and COM and frustrated with paging through large volumes, buy this little book.

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Summary: A MUST for 70-016
Review: I currently passed this exam by using this book and it covers almost all of the necessary materials and informations including VC development environment, MFC GUI, COM with SDK, MFC and ATL, debugging and deployment stuffs. For each topics it has sufficient explanation and illustration and the readers should have confidence about the exams after mastering these materials. I raised four stars since it would be perfect if more brain-storming exercises can be introduced.

Since this book is at intermediate and advance knowledge level, I would recommend readers to have introductory concept first before going on to purchase.

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Summary: Good book, but becoming outdated
Review: I just took the 70-016 and passed. This book helped, but now only covers about 50% of what is on the current exam (copyright 2000 - getting old). I HIGHLY recommend practice exams such as syngress and transcender. I would not have passed the exam without the practice exams...Good luck!

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Summary: Best Book Available to Prepare for VC++ 6.0 Desktop Exam
Review: I recently passed both the Visual C++ 6 Desktop & Visual C++ 6 Distributed Exams in one month using Mr. Lacey's exam cram books. I can't tell you how impressed I am with the quality of the material he (and the team at Coriolis) put together for the cram guides. I purchased "study guides" from two other publishers that did not cover the material in 1/10th the depth that these "cram guides" covered the material.

I have to agree that the coverage of COM and Aggregation are about as good as you can can get. I have been recommending his coverage of COM to co-workers who are just beginning with COM and want a clear, consise overview of what COM is all about.

I found the material recommended in the "Need To Know More?" sections to be invaluable. I believe his recommendations to be the best materials available on each topic.

For the Distributed exam I didn't even bother buying anything but the Coriolis cram guide for the exam and one of the database books recommened in the "Need To Know More?" recommendations.

I've probably read 30 computer-related technical books in the last 5 years. I've read four that I was actually impressed with--two of those four books are Mr. Lacey's. His books were useful, accurate and well-written.

Truly excellent books!

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Summary: Great summary, could have used more database stuff
Review: I used this book as one of preperation guides...and I found it direct and to the point in all the subjects it contained. It covered most of the topics in the exam...however it concentarted on technicalities leaving an important issue, one important to the exam...which is how to use all this technical knowledge. The book is has very few practical cases to apply your knowledge to, which is emphasized by the exam. Still a very goog guide, it tells you what you should know...but not all of it.

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Summary: Great study aid
Review: Quite frankly, this is by far the best VC++ desktop exam preparation resource out on the market. It is perfect for someone who just wants to brush up on his or her knowledge before taking the exam.

Although this isn't a primer or tutorial type of book, it can also be used to quickly grasp the concepts without a lot of hand-holding. It is a compressed study review with references so you can look up additional information.

Highly recommended.

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Summary: A book right on target!
Review: This book covers all topics you need to know for the exam in a compressed, but still relatively easy to comprehend way. (Of course it helps if you have some experience with VC++ 6). The pointers to what you should do / not do during the exam are to the point and helped me a lot. The sample questions are very much like the questions in the real exam. Actually in my case they were more difficult than the real questions asked! If you work your way through this book and manage to answer over 50-60% of the total correctly, you stand a good chance to pass the exam.
It's definitely a book you should buy!

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Summary: Don't take the test without this book.
Review: This book is the single best preperation for the test I have encountered. You could almost pass the test using this book alone. The questions are very representative of the actual exam, only a little bit harder. The explainations are clear and to the point, and the practice questions have good explainations. After studying take the practice test at the end of the book. Don't cheat. I got a 64% on the practice test. I used other books for my preperation in addition to BrainDump and the Transcenders. Passed with ease!! Make sure you know COM very well. GOOD LUCK!!

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Summary: Don't take the test without this book.
Review: This is an excellent review guide. It covers almost all the relevant topics and has very representative test questions. Read the book, study the material, and then take the practice test at the end of the book. This is a tough test, but the real test is tough too. If you score above 60%, no cheating, you are probably in good shape to pass the real thing. You will need to supplement this book with other study material in order to pass.

Here is how I did it. Re-read my COM books, and brushed up on COM programming. You will need to know COM very well. Read the Syngress study guide, an OK book but not tough enough. Used the Transcenders to test my knowledge and brush up on those areas in the Transcender tests where I scored poorly. Transcenders are a real help, the questions are very representative. Used Braindump's they can be real good if you are carefull to check the answers. Oh, for the practice test at the end of this book I scored a %64.

I passed with ease on the first try with an 813, passing grade is 534.

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Summary: Perfect Visual C++ Study Guide
Review: This is the perfect book for exam study. It exposes and explains the areas that the exam covers very well. Actually this book does more than that. It has really helped my Visual C++ skills. This is not a one and only book. (No programming book is)But this one is a must have. It gives you a marker to examine you skills.