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Rating: 
Summary: Nice!
Review: Design exams are usually very tough because you are supposed to demonstrate not only knowledge of some facts but also right way of thinking. In some questions you have to choose between appropriate and the most appropriate answer and it's much more difficult then to find out just one corrent answer. I believe this book really helps you to understand the Cisco vision of design rules and ideas. I used only this book for exam preparation and passed it with 73% (passing score is 65). The score was not very high and one of the reasons that I didn't find in this books some terms like 'router cluster' for ATM and StrataCom hardware overview (like number of modules). But obviously it was my fault that I didn't study SNA well even this books contains good review of this architecture. I would say that if you just carefully study this book only after passing other three exams in CCDP track, you will pass this exam on the first attepmt but probably your score will be less then 90%, but higher then limit. About errors mentioned in some others reviews. In the design test it's more important to understand general ideas then some numbers and command spelling and usually misspelled command or wrong figures in tutorial are annoying but they don't affect you understanding of basic design ideas dramatically. Especially if you have passed previous three tests. I would recommend this book even it contains a few mistakes.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!!!
Review: I found this book to be an excellenent reference text, and one that I expect to refer to for a few years to come. I have only 2 criticisms to make: (i) As it is the Cisco book designed for the certification exam, it should have a CD ROM with practice exams, like the older certification books had (ACRC, CLSC, etc); (ii) It was scanty on the Stratacom section, although it did cite useful documentation on the subject and provide URL's to such. I found the explanations and diagrams to be thorough, and picked up additional information when rereading topics. As mentioned above, URL's to additional information were spread throughout the book, and the URL's that I checked took me to treasure troves of information. Appendix E consists of a design and implementation guide for OSPF, direct from the Cisco website, and this is the best description and reference material of OSPF that I have ever come across. The exam is now 100 questions over 2 hours with a pass mark of 755, and I used this book and some Boson study tests to prepare. Subsequently, I didn't find any surprises on the exam.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a Very Good Book.
Review: I have relied on Cisco Press books to obtain my CCNP and CCDP. In general, I have found them to be well thought out, solid texts. Unfortunately, this is not the case with the CID. The course material and test are not on par with the rest of the Cisco certification courses. Comparing the table of contents with the requirements listed for the test on Cisco's web page reveals that entire sections such as security and VPN that are required for the test have been omitted from the text. I used this book and the CID by Sybex to pass the test. Between the two of them they cover enough material to give one a reasonable shot at the test. The passing score is now 75 out of 100 questions, and the questions on the test are probably the most vague of all tests - including the CCIE written exam. Let's go Cisco - get with the program!
Rating:
Summary: Not a Very Good Book.
Review: If you are doing any network design with Cisco gear, (or want to), then this book is a keeper. Very good insights and explanations on protocols that you will run into sooner or later in any sized network. I have worked with medium and enterprise networks. Trust me, CID is well worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Not a brain dump
Review: Many reviews stated they saw questions on the exam that they did not see in the book. Sorry, the CID is an application type test.. not meant to pass the same way 25 other paper cert test were passed ... simply memorizing facts.... Excellent prep for the knowledge necessary to attack the CID but, you still must have the experienced recommended by Cisco... I reccommend this book for any serious network professionals desiring the title Cisco Certified Design Professional or for that matter someone wanting a better understanding of Network Design.
Rating: 
Summary: Going for your CCDP?
Review: The CID book by CCIE Matthew H. Birner is a good reference for the CID test however, it lacks any information on the Cisco WAN products you need to know about. Specifically the BPX, AXIS (redesigned the MGX 8220) IPX, and IGX Carrier class units. It is a good source of SNA information that you will need both on-the-job and to pass the test. As for use on the job, I didn't think that this book covered the actual design procedure, documentation, and fact gathering checklists anywhere near as welll as the CiscoPress CCDA Exam Certification Guide did. I would recommend to anyone wishing to pursue a CCDP, to wait for the new release of the CiscoPress CID Exam Certification Guide by Mike Crane and Reggie Terrell. It is due out in mid-September and should have all of the new and updated information needed to pass the test. Ed Wilcox CCNP, CCDP, CNE, MCSE, and Nortel NNCSS
Rating:
Summary: Going for your CCDP?
Review: This book is good for maybe 80% of the CID exam. It is rather light on VPN and only MENTIONS Stratacom! It's a good book for what's included, but you will need a second source to cover all the exam objectives.
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