Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent Study Guide for the Network+ Exam!
Review: I highly recommend the "Exam Cram 2 Network+" by Mike Harwood to anyone who may be preparing to take CompTIA N10-002. In fact, this is the only material I used to study for the exam, and I scored 873/900. (One caveat, I am a CCIE with tons of networking experience.)
The book is laid out in a straight-forward, concise, and cohesive manner. Each chapter opens with an introduction of the CompTIA Network+ objectives that will be discussed thereafter. The information is clearly presented with just enough detail to help the reader understand and grasp concepts, rather than overloading the student with too much. The end-of-chapter review questions test the reader's ability to recall and retain the concepts presented. Finally, the quizzes at the end of the book and on the companion CD are also excellent tools for the soon-to-be certified Network+ technician.
I have two minor faults with the book. First, the text probably provides a bit too much coverage on some of the legacy protocols, such as Token Ring, NetWare and AppleTalk. But you never know, you may still run into those out in the field and would be good knowledge to have. Secondly, I think the text could benefit from one or two case studies or scenario chapters.
Good luck on your certification pursuits!
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not great
Review: I just passed this certification, using this book as a primary resource. However, I had to rely on my several years of experience, and also some educated guessing on the exam. I got 806 out of 900, but there were many questions on the test that I felt this book had not prepared me for. Some of the content in the book is geared towards older technology (such as modem communications) and some newer technologies were hardly discussed. I would especially recommend that you get some additional materials in Novell and Linux/Unix networking, as what is in this volume is not up to the test standards. If you already have the background in those technologies, you should be okay, but if you are Microsoft centric, you might be disappointed.
I supplemented this book with the PrepLogic practice tests, which also got me a discount voucher for the exam at Vue testing centers. The discount was around $60 off of the exam price.
But overall, I thought the organization of the book was well done, and the practice tests at the end of each chapter were good to the material presented. I just would not use this as a sole source for your preparation.
Rating:
Summary: not bad, recommended
Review: I just sat the exam this morning and like others have said this book is all you need to pass. Don't bother over studying for this exam it's really basic, and there's better things to do in life then read an 800 page book on network+.I gave it 4 stars because of the repetitiveness in some areas (especially chapter 7). I understand that certain facts needs to be drummed into peoples heads, but that's the job of a study guide imo. There were a few typos although minor, why do they never put an errata page url in a obvious place in these tech books? Oh and trying to teach troubleshooting techniques is like trying to teach someone to think logically. I skipped the last chapter but I guess it needs to be there for the syllabus. Overall it covers everything (bar 4 out of the 72 questions in the exam) you need to know so that imo is a good enough reason to buy it. gg
Rating: 
Summary: Perfect for the Network+ Exam
Review: I just used this book and a few online tests and got an 833/900 on the exam. The book pretty much covers everything, just read it through a few times and take the practice tests and you should pass easily.
Rating:
Summary: Good source for detail, but....
Review: I passed a few weeks ago with about an 800 on the first try.
I studied first by using Mike Meyers All in One Network+ book. If I had solely used that, I would have failed. But I digress.
Next I studied from the Exam Cram book. It's vast attention to detail makes it a difficult book to pick up and read if you have little to no networking experience. I felt that using a simpler study guide (Mike Meyers) as a primer allowed me a better opportunity to grasp the material in this book. However, this level of studying was also not enough.
From here, I spent a good deal of time taking and retaking about 10-12 different practice tests until I was consistenly scoring in the 90%'s. Had it not been for this final step, I probably would not have passed. Taking additional tests from other vendors will help you tie in all the details you will need to absorb from this book.
A word of caution: Comptia's tests are filled with off the wall questions, poorly drawn graphics and seem to test over technologies that no one uses anymore. Variety in your study materials is the key. Don't use this book as your sole guide to certification.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent purchase to pass the exam...
Review: I passed using the Network+ Exam Cram 2 (plus a 68 page free download from TechExams). The 2 written practise exams in the back, the accompanying CD with practise test software, the 2-page tear out study guide "cheat sheet", and the 30% discount on the exam make Exam Cram 2 a tremendous value. If I were to note any fault it would be that some of the concepts which I had no experience with required more research to understand them - otherwise I could spit out the numbers without knowing what they really meant. Dave Grohl's Network+ Study Guide helped with that, but didn't really present anything new. Overall, this book with some supplements and a little experience was enough to pass.
Rating:
Summary: Very good one
Review: I prepared for Net+ by "CompTIA Network+ Self-Study Guide -- by Anthony Chiarella", and take Exam Cram 2 as supplementary book which fully complete my preparation even I didn't use CD. Both of these books will be make you. Plus make practice tests as much as you find. I made a lots of notes which helped to me for preparing.
I am none PC and Net specialist, and I got 753 out of 900. Remember Net+ is going to be changed in 2005, also check out www.comptia.org Objectives for 2002 and 2005.
Good Luck to everybody.
Rating:
Summary: Exam Cram 2 is the easiest way!
Review: I purchased and read this book from cover to cover in less than 3 weeks. I thought the information was very detailed and over prepared me for the exam. After taking the network+ exam, I now know this book is more than sufficient for passing the exam. I scored a 873 out of 900 possible and have no REAL experience in the networking field. If you want a bullet proof combination, I used Exam Cram 2 along with the Mike Meyers second edition all in one book. I am stressing the fact that all you need is either book. Exam Cram 2 is concise and packed with information. The sample preplogic test that comes with the cd is extremely difficult relative to the actual network+ exam. Don't lose your confidence if you score a 70% on the preplogic practice exam! I scored a 72% and panicked, but obviously it was a good enough score. The actual test is not difficult, contrary to some newsgroup posts. Good luck!
Rating:
Summary: Read the book and you will be N+ certified
Review: I took a Network+ prep class about a year ago and read a Course Technology book (Network+ Guide to Networks, Second Edition), which was good... But it was long as hell. I pick up this book about 7 months ago and started to read it, but for one reason or another I stopped (something always came up). So about 3 weeks ago I got off my butt and read this book twice, and took the test on 03/12/04. I passed that bad boy with an 860 (out of 900). If you read this book you will pass the test, simple as that. P.S. I though that the A+ OS test was harder
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: I used this book as my only study guide for the test and it was more than enough info to pass. After only 2 weeks of studing (and some real world experience) I was able to score a 832. I would have given this book 5 stars but the cd that comes with the book is junk! Dont even waste your time with it.
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