Based on my first impression after scanning MCSE Windows 2000 Training Guide, I would have given the book the highest marks possible. After reading the book, my opinion has altered only slightly -- not because of any flaws with the features the book offers or with the scope of the book, but because of some technical inaccuracies.
The book has everything to make it one of the best study guides: objective explanations, study strategies, exam tips, notes, warnings, real-world tips, case studies, step-by step instructions, exercises, exam questions, and -- in the last chapter -- a summary of all the information presented in the book
Each chapter starts with a detailed explanation of the exam objectives covered and a suggested study strategy. In the study strategy sections, the authors provide tips on how to learn the material. For example, the study strategy for the first chapter recommends that you install Win2K a few times while studying the chapter and not to lose too much time on Remote Installation Services (RIS), because RIS is covered in more detail in other exams.
I especially liked the suggested readings and resources listed at the end of every chapter. The authors point you to various resources (e.g., books, Web sites, and Microsoft Official Curriculum courses) where you can find more information about a related topic. I also liked how the authors guide readers through the Microsoft Support Web site, where you can find Knowledge Base articles. The case studies also provide a lot of real-word tips and tricks. They are definitely worth reading, even for those who have already passed the Win2K Professional exam.
Novice exam takers probably will like the "Study and Exam Prep Tips" chapter because it explains how the real exams actually work, what to expect, the types of questions on the exam, and so on. The last chapter in Part 2 of the book is a 58-question practice exam. The questions are not exactly the same as in the real exam but they cover the same topics and have the same format, so you should be very familiar with the exam even before you take it. If you are new to the Microsoft certification process, Part 3 of the book includes an overview of the whole process, including all of the exam titles and requirements.
For that last-minute cram session before taking the Win2K Professional exam, the book includes a 30-page chapter called "Fast Facts." This chapter summarizes all the important information you need to pass the exam. You will want to read this chapter just before taking the exam to quickly refresh your memory.
In general, the book is accurate, although I did find some mistakes -- and some typos. I found one typo in the first sentence of the Introduction, which said “MCSD Training Guide” instead of "MCSE Training Guide." This is also the second book from New Riders that I've reviewed lately that used MCSE+1 instead of MCSE+I. There are other typos, as well as technical errors. I counted the most mistakes in the first chapter, which I think is the weakest section of the book. I was quite disappointed to see that the authors discussed RIS on four pages but talked about disk imaging on only two pages.
A screenshot on page 278 reveals that one of the authors used Win2K RC1 (build 2128). The final version is build 2195. I might have said that even though an author used RC1 the book reflects the final Win2K version, but then I discovered a mistake on the next page. The author says that the default size of the paging file is the size of installed memory plus 12MB. This was true for Windows NT 4, but Win2K calculates the size of the paging file by multiplying the size of installed RAM by 1.5. This is a very common misunderstanding. In spite of this error, the book provides a lot of useful information about the paging file.
Another common misconception, and one that is presented in this book, is that the Recovery Console allows you to “start and stop” services. This is not true, because the services are not even running. You can only enable and disable them. Many authors make this mistake, even though the actual commands are “enable” and “disable.”
No matter how many books you read nothing matches the real exam. This is why you will find the companion CD-ROM so valuable. The CD-ROM contains exam preparation software (ExamGear 2000) with 206 questions that simulate the real exam -- and the complete book in electronic format. ExamGear is a powerful tool and it works in three modes. The first mode is for study and lets you review the questions with accompanying explanations; the second mode is a standard practice exam; and the third mode is an adaptive exam. Some of the questions in the adaptive exam are quite tough.
If you read this book, use the study module and practice exams on the CD-ROM, and work with the actual product, you will not only pass the exam but you will also learn the basics of Win2K Professional. You will not be an expert after reading just one book (no single book can do that), but you will get the basics you need. I recommend this book to anyone preparing for the Win2K Professional exam.
MCSE Windows 2000 Professional Training Guide: Exam 70-210
Authors: Gord Barker and Douglas Harrison
Publisher: New Riders
Date Published: 7/2000
ISBN: 0-7357-0965-3
$49.99
800 pages (plus companion CD-ROM)