The Virtual Bookcase Reviews of 'MCSE : The Core Exams in a Nutshell':
Reviewer amazon.com wrote:MCSE: The Core Exams in a Nutshell scores lots of points through its recognition of key facts about the "core four": there's lots of overlap among the exams. Rather than repeat the same information in multiple sections (or multiple volumes, as is becoming standard), Michael Moncur devotes a section of the book to what's unique in each exam, referring to other sections as needed. Each portion of the book starts with an overview of the exam and a list of the chapters' objectives. The chapters conclude with a list of tasks to perform, a complete sample test, and a sort of condensed statement of key facts, suitable for last-minute cramming. The author touches on all the topics that Microsoft mentions in its various Microsoft Certified Software Engineer (MCSE) exam specifications. However, readers should be warned that coverage in MCSE: The Core Exams in a Nutshell is less elementary than that of many other MCSE texts. You'll find hardly any step-by-step procedures, for one thing. If you're an experienced Windows NT hand and you have the ability to do a lot of experimenting with the procedures described, this book will be all you need. For anyone below an expert level, you may want to supplement this book with a text that wades through the exam material at a less breakneck pace.
Reviewer Rob Slade wrote:
The MCSE core exams in a nutshell. Where they most definitely belong.
This book covers the Networking Essentials (70-058), NT Workstation
4.0 (70-073), NT Server 4.0 (70-067), NT Server in the Enterprise
(70-068), and Windows 95 (70-064) exams. Each chapter gives a brief
introduction to the exam, explaining the type of material that it
covers. A page or two of objectives lists the content that the reader
will need to know, and apply, and provides a reference within the
chapter for that objective. The text itself is very clear. Limiting
itself to the basics of what you will be asked, the wording is lucid
and, paradoxically, far more understandable than other volumes that
try to try to teach you everything they know about (say) network
essentials. "On the Exam" boxes point out how Microsoft sees the
world, and the occasional "In the Real World" points out where knowing
too much can get you into trouble. There are suggested practical
exercises that will help make some of the theoretical material real
and a practice test with explanations of all answers. Also included
is a "Highlighter's Index" that repeats the most important items in
point form.
Not only does this save you shelf space, but it is, in all likelihood,
the most effective study guide as well. Simulated test programs would
be an additional asset, but other than that, this has the basics, and
no clutter.
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1998
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