Certification Books

I found this book to be very useful (and I like the cheapprice). It gets right to the point. You want to find instructions, youcheck the index, and turn to the page where the answer is. Saved me lots of time.

Word Perfect DOS is still the best word processing software. This text is the best to get my staff up and running in no time at all.

Very indepth coverage and useful for anyone needing info on deploying WP Office on Linux.

Phil is a wonderful writer.

Lammle does an excellent job of explaining complex networking concepts (particularly subnetting) in terms simple enough for someone with no previous exposure to networking to understand.

Unfortunately, some subjects were oversimplified, to the point that I felt underprepared for the CCNA test. If you are an excellent student, or you retain 100% of what you read, this book will get you a passing score on the exam. For the rest of us, I recommend Wendell Odom's CCNA Self Study Certification Library (Cisco Press - ISBN 1-58720-095-3). There's more to read, but you'll enter the exam more confident and better prepared.

-sean henning

The most challenging thing a certification test-prep book faces is the way it invariably will be misused. There is an old saw about using the right tool for the job, which in essence tells us to use the correct planning, strategy, and action to get the result we want. The majority of people purchasing a book like this are planning to take the CCNA exam and want some help preparing. This makes sense, and this is why I myself purchased Lamle's book. While it worked, and I passed with a 901, I couldn't help but wonder how much more difficult it would have been without hands-on experience with the devices, protocols and processes themselves at work. I have not yet met anyone who studied for, and passed, the CCNA test without any prior hands-on network experience.

It makes me very nervous to read someone's review suggesting, "This is the only preparation you need". To pass the test, you will likely need some experience as well, and to avoid the Catch-22 of requiring experience to get the job, yet also the job to gain the experience, I would recommend seeking first a junior position in the field, where you can not only get the experience, but also the mentoring of senior networking staff.

However, once you pass the test and have the cert, we face another challenge: "Does the cert verify your ability to apply what you know?" Not really, but that's why you cannot stop learning and developing your skills set there. You will likely need the CCNA to get the interview for the Networking job you seek, but you will need interview skills to get the job, and you will need to be able to APPLY your technical knowledge to keep it. Lamle's book is one of the best prep books out there for the CCNA. But if you plan to have a long-term career in Networking, do not think for a moment that you can stop there. And I'm not just talking about the next level of Cisco Certification.

Buy this book and study it, but make sure you maintain a long-term professional skills development plan, and if you don't already have it, start building your experience in the field. You'll need it.

Good luck!

I studied and passed my CCNA with this book in first try, it covers thoroughly on all you need to know about the exam. The bonus questions are useful too, few of them are pretty similiar to my exam questions.

This book definitely helped me pass my CCNA. The material in this book will definitely provide you with the tools you need in order to configure Cisco equipment and pass the CCNA the first time.

I passed the exam with a 901 the first try.

Wow, what a great author Todd is. His explainations and descriptions make the book well worth the cost. I used it as a text book for 2 classes and the last 3 out of 4 semesters for the Cisco Networking Academy. I also used his study guide (sold seperately but worth the money).
I not only learned what I needed feel confident about taking the CCNA, I feel very confident about my abilities with Cisco Networking Appliances. Todd should write for Cisco in my opinion.
I do feel that there are some easier ways to subnet than in his examples, but I learned it his way and then my instructors way. I chose what worked for me, your experiences will be different. Ultimately I used the Cisco Networking Academy, this book, and the study guide. I really studied hard, taking good notes and I passed the CCNA the first time with flying colors. I think Todd's explainations were key to this. He really makes Frame and ISDN configuation and the technolgies clear, he makes RIP and IGRP understandable even though they were the first IGPs that I was introduced to (they are very obscure IMO and I have never seen them used in the real world). I will look forward to his next version for the upgraded CCNA exams, I am sure they will be great.

I have just passed my PMP exam from the first time, and I give a lot of credit to this book. The way it is compiled will definitely pave the road for success. No question in the exam took me by surprise. If you are preparing for the PMP certification test, this is what you need.
Good luck.

During the last 5 years while I was thinking of taking PMP exam, I often heard that "Rita's book plus PMBOK" is all you need to pass the exam. Well, my own story of passing it on the first take is the combination of my own experience, common sense, Rita's book and NO PMBOK. (More specifically I was using PMBOK as a reference to check a couple of points but no more than that).

So the book is highly recommended as the main study tool for anyone who wants to pass the exam. You will also need the software, though it is not cheap, but I believe it's worth it. WARNING: Read the license agreement very carefully before you buy the software - I was quite frustrated when my license mysteriously "expired" 3 months before the exam.

Minor point. An annoying thing in the book are the constant expressions of self-indulgence like "did not I tell you how great this book was?" or "aren't you happy you've bought this book?", etc. But the proportion of these things in relation to the really good material is quite bearable.

So all in all I would recommend the book to anyone who would like to pass the PMP exam.

This book is telling the philosophy of the project management and the most definite and short ways to the PMP exam.

The books came very well (on time and conditions). I would like suggest for this kind of product that it must be covered with some plastic protection, in this way, the accidents with any kind of liquids dropped over a box can be avoided.

The book covers all the subjecy matter in clear and precise ways. It has been very helpful for the test preparation...
I think it is also critical to obtain its accompanying Test DVD...

i have just passed my exam with 97%. This book covers everything that you need to know for SCJP5 Exam. Once you read it you will feel confident but dont be fooled you are not finished just yet. you have to do a lot of mock exams which are available online. (for the mock exams and some help go to www.javaranch.com).
The practice questions after each chapter are very important. These questions are very close to the exam questions. Solve them all before you enter the exam.
I can not say the same thing about the simulated test included in CD, though you shall still go through once.
Once again, this book covers 100% for SCJP5 EXAM.

I just passed the exam with 87% after reading this book. I spent two months reading the book and then two weeks some revision. When reading this book you keep discovering things that you know you should have known long before as a java programmer. The questions in the book tend to be harder than the actual exam, but they are helpful.


I discovered a couple of minor errors from the book. But it's really no big deal.

This book is an excellent resource. I have 2 years experience with Java, and my company recently sponsored me the official SCJP course (CDJ-110A). I can honestly say that it is the biggest waste of time imaginable, as it doesn't cover anywhere near the material required for the exam. This book, on the other hand, provides clear exam objectives for each section. It points out common 'tricks' the exam may use to fool you, and provides good examples of exam-like questions. It is easy to read and full of examples.

This is a review of the previous edition of this book (ISBN:0072226846), but probably the same applies to this book. For learning Java, this book is better than revered Head First book from the same authors. I only understood Head First book when I downloaded and analyzed the source code. Otherwise, I see a lot of incomplete examples, it was like watching the movie from the half.

This book gives you full understanding of the Java language. It explains what is possible, and what is not. It is complete. I don't speak about passing the exam, that was not my intention. I wanted to learn and understand the Java language. What was the most important thing to me was the limits of the language. Reading this book, all the time you have a feeling of control. Everything is explained, and you have a full control of the language. Not so many books explain all possible ways how to use the interfaces, how to arrange the source files,...

Rare authors of programming books have this talent. The same feeling I had with the book "Programming C# with Visual Studio .NET 2005" by Jeffery Suddeth (ISBN:1411664477). Pure perfection. I would advise potential new and old authors of the books to read this book as a study guide of How to write programming books. Reading this book was an intellectual pleasure to me.

Pero

Excellent book. Make sure you do all exercises and tests that come with this book.

This is a quality book, the only thing that I've found wrong with it is that it teaches Java 4.0 and I want to learn Java 5.0 now. Also, at the beginning of each chapter the book identifies what is required by the Exam and what the authors have added to the book. In the "heat-of-the-battle", as you're studying the book, the exam objectives and the extraneous material are mixed together. I have enough to do to certify in SCJA, SCJP, SCJD, and SCBCD without learning any extras. If the authors think that they know better than Sun as to what I should learn, they should clearly mark it, or have a part I that is essential to pass the exam and a part II that is additional learning that the authors want me to learn.

But it is not good for explain themes(eg. reference types o arrays). You must to consult other books for more complete explanations. But this book is very necesary like guide to you must to known. It is essential.

This is a great book to prepare for the SCJP exams. The pity is that it was designed for SCJP 1.4. But where the subject matter for SCJP 5 is the same as for SCJP 1.4 I find this book better than the Sierra/Bates book. The discussion is very complete and thorough. Very good discussion of nested classes, threads, etc. But you need the S/B book for generics and the newer stuff.

The concepts in the book are well explained and i think its a good book for a beginner programmer but obsolete for sun java certification 1.5.

i buy this book together with kathy's book and have passed the exam with 95% score. i found the exam very easy (although i still missed 3 of the 61 questions), i guess it's because i have read this whole book thoroughly. kathy's book is very good too but just covers what you really need to pass the exam. this book goes a step further by explaining each concept thoroughly, more than you need to pass the exam. if you want to have deep knowledge of how java works, and not just merely to pass the exam, then this is the best book for you.

This is a quality book, the only thing that I've found wrong with it is that it teaches Java 4.0 and I want to learn Java 5.0 now. Also, at the beginning of each chapter the book identifies what is required by the Exam and what the authors have added to the book. In the "heat-of-the-battle", as you're studying the book, the exam objectives and the extraneous material are mixed together. I have enough to do to certify in SCJA, SCJP, SCJD, and SCBCD without learning any extras. If the authors think that they know better than Sun as to what I should learn, they should clearly mark it, or have a part I that is essential to pass the exam and a part II that is additional learning that the authors want me to learn.

But it is not good for explain themes(eg. reference types o arrays). You must to consult other books for more complete explanations. But this book is very necesary like guide to you must to known. It is essential.

This is a great book to prepare for the SCJP exams. The pity is that it was designed for SCJP 1.4. But where the subject matter for SCJP 5 is the same as for SCJP 1.4 I find this book better than the Sierra/Bates book. The discussion is very complete and thorough. Very good discussion of nested classes, threads, etc. But you need the S/B book for generics and the newer stuff.

The concepts in the book are well explained and i think its a good book for a beginner programmer but obsolete for sun java certification 1.5.

i buy this book together with kathy's book and have passed the exam with 95% score. i found the exam very easy (although i still missed 3 of the 61 questions), i guess it's because i have read this whole book thoroughly. kathy's book is very good too but just covers what you really need to pass the exam. this book goes a step further by explaining each concept thoroughly, more than you need to pass the exam. if you want to have deep knowledge of how java works, and not just merely to pass the exam, then this is the best book for you.

I purchased Andy's book as well as the PMBOK in June, 2008 to study for my PMP exam in July, 2008. The book delivered on its title, since I was able to pass on the 1st try. This book does an excellent job of laying out exactly what to expect on the exam. PM can be a "dry" subject, but I felt that this book did a good job of presenting the material in a logical manner that made it easier to understand. Other reviewers suggest purchasing this book and the PMBOK together as a package and I agree. With both, I don't think you will have much trouble prepping for the exam. I was able to get through the book several times and used the PMBOK to shore up the presented subjects as needed. The language used in this book was clear, concise and presented in a welcoming manner. One negative is that there isn't a large question bank to accompany this book. If you are looking to get a lot of practice questions, I would add an additional reference to your purchace. I would have liked to have more practice questions, but I chose to review every question in the book and the practice exam and felt confortable taking the actual exam. Overall, I would absolutely recommend this book and the strategy above as a means to get your PMP credential.

The book by itself was worth the money. It gave meaningful, accurate, and succinct descriptions and explanations without skimping. The test questions included are a good prep tool if you use them to evaluate your weak points and focus more effort there.

The online part was a bonus that is worth at least price of the book again. The website offered great online exams, extremely well done "powerpoint videos", and other tools. Don't skip the Simulation Exams just because you did the assessment exams. Each time I took the exams there were a few questions I had not seen before.

You still need to put in the time and effort but this is definitely a good tool to help get the task done.

I passed the PMP on my first try today. I bought Andy's book (The PMP Exam - How to Pass on Your First Try), the PMBOK Guide, and Rita Mulcahy's PMP Examp Prep. I studied in the order of PMP Guide first, Andy's book second, and then Rita's third. Although Rita's book gave a few different perspectives, it wasn't really necessary to buy it. You can pass the PMP with the PMP Guide and Andy's book. It's a wonderful resource. Make flash cards, they work great!

I aced the PMP first time using this material. Most of the other materials avilable try to be too elaborate! The tests are also similar to what u can expect on the exam!
U get free online lessons and tests with this book! Great value for money!
The author also answers e-mails personally re the book or enquiries!

This book is an exceptionally vaubale book for the PMP. I am taking an online course, and this summarizes 24 courses in a very efficient manner and reinforces learning. I would recommend for anyone contemplating the PMP exam.

This book has very accurate information, and is complete (although, as usual, the Resource Kits are essential for best info). This is a good book for the IT professional. I do feel that for the MCSE exams, it provides far more information than you need - therefore the spirit of MCSE lives! In a hurry? - DON'T BUY. Want good coverage? BUY, BUY BUY!

I used 3 books to prepare to each of my NT exams. All my sources (Alan Carter, Coriolis and O'Reilly) were pretty good, but today, after I passed all the three exams, I have to say that buying all these books beside that of Alan Carter was merely wast of money. Alan Carter's book was all I needed. Today, that I work as a systems administrator I frequently use this book as a reference. I believe this book is the best choice if you need a book both to pass the NT exams and to work with NT in the real world.

I'm reviewing this from the point of view of a non-MSCE person who needed a good, comphrensive desk reference for doing computer support and troubleshooting on our NT network and workstations in our medical editing/transcription facility. Given its expense I read over the reviews of this book before purchasing it (those who actually used it rather than just thumbing through it!) and decided on the strength of the large number of thumbs ups from people internationally, many starting from the basics, to give it a try. I figured if it is that accessible for aspiring IT professionals, it would work for a non-computer person who has to get going on the basics quickly and "hurry up and learn." I will stress again that I am *not* going for my MSCE, but needed a good desk reference to work on our network, and also to understand concepts in order to work more effectively with our network admin people and understand server concepts. I was gratified to find it comprehensive without being dull, and it was actually pretty clearly written! I would say to those in my position (non-MSCE types) that it helps to be good at research and fact finding as this book is pretty big and packed with print. It also helps to already have some familiarity with Windows 95/NT before using this, but you don't need much. There is enough white space in the text arrangement that you won't go cross-eyed trying to read it, and the text being broken down into blocks makes it easy to scan several pages quickly and locate information. Concepts are arranged in an easy to follow, stepwise format, as well, and the index is average. I rank it 4 stars simply because I cannot at all judge its utility for taking the MSCE exams. I have read and utilized this book simply as a source of information in on-the-job situations.

Doubled Annual Income! Thanks to this book. A lot of hard work, planning and preparation, 3 cities later, working for a foturne 100 company. Sitting at my PIII W2K pro machine using a switch to move between it and Red Hat 6.2, sippin on coffee and Aquafina - life is good. Donavan.Brown@nokia.com

Alan Carter's book is a great learning tool and value. It really makes sense to put the three core NT 4.0 topics in a single book for an efficient and economical learning experience. I originally bought the book just to learn Workstation, but after passing the exam I realized that I had read 80% of the book and that the rest of the chapters would not take that long to learn. This book covers 98% of what you need to know to pass the three tests. I passed the three tests with high scores in just a few months and I had very little experience to start out. The topics are covered in a very thorough manner yet not too technical to scare a beginner. The book does not have all the practice tests that people want these days, but the Exam Cram series will do such and are excellent compliments to this book. You really do not need any more. In my experience Workstation and Server were covered 100% in Alan's book. Enterprise was not quite 100%, but Exam Cram covered anyhting else I came across on the test (a question on pulse was on the test). The sections on trusts, domains, global groups, and local groups were very understandable and are a very important part of the enterprise exam. The Key Point Summary at the end of each chapter is an excellent test review item, and the Instant Assesment will let you know if you know the material as well as you need to for the exam. What this book lacks as far as a practice exam it more than makes up for with the excellent and numerous Hands-on Lab Excercises. They may look long, but they really teach you hands on experience. It is important to have a practice lab with at least two computers on a network and with one having NT4.0 Workstation installed and the other having NT4.0 Server installed to make the most of this book or any study system if you really want to learn NT4.0 . You can obtain evaluation versions of these NOS from Microsoft for very little money, and you can get a second computer used for a couple hundred bucks. The progression of topics in this book makes perfect sense unlike some other books that tend to jump around and make assumptions of what you know. I may sell or give away most of my other computer books but not Alan's !