An extremely good package for both the beginner and the Windows NT-savvy administrator, the MCSE Windows 2000 Professional Study Guide straddles that fine balance between real-world networking experience and the testing-room world of multiple-choice questions, where the official "Microsoft" answer reigns supreme. There are some minor problems with the book's organization, a poorly written chapter or two, and some worries about the toughness of the book-given questions; but, most of this book is superb and well worth your money.

As opposed to many other MCSE guides, which throw pages' worth of dense writing at you, the guide breaks everything down into smaller sections. You barely can get through a page without noticing an exam tip being shouted out to you in bold type; or finding an on-the-job aside that informs you of a frequent problem that fledgling Windows 2000 users frequently make; or getting a full Windows 2000 walk-through, backed up with lots of screen shots, that tells you how to accomplish the task at hand. The continual mix of experience, test objectives, hands-on experience, and just plain learning make this book an easy read by MCSE standards (but, still, it's no Harry Potter).

However, that does not mean that the book is content-free; it's packed with networking goodness. The writing is very dense and sometimes tough to get through, but one of the strengths of the book is the way that the various parts work together to provide a coherent whole. If you're stumped by an in-depth understanding of, say, what the difference is between a "print device" and a "printer," the "On The Job" section will explain the reasons that network admins need to create several different printers for a single device--and understanding will blossom. Likewise, you might be tempted frequently to skim over a paragraph or two because it doesn't seem critical, but the sidebar "Exam Watch" warns you that this section is a frequently misunderstood (and important) topic for prospective MCSEs. The book's individual parts might not be the best in their respective fields, but as a gestalt you can rank them with anyone else.

There are some difficulties, however. There are one or two chapters--more notably the chapter on unattended installations and RIS servers--in which the writing seems very scattered; giving you individual facts here and there, but never, for example, really summing up the advantages and disadvantages of Windows 2000's various disk-replication features. The section on TCP/IP subnetting is rushed, too; and, while careful rereading might give you an idea of the math behind the binaries, you'd definitely have to read it more than a few times. Keep in mind that these chapters are notable because of their poor writing in a book that is distinguished by quality; so, don't be misled.

The organization, too, is sketchy, as the book maps precisely to the exam objectives--which are not particularly well organized. You'll find information on setting rights on shared folders and NTFS directories in chapter 4, but you won't learn how to connect to said directories until chapter 11. This gives the book a slightly meandering feel.

Exam questions are at the end of every chapter, and most of them are fairly tough--you won't find any easy "Who created the Internet?"-type questions here. But the questions don't go to the opposite end of the scale, either, lacking the purposely baroque scenario questions for which Microsoft has a new fondness. There is also no final MCSE exam in the book. But the exam disk gives much better questions and a full exam simulation; so, if you buy the book, be sure to make use of the electronic exam.

Overall, this book is a good start for a book learner (who will need to read at least three books without hands-on experience), and a potential one-stop shop for someone with access to a test network. A recommended read. --William Steinmetz


Book Description
The only classroom-based training and self-assessment system! Osborne's MCSE Windows 2000 Professional Study Guide provides 100% complete coverage of all official Microsoft objectives for exam 70-210. Based on 200,000+ hours of IT training experience, the book contains hundreds of practice exam questions and hands-on exercises. The CD-ROM features full CertTrainer CBT software with interactive tutorials and lab simulations, plus the new ExamSim adaptive test engine.


Book Info
(Osborne) Complete certification study system for the MCSE Installing, Configuring and Administrating Windows 2000 Professional exam (#70-210). The CD-ROM contains CertTrainer software, exam questions, and explanations of why each answer is correct. System requirements include Windows 98+, 600MB hard disk space, CD-ROM drive, and Internet Explorer 4.0


From the Back Cover

The Only Certification Study System Based on 200,000+ Hours of IT Training Experience

100% Complete Coverage—All official test objectives for exam 70-210 are covered in detail Hands-on Exercises -- Step-by-step instruction modeled after classroom labs Exam Watch -- Warnings based on thorough post-exam research identifying the most troublesome exam topics and how to answer them correctly Three Types of Practice Questions -- Knowledge, scenario, and lab-based questions, all with in-depth answers From the Classroom -- Discussions of important issues direct from the classrooms of Global Knowledge's award-winning instructors

Full coverage of the topics you need to review, including how to: Upgrade from a previous version of Windows to Windows 2000 Professional Perform an unattended installation of Windows 2000 Professional Manage and troubleshoot access to shared folders Connect to Local and Network Print Devices Implement, manage and troubleshoot disk devices Implement, manage, and troubleshoot input and output (I/O) devices Optimize and troubleshoot the performance of the Windows 2000 Professional desktop Configure and troubleshoot the TCP/IP protocol Implement, Configure, manage, and troubleshoot Local Group Policy

PLUS!

CD-ROM features full CertTrainer CBT software and the new ExamSim test engine -- more than 300 questions on CD

CertTrainer e-Training --Self-paced review of key Windows 2000 topics, including exam tips CertCam -- Instructional Windows 2000 animations with audio explanations In-depth Links -- Need more explanation? Topically relevant links provide detailed Skill Assessment --Test your knowledge with more than 230 challenging practice exam questions Score Reports --Indicate subject areas requiring further study

ExamSim Complete Practice Exam --A realistic MCSE exam with questions found only on the CD-ROM Two Testing Modes --Standard or adaptive Simulation Questions --Windows 2000 simulations challenge your applied skills Detailed Answers --Explain why the correct options are right and why the incorrect options are wrong

PLUS DriveTime --More than 30 minutes of CD audio for exam prep on the go E-book --Electronic, searchable version of the Study Guide


About the Author
Syngress Media, Inc. (Rockland, MA) is an independent company committed to creating the very best book, software and Internet based exam preparation tools. They have published over 20 certification study guides and over a dozen Personal Testing Centers. All of these products are created by leading content experts, many of whom are also full-time trainers

ANNOTATION

Using special exercises, screen shots, and a selfpaced "Skill Builder," this exam guide preps readers extensively for the 2000 test.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The only classroom-based training and self-assessment system! Osborne's MCSE Windows 2000 Professional Study Guide provides 100% complete coverage of all official Microsoft objectives for exam 70-210. Based on 200,000+ hours of IT training experience,the book contains hundreds of practice exam questions and hands-on exercises. The CD-ROM features full CertTrainer CBT software with interactive tutorials and lab simulations,plus the new ExamSim adaptive test engine.

The Only Certification Study System Based on 200,000+ Hours of IT Training Experience 100% Complete Coverage—All official test objectives for exam 70-210 are covered in detail

Hands-on Exercises — Step-by-step instruction modeled after classroom labs Exam Watch — Warnings based on thorough post-exam research identifying the most troublesome exam topics and how to answer them correctly Three Types of Practice Questions — Knowledge,scenario,and lab-based questions,all with in-depth answers From the Classroom — Discussions of important issues direct from the classrooms of Global Knowledge's award-winning instructors

Full coverage of the topics you need to review,including how to:

Upgrade from a previous version of Windows to Windows 2000 Professional Perform an unattended installation of Windows 2000 Professional Manage and troubleshoot access to shared folders Connect to Local and Network Print Devices Implement,manage and troubleshoot disk devices Implement,manage,and troubleshoot input and output (I/O) devices Optimize and troubleshoot the performance of the Windows 2000 Professional desktop Configure andtroubleshoot the TCP/IP protocol Implement,Configure,manage,and troubleshoot Local Group Policy

PLUS!

CD-ROM features full CertTrainer CBT software and the new ExamSim test engine — more than 300 questions on CD

CertTrainer

e-Training —Self-paced review of key Windows 2000 topics,including exam tips CertCam — Instructional Windows 2000 animations with audio explanations In-depth Links — Need more explanation? Topically relevant links provide detailed Skill Assessment —Test your knowledge with more than 230 challenging practice exam questions Score Reports —Indicate subject areas requiring further study

ExamSim

Complete Practice Exam —A realistic MCSE exam with questions found only on the CD-ROM Two Testing Modes —Standard or adaptive Simulation Questions —Windows 2000 simulations challenge your applied skills Detailed Answers —Explain why the correct options are right and why the incorrect options are wrong

PLUS

DriveTime —More than 30 minutes of CD audio for exam prep on the go E-book —Electronic,searchable version of the Study Guide

SYNOPSIS

Windows 2000 replacement of Windows NT 4.0 is the largest software development in history.

Designed for the Microsoft systems engineer candidates, as well as current MCSEs who will need to update their certification.

Covers configuring a user's working environment, including applications, documents, and desktop settings.

CD-ROM contains more than 300 practice questions on TEST YOURSELF Personal Testing Center software with comprehensive answers that explain all correct and incorrect answers.

Free option of connecting via the Internet to the Certified Press SErver to run the exams.