Windows 2000 Professional Exam Cram review

This book is aimed at those looking to sit the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Windows 2000 Professional exam. With this in mind I've taken into account thoughts and comments from friends and associates, both at home and in the US, who have sat the exam. I've also cast my author's eye over the structure and presentation of the book itself to see how useful it is both as a revision aid and as a guide to the structure of the MCSE exam.

At 360 pages it isn't much bigger than your average paperback potboiler novel. This is a good thing, assuming that the content has been condensed down to the essential components required to get through the Installing, Configuring and Administrating Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional (70-210) exam. We actually noticed several of its example questions were exactly the same as in the actual exam. This is perhaps one the finest compliments that can be paid to an exam cram-style book.

The focus of the book is clear and the content concise enough to allow for easy absorption of the information contained, which is critical when studying for an exam. Perhaps this last point is the most important - cramming for an exam suggests a lack of time, and you certainly don't want to waste time sorting the valuable wheat from the pointless chaff.

However, this is not an 'all you need to know about Windows 2000 Professional' book. It's simply, and effectively, a test preparation and review text. The authors present and dissect the questions and problems most likely to be encountered during an MCSE test, and do so with humour and readability thrown in for good measure. You start by taking a self-assessment. From there, you can tailor your studies according to the results, heading straight for classroom training or maybe doing a bit of background reading first. A supplementary Web site, www.examcram.com, is available for more help and the authors are also happy to suggest other study aids to get the most rounded preparation possible.

However, to be brutally honest, it isn't an essential reference for exam preparation, though the clarity and focus of the content coupled with the useful examples do make it a positive addition to your revision material.

Author: Davey Winder