Paul J. Morris said
This book starts right into the subject by stating that you now need a 64 bit server to install exchange on because that is what the book is going to use to teach you about Exchange.
So this book is basically useless, unless you can afford a 64 bit server. Avoid this book
TazSav said
I just completed my first attempt at the 70-236 exam this book is supposed to help you prepare for, and I can say with absolute certainty that I just wasted my time and money. I could count on one hand the amount of exam questions this book and it's accompanying practice test software covered from the actual exam. The book does help with learning Exchange 2007, but not the areas that are needed to pass the exam. Instead, it focuses on areas that are not even remotely touched on. I had this book and it's 300 test questions down pat, and almost every question I received during my exam had me scratching my head. I can understand not remembering the exact how-to or right way from studying, but when the concept is completely foreign and was never even mentioned in an official study guide, that's a serious flaw to me. I don't expect to be spoon fed all the answers, but I was expecting to be able to learn the concepts that would be needed to successfully pass the exam.
This book should be sold as a simple administrators guide (if at all), and not as a test prep study guide, as it absolutely does NOT help you prepare for the 70-236 exam. I will NEVER buy another MSPress study guide again. Especially considering that Microsoft does have a vested interest in people failing exams and having to pay to retake them (should have thought about that before buying, I guess).
And just to add some qualification, I have taken and passed a dozen or so certification exams from Microsoft (going back to the days of NT4), and this is the first time I ever failed an exam. And the first time I used an MSPress study guide. Coincedence?
J. Mitchell said
First off, let me state that even a non-picky reader like myself cannot help but to notice the countless errors in this book. As other readers have asked, "Where in the world were the editors?"
I have been working on Exchange systems for the past 8 years, and through the course of this part of my career, I've read many books on Exchange. This one by far takes the cake on being so mediocre.
Pros:
- Most of the technical information in the book is correct.
- Good book to read if you don't plan on taking the exam.
Negatives:
- Countless major and minor errors that can affect your ability to effectively pass the 70-236 exam
- Rarely touches on E2K7 SP1, which as of my experience after taking the test today, is covered in a decent amount of detail in the exam.
- Practice exams would not run on my Vista 32-bit machine.
- Didn't cover all the material that was covered on the exam.
I highly recommend that you read Technet articles for all of your E2K7 PowerShell commands and be familar with their options. I guarantee you that there will be stuff from Technet that you'll be tested on that is NOT in this book.
Overall - Find a different book.
M. Gray said
I bought the book and took the test 3 weeks later. I spent a lot of time reviewing the questions. Although my experience in the IT field was valuable, this book put Exchange 2007 in perspective. Nice job!
Scotch said
This was my first look at Exchange 2007 and I was hoping to use this book to sit the exam but feel that I may have to find another non-Microsoft version now.
The book is full of spelling and grammatical errors, which is tolerable until you start finding them in the command and scripting examples. There are several instances where the spelling of a command is different when used in the same sentence (a description and then an example), leaving you wondering which command was the correct one! The only way to find out is to test it and see which one works.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but it also seems that this book was written based on the beta of Exchange 2007? There seem to be a few differences between what the book says and how the software actually is once installed. Why write a book based on beta software?!
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