PC Technician Street Smarts: A Real World Guide to CompTIA A+ Skills

Book Description

Develop the skills you need in the real world

Hit the ground running with the street-smart training you'll find in this practical book. Using a "year in the life" approach, it gives you an inside look at the common responsibilities of PC Technicians, with key information organized around the actual day-to-day tasks, scenarios, and challenges you'll face in the field. This valuable training tool is loaded with hands-on, step-by-step exercises covering all phases of a PC Technician's job, including:

Installing hardware and software
Maintaining hardware and software
Installing and upgrading operating systems and networks
Installing and upgrading security systems

An invaluable study tool

This no-nonsense book also covers the common tasks that CompTIA expects all of its A+ certification candidates to know how to perform. So whether you're preparing for certification or seeking practical skills to break into the field, you'll find the instruction you need, including:

Installing or replacing a power supply
Installing or replacing a laptop hard drive
Upgrading Windows(r) 2000 to Windows(r) XP
Scanning for and removing viruses
Installing printer drivers
Troubleshooting your network

The Street Smarts series is designed to help current or aspiring IT professionals put their certification to work for them. Full of practical, real world scenarios, each book features actual tasks from the field and then offers step-by-step exercises that teach the skills necessary to complete those tasks. And because the exercises are based upon exam objectives from leading technology certifications, each Street Smarts book can be used as a lab manual for certification prep.

Customer Reviews:

Beginners guide to PC repair........2007-08-29

I agree with the previous reviewer, James' style is easy to follow. The book is divided up by simple tasks to harder task as you progress through the book. If you are a noob to the PC repair and upgrade workplace and want a book that will walk you through the normal day to day jobs that makes up "A day in the life of a PC Tech", then this book is right up your alley.

I don't reccomend this for people who have been working in the field and just found themselves wanting or needing the A+ certificate. It would not provide much more than a basic review and your money could be spent better on an exam cram or fast pass guide.

Good luck on the Exam!

For hands-on labs for the A+ exam, get this book!.......2007-08-09

If you need some hands-on practice for the A+ exams, you really ought to invest a little in your career and buy this book. After all, most of us learn by doing... and in my opinion, there are no better hands-on practice scenarios than the labs included in this book. The step-by-step directions for each lab are clear, and Pyles' writing style is interesting and easy to understand. The book is also filled with helpful notes, tips, and warnings, many of which are critical for you to know for the A+ exams.

In short, I highly recommend this book to anyone studying for the A+ certification. Not only will it help you pass the exams, but more importantly, it will also make you a much better tech.

Troubleshooting: A Technician's Guide, Second Edition (Isa Technician Series)

Average customer rating:

Advanced methods and strategies

Troubleshooting: A Technician's Guide, Second Edition (Isa Technician Series)
William L. Mostia Jr.
Manufacturer: ISA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Start-Up: A Technician's Guide
Loop Checking: A Technician's Guide (ISA Technician) (Isa Technician Series)
Calibration: A Technician's Guide (ISA Technician)

ASIN: 1556179634

Product Description

Troubleshooting loops and systems is something all technicians must do, but that few truly master. This newly revised edition draws on the authors long experience as an instrument and electrical engineer and his maintenance expertise to provide a detailed look at the skills and knowledge required for troubleshooting. Interspersed with a wealth of practical detail and real-world examples are Mostias no-nonsense discussions of what a good troubleshooter needs to know. He provides an in-depth discussion of the basic logical framework that underlies all troubleshooting as well as advanced troubleshooting techniques. He also explores the causes of failures and the techniques that engineers and technicians use to trace them down. This new edition covers troubleshooting methods, both basic and advanced, hints and troubleshooting aids, troubleshooting safety, basic maintenance concepts, information about training, and the developing troubleshooting skills. It also includes numerous examples of troubleshooting problems in mechanical systems, process connections, pneumatic systems, electrical systems, electronic systems, and valves. Mostia also explores test equipment, programmable electronic systems, communication circuits, transient problems, and software.

Customer Reviews:

Advanced methods and strategies.......2006-10-14

William L. Mostia, Jr., P.E.'s second edition of TROUBLESHOOTING: A TECHNICIAN'S GUIDE is for any working with loops and systems, and provides a newly revised edition based on the author's experience as an electrical engineer. Real-world examples of typical problems illustrate troubleshooting approaches, pros and cons and covers not only beginning to advanced methods and strategies, but tips on safety, training and advanced skills development.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Electrician's Troubleshooting and Testing Pocket Guide

Average customer rating:

Basic things to deal with electrical matters
Electrician's Troubleshooting... Good But,

Electrician's Troubleshooting and Testing Pocket Guide
John E. Traister , and H. Brooke Stauffer
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Electrician's Pocket Manual (Pocket References (McGraw-Hill))
Basic Industrial Electricity: A Training and Maintenance Manual
Audel Electrician's Pocket Manual
Electric Motor Maintenance and Troubleshooting
How to Test Almost Everything Electronic

ASIN: 0071354727

Book Description

Electrical measuring and testing procedures are crucial in the installation and maintenance of electrical systems of all types in commercial and facilities. This new, completely updated edition of The Electrician's Troubleshooting Pocket Guide is an invaluable resource for electricians using portable meteres to test, maintain, and troubleshoot all types of electrical equipment and systems.

Customer Reviews:

Basic things to deal with electrical matters.......2005-09-15

It's kind of basic level of info for feild engineers but
it's very useful info~~

Electrician's Troubleshooting... Good But,.......2000-03-26

I found the book usefull and full of good infromation. But... the book is not consistant in adressing the skill level of the reader. One moment it goes into great detail for the layman's comprehension. The next moment the book may give short diagnostic instructions, that only someone with a greater knowledge & skill level would undersand. Since the book is the size of a typical paperback, less than an inch thick, space limits it's content. The book would be better if it was more consistant with it's depth of explinations. And/or a terminology and skill glossary

Average customer rating:

Good review but outdated
Ambiguous and Rife with Errors
CET Study Guide
GREAT RESOURCE
Junk

The Cet Study Guide
Sam Wilson
Manufacturer: Tab Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Education | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Test Prep Central | Reference | Subjects | Books

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Certified Electronic Technician (Admission Test Series)
Introduction to Biomedical Equipment Technology (4th Edition)
GROL-Plus (Book & Software Package)
Complete RF Technician's Handbook
Electronic Principles

ASIN: 0830635564

Book Description

The no. 1 study guide for working and aspiring electronics technicians who are preparing for their CET exams, this book provides a comprehensive review of all the topics on the test, including theory and practical workbench techniques for servicing TVs, radios, VCRs, stereos, computers, and other electronic equipment. As the former Director of CET Testing for ISCET, Sam Wilson has actually written many of the official CET tests-so this is as close to the real thing as you'll find anywhere! Completely updated to include the very latest information on digital electronics technology, CET Study Guide is designed to help readers identify gaps in their knowledge of electronics, so they'll know what material to brush up on before taking the test. In addition to the two complete exams for associate- and journeyman-level certification, each chapter includes review questions, practice tests, and lots of valuable advice on how to avoid careless mistakes. Anyone who understands the material presented here is virtually guaranteed to pass the CET exam with flying colors.

Customer Reviews:

Good review but outdated.......2006-08-09

I bought the book as a text for a test review class. The book was useful, particularly the review exams. You will need your old electronics textbooks (AC/DC and Electronic Devices) for the equations and example problems. My exam was full of tube questions and outdated testing procedures (Lisajous Patterns). However, if you understand the "ancient", you understand the development of IC's.

Ambiguous and Rife with Errors.......2004-02-29

The number of errors and ambiguities in this book are astounding. I agree with the previous reviewer that you are better off studying elementary electronics text books.

CET Study Guide.......2003-08-11

I read this book cover to cover along with the Associate CET Study Guide 2003 edition that's put out by the Electronics Technicians Association and passed the Associate Certified Electronics Technicians exam no problem. If you are in an Electronics course already, and getting ready to graduate, both of these books will help you review everything quickly and get you ready for the CET test.
This book is not for someone that dosen't have a clue about Electronics but wants to get Certified.

GREAT RESOURCE.......2003-02-24

I do not understand what the hell the reviewer on January 13, 2003 is thinking. You have to be an electronic tech to take the test (with hands on-training). This book will clear up the cobwebs to take the test that a tech might not use everyday. I read the book and passed the CET (ETA and ISCET) associate test with ease. If people want to be handed the answers without learning the trade need to find a different career.

Junk.......2001-01-14

This book is useless. I purchased it to prepare for the CET certification exam and found it of no value whatsoever. I found errors and ambiguities. The book does not sufficiently delve into topics for one to prepare for the exam. It merely touches upon very specific minutia rather than a broad conceptual understandinging of testable material. Reading it is a waste of your time as all information can be found in an elementary electronics book, and buying it is a waste of your money. After purchasing and reading the book, I still am not prepared for the exam. I tried to give it away free but no one wanted it.

Average customer rating:

Real Plant Experience

Start-Up: A Technician's Guide
Diane B. Harris
Manufacturer: Instrument Society of America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Loop Checking: A Technician's Guide (ISA Technician) (Isa Technician Series)
Troubleshooting: A Technician's Guide, Second Edition (Isa Technician Series)
Calibration: A Technician's Guide (ISA Technician)

ASIN: 1556176775

Book Description

When new plants or systems go online, the instrumentation and control systems technician faces special challenges. In Start-up: A Technician's Guide, author Diane Harris explores and explains the crucial role of a technician in this process.

Start-Up: A Technician's Guide, offers you a clear overview of typical start-up responsibilities. From the first team meeting to the last round of tuning and loop checking, Harris uses her extensive experience in process plants to walk you through the issues and skills typically required.

Each chapter includes self-study learning objectives, practice questions and exercises, answers, and listings of relevant standards. Written with the technician in mind, it is a non-mathematical, application-oriented book that provides an overview of the scope of duties a technician must perform in real-world situations. Includes over 30 figures and tables; fully indexed.

Customer Reviews:

Real Plant Experience.......2002-01-29

This book is good for people who work in chemical plants, whether they are instrument techs, engineers or managers. It addresses team and communication issues before, during and after plant startup. There are many examples valid for this day and age. It is easily read and should be used by teams in all plant environments.

Average customer rating:

"A+ Certified!!"
Don't bother reading the reviews, they are for the old book.
It's OK
GREAT BOOK!
Good book, but too many errors

Mike Meyers' A+ Certification Passport
Mike Meyers , Tracey Rosenblath , and Michael Meyers
Manufacturer: Osborne/McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

A+ | Certification Central | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

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Network+ Certification Passport, Second Edition (Mike Meyers' Certification Passport)
A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Sixth Edition (A+ Certification All in One Exam)
Mike Meyers' Security+ Certification Passport (Passport)
Network+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Third Edition (All-in-One)
Ultimate A+ Certification Exam Cram 2 Study Kit, The

ASIN: 0072193638

Amazon.com

Software developers make their programs ever more graphical; interfaces become ever more slick. But underneath the buttons and sliders, PCs are electronic systems comprising power supplies, logic processors, and specialized circuitry for such functions as video and sound. When the machine grinds to a halt, someone has to know how to identify the problem and get it straightened out. That's the function of the CompTIA A+ certification, and this new edition of Mike Meyers' A+ Certification Passport will help you earn it. Meyers combines reams of detailed information about IBM-standard PCs (which is to say, those running Intel, AMD, and Cyrix) with rock-solid troubleshooting advice. Look here for electronic details of the IDE and SCSI interfaces, as well as strategies for figuring out whether a problem is in a drive or in its controlling electronics.

Meyers has organized his book around the two A+ exams, which means you'll find excellent coverage of the subjects CompTIA includes (hardware from early days through the Pentium III era, and Microsoft MS-DOS and Windows operating systems through Windows 2000). Inversely, you'll find no coverage of potentially useful subjects that CompTIA doesn't test (Linux and Microsoft Windows XP, most notably). Updated coverage--of new USB and FireWire standards, as well as memory specifications--meets the high standard of the previous edition. This book will help you prepare for the A+ exams; it and a couple of supplementary texts will get you ready for the job site. --David Wall

Topics covered: The electronics of IBM-standard personal computers (motherboards, processors, memory, disk drives, video cards, network interfaces, and so on), and strategies for safely and efficiently troubleshooting and repairing them. Later chapters explain how to do configuration work in Microsoft MS-DOS, Windows 95/98, Windows NT, and Windows 2000 Professional.

Book Description

Mike Meyers, the industry expert on professional certification, brings you this concise, affordable, and portable study tool for the A+ certification exams. With an intensive focus on only what you need to know to pass the tests, plus practice exam software on CD, this Certification Passport is your ticket to success on exam day.

Customer Reviews:

"A+ Certified!!".......2007-10-05

All hail the "Alpha Geek" Mike Meyers!! I took the A+ Hardware exam in September 2006 and the OS Technologies exam in April 2007 and passed both easily using this Passport book and Mike Meyer's bigger book the "All In One A+ Certification" Guide. Everything that is written in the Passport book will be covered on the exam. Read through the whole book carefully about two times and you will do just fine. I've been doing hardware/software support now for about 5 years, and even I've learned some new things thanks to the help of Mike Meyer's book. If you are very new to hardware or software, I would recommend getting some hands-on experience in addition to reading the material. Do some volunteer work at your local charity/non-profit organization. Offer to help your friends or neighbors with their computing problems. You won't believe how much more proficient you will become the more you actually do it. Practice does make perfect, especially when dealing with hardware and software issues. Good luck to everyone pursuing the A+ Certification. :)

Don't bother reading the reviews, they are for the old book........2007-08-22

Amazon has all the old pre 3rd edition reviews posted. These reviews are for the old books and the old exams.

It's OK.......2007-08-09

I wish people would take the tests before rating these books.

My scores are 810/900 and 840/900 for Essentials and 602 respectively. Passing scores are 675 and 700 with 100 being the minimum.

I bought this book and A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Sixth Edition (A+ Certification All in One Exam) by the same author. I also bought the exam vouchers from them which came with 300 practice questions. Both books come with practice questions both in the books and additional ones on the accompanying CDs. However, the CDs and the downloaded questions were mostly repeats and nothing like the actual exams (same goes for the books).

I have over twenty years of tinkering with computers. I was an aerospace engineer and an Oracle database programmer. I just wanted to get this Certification for kicks. There is a lot of fluff in both books which has nothing to do with the exams. Neither book really tells you how the actual exam questions are like. Actual exams are generally much simpler and test you mostly on your broad knowledge rather than the fine details (the exams does not ask which socket Pentium II uses, but it does ask what does a series of long beeps mean after you boot up). If you know the basics and understand the logic, you will pass. You still need to know some details, but they are not the hard ones. There has to be better book out there.

Even though I already knew 80% of the subject matter, I studied real hard. There is more stuff in the other book worth knowing though (not for the test). But personally, fluff puts me to sleep. Just keep it brief and to the point and pertinent to the test, that's what the books are selling.

If you buy these books, make sure you already have some experience in the field and that you really study these books like a text book.

GREAT BOOK!.......2007-01-25

I PASSED WITH ONLY THIS BOOK!, THE A+ SERIES FROM MIKE MEYER'S ARE THE BEST!

Good book, but too many errors.......2006-09-23

I just passed my A+ tests; both in the 700 range, so I have to give Mike Meyers kudos for a really good book. The reason I gave this book 3 stars though is because there were too many errors in it. Words used that shouldn't have been used, sentences that made no sense, figures that were misnumbered, etc. I also used the 1100 A+ questions and those were also screwed up. One question said that ME can use NTFS. I emailed Mike Meyers about the book and he blamed the publisher for all the mistakes in the book. I've heard that other authors and publishers are just as bad so I guess we don't have much of a choice here. I did pass the tests so
even with all the mistakes, I am getting his Network+ book since it was rated so high. There really is no excuse for all the mistakes in books like these. In chapter 17 you will see "An NIC" instead of "A NIC" over and over again. That is just one out of many mistakes. I don't know how that could be the publisher's fault but I'll give Mike Meyers the benefit of the doubt.

Technician's Guide to Electronic Communications

Average customer rating:

Technician's Guide to Electronic Communications
Frederick L. Gould
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

The recent boom in the electronics communications market has technicians as well as engineers rushing to bolster their communications knowledge. Many books have been written for engineers, but this book clearly explains electronics communications theory and circuit operations in a language technicians can understand. Here, veteran electronics technician Frederick L. Gould explains such traditional and rapidly developing fields as communications systems; antennas, satellite and personal communications systems; as well as safety, test equipment and maintenance practices; spin-offs from military applications, and future trends. Free of jargon and complicated mathematics, and perfect for self-study as well as in vocational classes, this is the definitive, practical technicians' guide to a constantly evolving field.

A+ Adaptive Exams (Testtaker's Guide Series)

Average customer rating:

I think it's out dated!
Book a Bit Dated
I passed new A+ tests with this book.
Good overview
Awesome Source for a Ridiculously Easy Exam

A+ Adaptive Exams (Testtaker's Guide Series)
Christopher A. Crayton
Manufacturer: Charles River Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Sixth Edition (A+ Certification All in One Exam)
The A+ Exams Guide: (Exam 220-301), (Exam 220-302) (Testtaker's Guide Series)
The A+ Certification & PC Repair Handbook (Networking Series)
A+ Certification Training Guide, Fourth Edition (Exams 220-221, 220-222)
A+ Certification Practice Questions Exam Cram 2 (Exams: 220-301, 220-302) (Exam Cram 2)

ASIN: 1584500654

Book Description

As part of the TestTaker's Guide Series, this book and CD-ROM outline the current CompTIA concepts and objectives needed to "ace" the A+ adaptive certification exams and provide additional practice exam question/answer sets for reinforcement. Just as successful students often score poorly on SATs, many highly experienced administrators fail the A+ certification exams because they understand the content but not the test structure. To address this issue, the book also provides tips and insights into how the adaptive tests are crafted, so that test takers will be prepared to "think" like the test. Written by a Network Administrator and award-winning Certified A+ Instructor, the book draws upon exhaustive subject expertise and teaching experience to provide everything you need to know to pass the exams.

Customer Reviews:

I think it's out dated!.......2006-12-23

It's will teach things about msdos... I don't think you will get msdos questions in A+. Watch out about it!

Book a Bit Dated.......2006-11-04

I would say overall, the book material is about average.

It appears to me that the ver. I received was written for the 2001 A+ exam; not the current 2003 exam. The hardware section is very dated but still applicable to the 2003 exam. The OS section doesn't even cover WIN XP. It has a large section on DOS and WIN 95 both of which have very few questions on the 2003 exam. On the other hand, the WIN 9.X, WIN NT, and WIN 2000 sections are very comprehensive; especially the WIN NT section.

The CD test material I would rate below average. Not many questions and those given are to easy to answer.

As anyone who has studied and sat for the A+ recommends, you need multiple study and practice test materials and sources to pass the exam.

I passed new A+ tests with this book........2003-12-07

I bought this book for fifteen bucks. Used it as my only guide and passed both of the new A+ test. I rate this book 10 big stars....

Good overview.......2003-11-19

I just passed my A+, I used Adaptive Exams and Exam Crams 2. Adaptive Exams seemed to be more straight forward and didn't give bad examples that were hard to understand. The only thing when using Adaptive Exams, is you do need to have a basic understanding of computers.

If you have a general background and want a book that's short and to the point, this is the book for you.

Awesome Source for a Ridiculously Easy Exam.......2003-09-16

This book is the perfect study source for someone with experience. I personally have over 5 years of I.T. experience, so I read this book in a week and passed both exams in less than 20 minutes. I think it's good that CompTIA is going back to the linear format because 30 questions (20 if your getting all the answers right) is just not enough to properly gauge a candidate's overall knowledge. I'm not complaining, I'm just stating a fact that there might be a lot of A+ certified techs out there that really don't know squat about PC's. But hey, I passed and now I'm A+ certified as a result. Now I can make $8.00 per hour at CompUSA or Best Buy! Willie - CCNA, Network+, A+

Communication Electronics for Technicians

Average customer rating:

Communication Electronics for Technicians
Joseph J. Carr
Manufacturer: Delmar Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Applied | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

jp-unknown1 | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 0790611562

Average customer rating:

Works just as well for N10-002. Great Reference.
Just passed today using this book along with others.
Good book. Just add......
Update to my previous review
Warning to those thinking this book is enough for Network+

Network+ Exam Prep
Melissa Craft , Mark A. Poplar , Will Willis , and David Watts
Manufacturer: Coriolis Group Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Certification Central | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1576104125

Book Description

Covers a wide range of vendor-neutral networking technologies and skills such as configuring, installing, troubleshooting and maintaining network interface cards, hubs, routers, switches, servers, RAID technologies and clustering technologies. Focuses on necessary management skills including managing a support/help desk center, supporting end users, and working in conjunction with management and other technicians. Discusses developing a documentation system and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

Customer Reviews:

Works just as well for N10-002. Great Reference........2003-02-13

While this book was written for the first edition of the Network+ exam (N10-001), it works just as well for the new edition of the Exam (N10-002). CompTIA has not updated the test very much. Use this book along with the CompTIA objective page and a good Test Sim (PrepLogic, Exam Essentials, Self Test, etc.) and you should pass without a problem. The Cramsession sheet for the Network+ (also available from Amazon[.com]) makes a nice complement to this book. I used this book for my main reference, along with the Cramsession PDF file, and a couple of test sims to drill and I just completed the test with a 780 out of 900 (roughly 86.7%). Good luck on the exam.

Just passed today using this book along with others........2002-01-28

I used this book for the exam preparation, but I supplemented my studies with the Network+ Exam Cram and the Network+ Exam Cram Practice tests. I also bought a couple of CD's with over 1000 practice test questions total.

This book was very informative and covered a lot of the material on the test. It gives the reader an excellent foundation on general networking knowledge. However, it is impossible for one book to cover every question that you'll encounter on the exam.

The reality check is, you need to take as many practice exams as you can before you take the actual exam. A lot of the questions that I encountered on my practice CD's were not covered by this book.

All in all, this is an excellent book for preparing for the exam. Buy this book, but don't use it as your sole source of information. Supplement your studies with as many practice questions as you can. If you can answer about 700+ different questions, you should be all right when you take the real exam. Good Luck!

Good book. Just add.............2002-01-24

The book does an excellent job at preparing you for the exam but The practice exam questions on the other hand are nothing like the actual exam. I would recommend purchasing practice tests from Transcender to go along with it. With both study aids you should'nt have a problem passing. Gook luck!

Update to my previous review.......2001-10-25

To the author's credit, the tables on subnetting are correct. However, the method they give you for subnetting (thus determining those tables on your own) does not give you the right numbers. My rating still stands since their explanation was wrong and I still had to spend hours on the internet to determine the correct method.

Warning to those thinking this book is enough for Network+.......2001-10-25

First off, one rule when it comes to certifications. Never just consult one source, something is bound to be missing. Second, be wary when consulting reviews on this site. Some of the so called TOP Reviewers must be getting some kind of pay or compensation from publishers. I won't name names, but how can you trust them when practically everything they review gets five stars and many others have mentioned errors that they've missed. Warning, if the review reads like an annotated table of contents to the book itself, disregard it. My rule of thumb is to look at every review of a book that has a 3 star rating or below first. While some of these reviewers probably wouldn't be satisfied with anything, some mention points and errors that the happy-go-lucky reviewers are too busy raving to notice.

Now to the book. Let me just say, I think many things in this book are well done (particularly, the exercises). However, many more are not. I bought this book after consulting the reviews from this site and was satisfied at first. However, that quickly vanished. As a disclaimer, I have only read through Chapter 9 (out of 16) so far, however, I think it says something that I've found so many inconsistencies and errors by this point that I'm considering cutting my losses by ditching it and going with another source.

Examples of things wrong with this book:

1. Do not rely on the material for subnetting. If you're using this book and want to learn subnetting, then visit www.LearnToSubnet.com. This book makes a few glaring errors in the techniques for subnetting. Most appalling, the tables which it provides as a quick reference for subnetting are totally wrong. If you rely on these, you will be wasting IP addresses. 4 subnets (not 2) can be had from 2 borrowed bits, for example.

2. Poor editing. The time is not taken to explain some of the concepts or clarify. This book was obviously only reviewed and edited by people who had a lot of experience and did not notice the gaps that could be crucial to a novice. Example: The book first tells you that a MAC address is 12 digits. One chapter later, it tells you a MAC address is 6 octets. I had to skip ahead halfway through the book to find out what an octet is. Once you've found that out, it doesn't even bother elaborating that the MAC address is actually a 12 digit HEXADECIMAL number. This is just the type of thing you'll have to get used to.

3. No explanation in some cases. Example: The chapter on the Data Link Layer tells you that flow control, error control, and sequencing takes place here. The chapter on the Transport layer says it is responsible for the same things (in addition to others). Well, which is it? If it's both, what's the difference between the two? I shouldn't have to consult other sources after reading a 600+ page, $40+ dollar book.

4. Poor handling of errors. The Coriolis website has an errata database. Problem is, they don't give any way for a visitor to the site to submit errata. They have about 4 entries when I have found at least 2 dozen errors or misclarifications between the book and CD questions. I emailed Mrs. Craft, the main author, for clarification on the Bridges section. To her credit, she responded the next day while working on the road. I was impressed. However, she didn't answer completely the specific question I asked. When I nicely stated that and sent a follow up email, she did not respond. The next time I encountered a serious error I thought I would try the second author. He did not even respond after several days. I understand that it is the publisher's responsibility to keep the errata database up-to-date but the authors owe us the right information the first time (especially when you're spending significant money on an important exam and career direction) and support if they don't do it the first time. I'll never buy a book by Craft or Poplar again.

5. Writing lacks in areas, especially for novices. I have probably 1/100th the networking knowledge the authors do, yet I could do a much better job of explaining some of the concepts than they do. Sometimes, I have to read a section many times over to figure out what they're trying to say. Sometimes, I have to read the entire chapter over again. That can be expected with many subjects. However, sometimes I have to skip ahead several chapters to the next mention of a subject to figure out what they're talking about in my current chapter. Worse, yet, in order to gain competence with some of the ideas I've had to waste hours researching the same info on the web. I have over 13 years of experience working with computers from the Apple II+ to MS Dos 5.0 to Windows 3.1 to Windows 9x to Windows 2000. I also have a working knowledge of Java, C, COBOL, Visual Basic, Pascal, and HTML not to mention a BS in MIS. While my background is not directly related to networking, I would not have been able to clarify sections of the book for myself without some of this knowledge. If I have this many problems clarifying their writing with my experience, imagine how much trouble a novice will have.

In summary, while this book does have some good info, you will not want to pick it up if you are a novice or you are looking for hassle free study. Sometimes, making sure that you've got accurate information is more intense than studying the book. Do yourself a favor, and check out other options.

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