Product Description

Ace your preparation for the skills measured by MCTS Exam70-431—and on the job. Work at your own pace through a seriesof lessons and reviews that fully cover each exam objective. Thenreinforce what you’ve learned by applying your knowled

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37259 in Books
• Brand: Microsoft
• Published on: 2006-05-01
• Platform: No Operating System
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 3.62 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 992 pages

Customer Reviews

Good training guide, poor as a reference book
These books have a tough expectation list as people want them to provide all they need to know to get through the associated examination and be a first class refernce book. The five-star rating applies to the former of these requirements as this is the market the book is aimed at. Having sat the examination I can say that all of the questions were answered in the book - and from previous exposure to these books that is not normally the case.

As a reference book it fails, simply because it is not intended as such and more obviously because to cover all the topics adequately it would have to be five times as long. That said, the section on Service Broker is way too vague - the knowledge it imparts will get you through the examination but will leave you floundering in the real world.

Use the book to pass the exam and to introduce you to the new technologies - look elsewhere for more in-depth practical (i.e real world) material.

[...]

It's an IT textbook
This is my first Microsoft Press textbook/training kit for an exam - and this is exactly what is focuses on - getting you through the exam.

It's very dry (and rather boring), and I much preferred reading the Wrox books Beginning SQL Server 2005 Administration, and then Professional SQL Server 2005 Administration (which appear to be comprehensive as well as being more readable).

Still, this book comes with a CD for 180 trial licence for SQL Server 2005 - and a Measure Up CD with exam simulation software.

Great reference
This book covers all of the 70-431 topics in just about as much detail as you need for the exam without over complicating matters. It also comes with 450 questions which is really useful in testing your knowledge. The explanations are in easy to understand english, with the possible exception of HHTP endpoints which could be done with abit more clarity. On the whole an excellent guide for the exam