russdev Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 Well had the good news work have agreed to pay for MCSA (A+,N+) elective. Going to be self study so if anyone else about to start it etc so we can try and keep us all going (as certainly I know i am going to need it). Then if post in this thread not sure how to make this all work in practice so open to ideas on that front.
somabc Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 Congrats, but if they are paying then why not go away on a course, it would be faster? Sorry anyway back to the topic, what books are you going to buy for Self Study? The MS Press books? Amazon.co.uk: MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exams 70-290, 70-291, 70-293, 70-294): Microsoft® Windows Server™ 2003 Core Requirements, Second Edition: Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Core Requirements: Thomas, Mackin, McLean, Zacker, Spealman,
speckytecky Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 I tried an online MCSA with a UK based company a couple of years ago. The support was almost non existent and even though I'd distance learnt with the OU before this course failed to prepare me for the rigor of MS exams. On the other hand I recently attended a 2273B course with QA-IQ - Transforming performance through learning - QA-IQ The 5 day course was just the business and well worth the money the school paid for me to attend.
russdev Posted October 10, 2008 Author Posted October 10, 2008 I haven't got the time to do a course due to family commitments etc (easy for me to work in evening and two days a term I get off for CPD) and for me self study is better (and cheaper) way in the long run. Plan was to do these books : - Amazon.co.uk: MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-290): Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft® Windows Server 2003 Environment, Second Edition: Managing ... a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment: Dan Holme and Orin Thomas: Book Amazon.co.uk: MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-291): Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft® Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure, ... Infrastructure, Sec (Pro Certification): J.C. Mackin and Ian McLean: Books Amazon.co.uk: MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-270): Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional, Second Edition: ... Professional (Pro-Certification (Hardcover)): Walter Glenn and Tony Northrup: Amazon.co.uk: Network+ Study Guide: Exam N10-003: David Groth, Toby Skandier: Books Amazon.co.uk: CompTIA Network+ All-in-One Exam Guide, Fourth Edition (All-in-One): Michael Meyers: Books Amazon.co.uk: A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Sixth Edition (All-In-One): Mike Meyers: Books But I suspect I will replace ms text books with these types. Amazon.co.uk: MCSA/MCSE Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment (Exam 70-290): Study Guide & DVD Training System: Study Guide and DVD Training System: Syngress: Books Russ
sparkeh Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 Cool, glad you got it sorted Russ. As you know I just started mine. Had my material delivered last weekend and couldn't believe how much there is!
plexer Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 I'm doing a combination of cbt and books allthough I've yet to buy the books. Doing the cbt through mindleaders.com £130 for access to a complete range of ms course not just the mcsa requirements but a lot more. Ben
russdev Posted October 10, 2008 Author Posted October 10, 2008 I'm doing a combination of cbt and books allthough I've yet to buy the books. Doing the cbt through mindleaders.com £130 for access to a complete range of ms course not just the mcsa requirements but a lot more. Ben Shame didnt see that before hand as looks very interesting know if they had monthly sub like Safari books might of spent my own money on it.. Russ
strawberry Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 i used cbt nuggets and sybex books , books are great for digesting information while videos are convenient. I like to think of it as depth and breadth, books have depth, videos have breadth.
Joanne Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 I'm currently reading the MS Vista book... it's very dull and boring and I'm finding it hard to become motivated... I have set myself a target to pass at least 2 exams by december!! Eap! I'm going for MCSE though...
jamin100 Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 i've had these (link) and this (link) for about 3 months and havn't got motivated to even open them yet.... So if you lot start then so will I !!! Ben
russdev Posted October 10, 2008 Author Posted October 10, 2008 I am told Microsoft press books are very dry at times. Well as they say more the merry might keep us all going. At some point will post the links I have got with various free videos and practice tests (not brain dumps) etc
BaccyNet Posted October 11, 2008 Posted October 11, 2008 I'm currently studying towards MCSE (currently one off MCSA) MS books can be quite broad and a few that I've used have focussed too much on stuff that wasnt in the exams. I've been doing mine through a training provider (paid for by me, school hasnt paid a penny towards it!) who host workshops at their centre but also have regular online discussions + email etc. I'll post up a list of the books I've used so far if anyones interested. The exam I'm doing now (70-291) is a bit of a mare though so you may want to get more than just a book for that one:)
russdev Posted October 11, 2008 Author Posted October 11, 2008 Ordered the books Friday and they turned up this morning (wasn't expecting them till middle of next week. According to book working from should take me about 49 hours to do the A+. So have a schedule (got to do this otherwise will end up not starting) that means should be ready for a+ by ending 26/01/2009 that is based on doing a minimum sure can add hours into the schedule. Russell
Kyle Posted October 11, 2008 Posted October 11, 2008 I have the MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit books,Amazon.co.uk: MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exams 70-290, 70-291, 70-293, 70-294): Microsoft® Windows Server 2003 Core Requirements, Second Edition: Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Core Requirements: Thomas, Mackin, McLean, Zacker, Spealman, £90 on Amazon These are brand new and have never been used, I am willing to sell them for less than half this if anyone is interested. I had these brought for me but never once looked at them.
joe90bass Posted October 11, 2008 Posted October 11, 2008 Was hoping to join in on this peer support group. but I'm starting on the 2008 track not 2003 I've had the MS study pack for a while now and started it (even bought a server to play around with!) but haven't got very far. I'm hoping the 5 day course in November will spur me on with this!
russdev Posted October 11, 2008 Author Posted October 11, 2008 Was hoping to join in on this peer support group. but I'm starting on the 2008 track not 2003 I've had the MS study pack for a while now and started it (even bought a server to play around with!) but haven't got very far. I'm hoping the 5 day course in November will spur me on with this! Feel free as we are all at different points on different tracks main thing is to spur each other along I will make a point of posting questions each week along lines of "what did you learn?" generic questions that keep us moving... Russ
Kitkatninja Posted October 12, 2008 Posted October 12, 2008 You may also want to check out practice exams from Preplogic, Transcender and/or Boson. I've used Measure-Up practice exams (the ones that come with MS Press books) and didn't get on with them. -Ken
russdev Posted October 12, 2008 Author Posted October 12, 2008 Also check out Cert mag as well load of good resources about certs in general. Also have a help column (Certification Magazine - Dear Techie) by some guy supposedly knows what he going on about Certification Magazine Russ
sparkeh Posted October 12, 2008 Posted October 12, 2008 According to book working from should take me about 49 hours to do the A+. So have a schedule (got to do this otherwise will end up not starting) that means should be ready for a+ by ending 26/01/2009 that is based on doing a minimum sure can add hours into the schedule. My material advises me to complete both the A+ one and A+ two courses both doing either exam.
russdev Posted October 12, 2008 Author Posted October 12, 2008 So was calling A+ as in essentials exam and then second exam 601. Not sure might take both exams on same day just to brave Based my timing on book I am using mike myers all in one book. Also Mark something else to think about network+ gets redone next year and old exam will be around until March 09 (i think) so might want to ask TP about if they are going to provide an update to Network+ materials as by time you come to do it this content will be outdated etc. Russ
sparkeh Posted October 12, 2008 Posted October 12, 2008 Also Mark something else to think about network+ gets redone next year and old exam will be around until March 09 (i think) so might want to ask TP about if they are going to provide an update to Network+ materials as by time you come to do it this content will be outdated etc. Cheers for that, I hope to have done those exams by then but worth a check in case. Reading through the A+ material, there is some stuff that needs updating.
russdev Posted October 12, 2008 Author Posted October 12, 2008 Right well lets start of with an easy question for you all... What is your main target and what is your first sub target to achieve and when do you want to achieve it by? So for me as said it is to get MCSA and sub target is to be ready to take my a+ exam by the week ending 26/01/2009. Russ
sparkeh Posted October 12, 2008 Posted October 12, 2008 Target: obtain MSCA by end of 2009 Current sub target: Pass A+ components by end of Jan 09
EduTech Posted October 12, 2008 Posted October 12, 2008 Yup, i have all these in PDF Format somewhere on my hard drive... will dig them out and start again as i aint touched it for months. doing my CCNA at the moment aswell like so.. will be busy but will give me something to do James.
Jiser Posted October 13, 2008 Posted October 13, 2008 Sybex books have been good IMO. I am doing the N+ this december, using as elective for MCSA. Can just upgrade with one exam to the new Microsoft stuff. Any one seen http://www.certforums.co.uk, there pretty good over there if no one has seen it. Got a few of the writers of books who visit regularly.
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