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Pardon if this sounds snotty, but I’m going to give myself a brief pat on the back for passing my first test (70-294) towards the MCSE (pat-pat). Ok, self-flattery is over. I really wrote this post so I could make a quick recommendation – and then talk about something that is the opposite of a recommendation – when it comes to study materials I used.

This little gem was my primary study tool. I’d say it did a fairly decent job of laying out the critical information, as well as highlighting specific “this will be on the test” items. There was also two great practice tests at the end of the book with questions that looked quite similar to those on the real exam. My only real criticism is that weren’t enough practical examples to really drive home some of the key concepts that I struggled with, but then again, my elevator doesn’t quite go to the top, so take that for what it’s worth.

Now here’s the real real reason I wrote this post. I beg of you to not, for any reason, use the study guide or lecture CD from PrepLogic (I’m not even providing a link to their Web site, but look at the picture above with the weird mannequin wearing headphones, and stay away from anything that looks like it!). I don’t know how to articulate my distaste for what is essentially high-priced toilet paper. In fact, if it weren’t so logistically challenging, I would use the study guide and CD to wipe Cam’s tush if it would make you listen to me.

I should try to be a little bit fair. The PrepLogic study guide at least kind of gives you a framework for what is on the exam, but it just glosses over everything and never gives you enough detail on anything! The lecture CD series is the real lemon when it comes to this. It should be advertised as:

“A great study tool for people who want to hear a narrator talk about technical concepts at a high level, but do not want to learn enough to understand the material, and certainly don’t want to pass the exam!”

Where other books might dedicate a chapter to talking about tools related to manipulating elements of Active Directory, the lecture CD sums up like so: “It’s important to know how to do stuff in Active Directory.” Ok, slight exaggeration, but I think you get my point. Oh, you haven’t? Ok, well if I had the choice between dying by hanging or getting beat to death with PrepLogic study materials, I’d start tying the noose right then and there…just so I wouldn’t have to see that scary mannequin wearing headphones anymore.

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 8th, 2008 at 3:14 am and is filed under Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.