Windows 7 Desktop Support and Administration: Real World Skills for MCITP Certification and Beyond

I purchased this volume based on reviews stating it was a quality book. Additionally I had used Gibsons Security+ guide so I was familiar with his presentation style (excellent) as well as knowledge (excellent in the other book) and used it to pass Security+ with a stellar score. After failing the 70-685 exam yesterday I have to wonder why this book is getting great reviews. I will allow that I didn't devote as much study time to the book as I probably should have. However, I'm figuring that the people who've read it haven't actually used it as a test taking tool.While the information presented is both useful and informative, a lot of it apparently isn't addressed on the test. For example the book touches on group policy here and there as it applies to the curriculum that is being covered, yet when presented with group policy questions on the test (which from my rough estimate was 40-50% of the questions I experienced) I felt completely lost. As I was taking the test I could tell this was a fruitless endeavor and felt like I was stuck afloat in a merciless sea.The problems I see with the material:-The test covers group policy settings in depth in some places yet the book glosses over them as if you need only know overall group policy theory rather than specific details.-The book doesn't highlight the importance of the troubleshooting of applications and/or networking the Microsoft way.What this book is good for:-Mobile with Windows 7The additional materials are for the most part useless. The Sybex software practice test threw me a 78% score when I went through it (50 questions, like the exam), yet I scored a 589 at the test. The Flash cards are useful for remember the names of things that you have to know, however I only found this useful for 5 or less questions on the test. This really throws you a false sense of preparedness for this test.I plan to go through this again and contrast it to an MS Press book to see what was wrong. If it turns out to be me I will update the review appropriately.

I'm not completely done reading the book yet but have already learned a lot from it. I find DG's style and presentation to be excellent in that he keeps the reader interested and, as the subtitle suggests, presents the tasks and exercises as real world skills.I've read the other reviews (good and bad) and tend to agree with some points in all of them. Most of the bad points to this book that were noted were that this book doesn't prepare the reader for the test "by itself" and this is true of any book. I'm not planning to use only this book but also the MS Press book and the Professor Messor videos and several other videos I've heard good things about that are free on youtube. Microsoft Technet articles are also a very good source of information and I plan on using them.I especially like that the exercises presented are well thought out and thorough. It is highly recommended that anyone planning to take either or both of these tests do these exercises (at least those that they have equipment capable of performing) and understand all the proper commands and switches.I'd also like to add that anyone planning to take these tests should make themselves familiar with Server 2008 and Server 2008 R2 and using these server systems in conjunction with Windows 7. Even if it's only in a virtual environment which a lot of us are limited to.In closing I've found this book to be an excellent study resource.

I bought this book based upon my great experience with Darril's Security+ book.This book was written in the same easy to read fashion that allows you to fully understand the material.Only things I found missing were end of chapter exams.I liked that the cd contains a complete copy of the book on PDF. Flash cards were adequate.Now the big negative!This book did not prepare me for my 70-686 exam. I only passed the 686 exam because I read the Don Poulton 70-680 book and did lots of exams from Don and Preplogic, plus lots of labs at home and on Microsoft's technet (they have virtual labs you can use for free.This book would be great for the 70-680 as it covers just enough material for the 70-680, but does not cover the material needed for the 70-686 exam (i have take and passed both).read this for 680 not 686.

While I feel the organization of the book is somewhat odd, the information is indispensable and it's much easier to digest than official Microsoft material on the same subjects. It's improved my desktop support and administration knowledge and abilities significantly and showed several methods Microsoft wouldn't cover in official books and training. As any IT Professional will tell you the "official" answer isn't always the right one. This book helps come up with more right real world solutions, not test specific answers. This is need to know beyond the exams.

I enjoyed this book, and I used it as a secondary study guide for my MCITP certification. It approached the test in a new way, with a more real-world approach, which allowed me to further my studies in a unique way. My suggestion to anyone who is interested in becoming an MCITP is to get several books. I started with some Microsoft Self-Paced books, and then a set with labs and a lab manual, and finally, I read this one. Like I said, it was a nice addition to my studies and offered a fresh perspective.Since no book can completely cover everything that's on an exam, consider several. This is one worth considering.

First of all, I want to say a big THANK YOU to Mr. Darril Gibson for his great innovation in producing easy-to-understand, plain language and factual Information Technology Books in this age of ours. This book helped me pass both 70-685 & 70-686 exams. For 70-685, this book is all you need. For 70-686, use this book and MS Press book on 70-686. The MS Press covers Virtual technologies in depth. Also, I suggest you do follow the exam objectives at the back of the book to get a clear guide to both exams. Good Luck to you all in your exams!

This book is a huge let down for anyone thinking of learning the new features available in Windows 7 and/or thinking of taking the MCITP exams. This book is completely vague and does not give you enough detail (if any) regarding exam objectives or Windows 7 features to learn anything relevant. I believe the 577 pages to explain content on Exams 70-685/686 is far too short. After reading through the contents of this book I was left to wonder just how much the author at the time of writing this book actually knew about Windows 7. I felt that the book covered more on the CompTIA Network+ than it did regarding Windows 7. The substance inside this book in relation to Windows 7 could have been published on a post card as opposed to 577 pages. To get my monies worth I've tried using the book as a door stop but it useless at that too as the door keeps closing. To summarise this book is terrible and there are much more educational books on Windows 7 on Amazon out there.

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great book for exams and the the dvd at the back of the book helps you with exam preperation well if it helped me pass then anybody can pass

This book was in excellent condition and the cd too which was full of flash cards and other stuff so it was not scratched etc.Thank you very much indeed.

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