Not really recent, it was updated early last summer. At www.comptia.org, in the exam objectives section of Network+, you can download a PDF showing the exact differences between the previous and current exam objectives.
If you have studied A+, you should already have covered about 60% of the Net+ material. A+ is good foundation for Net+, but not necessary, of course. But , the Network+ exam is much more oriented toward the real-life type of scenario in its questions--troubleshooting.
I took it after A+. The only exam guide that I used was the The All-In-One Network+ Exam GUide by, Michael Myers.
I felt that it was on the same level of difficulty as A+--only different in approach.
I took my A+ like two years ago and I had to study a lot more than for any other certs I have. Always the first test is the hardest. Plus I think A+ covers a lot more information and materials to read than Network+
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I took it after A+. The only exam guide that I used was the The All-In-One Network+ Exam GUide by, Michael Myers.
I felt that it was on the same level of difficulty as A+--only different in approach.