Microsoft knowledge vs Cisco knowledge

Mishra

So I was thinking back when dtlokee when and took the new CCNA just for the fun of it and missed like 1 question. He didn't study for it at all and nothing was new to him.

What do you think this says for either the MS tests or maybe just Microsoft products in general. It doesn't seem that most people in this forum just could walk in and pass the 291 after they haven't taken it in 2 years and get a 978 on it.

Does this mean that it is harder to retain MS product knowledge since these products are so vast? Does a MS guy need to be a lot more well rounded thus he can't get that kind of solid knowledge like a Cisco person can?

It just seems that someone who is deep into Microsoft doesn't have the kind of solid knowledge that a Cisco person might have. I know if I open a MS log file I can't tell you everything that log file is talking about but a Cisco CCIE will be able to explain his logs in detail.

Tell me what you think.

sprkymrk

So is it harder to be a dentist, scientist, general practitioner or surgeon? Which requires more knowledge?

Is a college math professor smarter than a NASA engineer?

Who is the better Law Enforcement specialist, New York SWAT team member or Miami Vice?

Who is the better fighter, karate black belt or experienced boxer?

Individual, individual, individual.....

sthomas

I think the person you mentioned has a lot of experience with Cisco and has higher Cisco certifications they have obtained. I recently went in and took the the MCITP: Enterprise Support Tech exam just for fun with no study and passed with no problem. But I work with Microsoft stuff day in day out and have been doing Desktop support for years. I also just finished my MCSE a few months ago. It is all about experience, if you have the experience then the exams will be easier.

dtlokee

I think it coes down to what you work with all the time, I teach Cisco 4 days a week so it will really keep your skills sharp. I found the same to be true when I was delivering Microsoft training, but just last week I was drawing a complete blank creating a SQL 2000 stored proc, just couldn't remember the command syntax. There is also something to be said for being good at taking exams. Sometimes you can read the inflection of the question and know what answer they're leaning towards. (I find this true of the Microsoft exams). I took the Cisco CSE exam which was a joke as long as you answered with the most expensive piece of Cisco gear in the list (provided it is a real product) or the answer that made Cisco look good.

I've yet to conqure the CCIE Lab though so everyone has limits

blargoe

Apples to oranges