MS Press for 293

I've heard plenty of bad things about this, so I purchased the Syngress book.
My only question is, what was bad about this book? I was curious if the practice tests and lab exercises were of any use. I have a Safari subscription, so it wouldn't cost me any more to go back over those once I finish the Syngress book. If those aren't up to par though, I won't waste my time.
TIA
My only question is, what was bad about this book? I was curious if the practice tests and lab exercises were of any use. I have a Safari subscription, so it wouldn't cost me any more to go back over those once I finish the Syngress book. If those aren't up to par though, I won't waste my time.
TIA
Comments
Bad, we can't say it is bad but the book is just off-focusing in the main topics, such as CA, PKI, and IPSEC. it is unexpectedly short and lack the details. When I take the practice exams from the CD of the book, I cannot even find the answers from the book but Google. I guess now you could imagine...
I am still on the way to 293 because I wasted the time by reading this book. I am reading other book now and hopefully I am ready to take the exam in January or February.
Good luck and Merry Xmas.
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I didn't use the measure up tests with them, so I can't speak much for that part of them other than the program looked like it was written by a 3rd grader...
Exactly, so why would people read it if you wouldn't set any of it up in real life with just this book? Passing the certification is useless then. Passing a test is just passing a test. People should pass them to actually learn and know what to do in real life. Not just to pass some stupid test for the heck of it.
That being said, the 293 book hit the main topics and didn't give much more detail, so I could possibly see if you hadn't used some of the technologies and were trying to pass it just off of the book where you would have trouble. But if you have used the subjects in the book, it's a nice, concise review for the exam. So I agree, people should pass the exam knowing the material, but they shouldn't rely on just a book to know it either.
I do agree with you that the book is probably find for someone who has been working with all the technologies that are listed in the requirements for 1-3 years. Then yes, the book is good. But it's not near the quality that the other MSPress books offer. It's pretty apparent that the consensus is that the 70-293 MSPress book is horrible compared to other books. So the question is, if you are going to be picking up a book, why get the MSPress version when you can be getting a much better book even though the MSPress book would suffice.
Don't take my comments in my last couple of posts as disagreeing with you or knocking you down. Just taking a different approach based on my own observations, opinions, and beliefs.
I used the Syngress as my main guide but still went over the PKI, Clusteirng, and NLB chapters for the MSPress just to ensure I gain any knowledge possible for the exam. I'd suggest to at least reading those chapters if you already have access to it.