Rating: 
Summary: A Waste of Time
Review: 660 pages, 10 case studies, 14 chapters, 14 chapter tests, 25 questions on the "practice" exam. Absolutely NO reference to taking the 70-100 exam. Let me repeat NOT ONE QUESTION from this book is relevant to taking the exam.I have programmed in VB since VB1 for Dos - VB 6, 10 years. Decided to get the MCSD certification for easier job hunting and to help my skills. My thinking it is a Microsoft Press book, it is a Microsoft exam. Sounds good right! WRONG. HTH
Rating:
Summary: A Waste of Time
Review: 660 pages, 10 case studies, 14 chapters, 14 chapter tests, 25 questions on the "practice" exam. Absolutely NO reference to taking the 70-100 exam. Let me repeat NOT ONE QUESTION from this book is relevant to taking the exam. I have programmed in VB since VB1 for Dos - VB 6, 10 years. Decided to get the MCSD certification for easier job hunting and to help my skills. My thinking it is a Microsoft Press book, it is a Microsoft exam. Sounds good right! WRONG. HTH
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely nothing about 70-100
Review: 70-100 is one of the hardest exams for MCSD certification. You really need a lot of experience for this exam.
This book is a very nice for organizing or restructuring your company or team to use MSF, but DO NOT waste your time preparing yourself for the exam. Find something else. The exam does not contain anything about MSF and it's models. It just tests your knowledge of the real world problem. How would you do this, What would you suggest, etc. This book does not contain this sort of information. Either you gain a lot of experience or some experience + some other book. So why three stars. Well it helped me realise how the big companies prepare for the software development and the methods they use. It is also a very good reference.
Rating: 
Summary: Good MSF primer, but not for 70-100
Review: As a newly anointed member of the ranks of the unemployed, I decided to spend some time and add a few certifications to my resume, and FAST. The first one was, of course, the MCSD certification (I am a software engineer with over 8 years of professional development with Microsoft products). As a result, I have purchased almost every certification book in existence towards this goal. This was one of preparation books that I purchased. Using this book (and several other study resources), I failed the 70-100, but just barely (by one question). The architecture exam is one of the most unique exams you will ever take, and the information in the book doesn't match up well with the content of the exam itself. Although it does provide some good background on the MSF philosophy, it simply will not entirely prepare you for the exam. This book is aimed at teaching MSF and not reviewing for the exam . This book is huge, and it seems that the bulk of the book is taken up by dialog. Yes, dialog. The authors succeed in a creating a unique mechanism to present the information (they call it scenario-based case studies). The author presents an imaginary company, introduces several characters, and then follows the process of designing requirements through to implementation. Along the way the MSF and other topics are covered, but in many parts of this book it reads like a poorly written fictional novel. While I have to give the author extra points for creativity in trying to breath life into a dry and dull subject, I found that this book is a poor resource for preparing for the 70-100 in more general terms. This book will give you a high level understanding of the Microsoft Solutions Framework and give you an idea on how to implement it in your work. Unfortunately, relatively few people will have the autonomy and authority to ever implement a project with a scope like the fictional projects described in this book. On the plus side, there is a lot of useful and excellent material hiding in this book. Regardless of which book(s) you do purchase, I would recommend downloading the sample exams from the Microsoft website.
Rating:
Summary: Good MSF primer, but not for 70-100
Review: As a newly anointed member of the ranks of the unemployed, I decided to spend some time and add a few certifications to my resume, and FAST. The first one was, of course, the MCSD certification (I am a software engineer with over 8 years of professional development with Microsoft products). As a result, I have purchased almost every certification book in existence towards this goal. This was one of preparation books that I purchased. Using this book (and several other study resources), I failed the 70-100, but just barely (by one question). The architecture exam is one of the most unique exams you will ever take, and the information in the book doesn't match up well with the content of the exam itself. Although it does provide some good background on the MSF philosophy, it simply will not entirely prepare you for the exam. This book is aimed at teaching MSF and not reviewing for the exam . This book is huge, and it seems that the bulk of the book is taken up by dialog. Yes, dialog. The authors succeed in a creating a unique mechanism to present the information (they call it scenario-based case studies). The author presents an imaginary company, introduces several characters, and then follows the process of designing requirements through to implementation. Along the way the MSF and other topics are covered, but in many parts of this book it reads like a poorly written fictional novel. While I have to give the author extra points for creativity in trying to breath life into a dry and dull subject, I found that this book is a poor resource for preparing for the 70-100 in more general terms. This book will give you a high level understanding of the Microsoft Solutions Framework and give you an idea on how to implement it in your work. Unfortunately, relatively few people will have the autonomy and authority to ever implement a project with a scope like the fictional projects described in this book. On the plus side, there is a lot of useful and excellent material hiding in this book. Regardless of which book(s) you do purchase, I would recommend downloading the sample exams from the Microsoft website.
Rating:
Summary: USELESS - ZERO STARS
Review: As an MCSD, MCP+SB and industry professional, I recommend you steer clear on the useless book. It completely misses 70-100: it did not help me at all. It is an OK book for software cycles, project management, etc. Save your money and frustration and buy another book for 70-100.
Rating:
Summary: Review warnings were right on target
Review: Before buying this book I did read the customer reviews, many of which warned that this book was not worthwhile as preparation for Exam 70-100. I was skeptical of the reviews. After all, the book is so big and so official and described by Microsoft as a Training Kit for Exam 70-100. Now that I have taken (and passed) the exam, I realize that I should have listened to the other customer reviewers and not to Microsoft. Although reading this book will do you no harm, it is essentially worthless as preparation for Exam 70-100. The central focus of the book is the Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF). The exam did not have a single question about MSF. The practice exam on the CD which came with the book is a joke - only 25 questions and none of them in the case study format which dominates Exam 70-100. I would recommend the Transcender practice exams - they are very much like the real test. My last tip is brush up on database design. That's what Exam 70-100 is mostly about.
Rating:
Summary: Crazy 'case study'
Review: can't believe so many people think the case study in this book is a good read. Load of useless crap. Who wants to read about what Dan says to Marta, and that Bill likes to go fishing. If I want to read stories, I'll go buy a Harry Potter book.
Rating:
Summary: Very different from Microsoft Exam
Review: Do not expect that it will help you to pass the Microsoft Exam 70-100. Although, book is good with its content but too much theory, while exam covers the practicle aspects. Also actual exams contains special module questions which cannot be prepared through the book. Pete
www.ucertify.com
Rating:
Summary: Interesting read, but not relevant to exam
Review: Except for chapters 7-9 nothing else in this book relates to the actual exam. If you want a fairly entertaining read about Microsoft Solution Foundation, this is an ok book. If you want to pass the 70-100 exam look elsewhere. The New Riders and Sybex books for this exam are much better preparation tools. The other reviewers comments about the Transcender practice exams are right on track. They are exactly the format of the real exam. Their explanations help point you to areas where you may need additional study time.
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