Analyzing Requirements and Defining Solutions Architecture: MCSD Training Kit (exam 70-100)

Rating:
Summary: Buyer Beware!
Review: This is (contrary to popular opinion) a very interesting book about system development methodology -- well thought out and clear. However, the subject matter has almost nothing at all in common with the 70-100 exam. This book addresses high level methodology, but the exam covers lower level technologies such as data and process modeling, and "extracting" simple requirements from complex prose. The title of this book is exceedingly misleading. Buyer beware!

Rating:
Summary: nothing about 70-100
Review: This is a great book including very interesting information and a well explained case study, but if you want to pass EXAM 70-100 then go and buy yourself another book. Over 700 pages without any usefull information for the exam. Be sure exam is not about application design, it is about relational database design, and the best book I've ever read about this is the one from Rebecca Riordan, again from MS Press.. If you want to pass the exam go and buy yourself a copy of Designing Relational Databases by Riordan.. This training kit won't help you!

Rating:
Summary: pretty good, but not for 70-100
Review: This is a pretty good book for self-study the MSF (Microsoft Solution Framework). So if you want to learn much about software project management - read it. But do not expect to get prepared for the 70-100 exam. It nearly has nothing to do with it.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book - but don't rely on it for the test
Review: This is an excellent book for many reasons. It is well thought out and provides rich content. The ongoing case scenario is a great tool to contextualize the material presented. The information is volumous and the CD allows for quick access to the entire book. The book defines a track and stays on track. This is good book to read through and then put on the shelf for reference. You will be picking it up often, even if you are an experienced solutions designer. The book has one negative feature. It offers little for taking the actual exam. You can download a demo of the exam from Microsoft's web site to get a feel for the questions. In reality, no book is going to teach you how to prepare for the exam. Honing your mind to analyze, see differences and similarities, and define relationships is essential. Experience and hard work, practicing these concepts, are required for the exam. My list of additional reference books has included "Instant UML" (gets you thinking in a good way), "Applying Use Cases" (helps to specify user and system requirements), and "Handbook of Relational Database Design" (Relational is the key word here). If you think you are ready but not quite sure, try the Transcender Solution Cert 3.0. This will bring everything together and will likely humble you at the same time. But it's a long test, I doubt you want to sit through it more than once.

Rating:
Summary: Better off using the Transcender
Review: Though this book is full of interesting information about application design, it will not help much in prepreation of the 70-100 exam. The transcender exam for this test will not only get you ready, but will also provide locations of the information required to answer all the questions you will face. Be warned, this exam is nothing like any other MCP exam you have ever taken before!

Rating:
Summary: Save Your Money
Review: Very interesting reading, but nothing to do with the exam. Spend your money on the Transcender.

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Summary: Excellent review of development process
Review: While the books is voluminous, it is informative, easy and delightful reading. The only area not covered adequately for the 70-100 exam is Database Design.

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't prepare you for the test
Review: While this is a good book, it fails dramatically in its stated purpose - 'Training Kit'. This book will not help you pass the test.