Rating: 
Summary: Okay For a Review
Review: This book is okay for a review. Maybe to use as a supplement to another book and some practice exams. But only a brave person would take both exams using this alone.
Rating: 
Summary: Best way to cram, plain and simple.
Review: This book did a great job summing up the exam objectives.As a core resource, I used the A+ Certification Training Kit by Microsoft (ISBN 0-7356-1265-X). It did a great job teaching in-depth core hardware skills, but skimped on the OS sections (Win NT in particular). It only covered basic DOS, Windows 98 and 2000. It completely ommitted Win 95 & Win NT, which are still in CompTIA's exam objectives list. The Exam Cram book made up for that, fully covering WinNT. After getting hold of the material with the MS book, it only took one day to cram, and pass, the exam.
Rating: 
Summary: Other Guides Do A Far Better Job
Review: If you never read one of the other A+ study guides, you probably would never know what you are missing. This book is way too short on explanations and the practice questions would never be enough to get you through the real exam. With that said, there is no good reason to spend any time studying this book. There are too many other great alternative sources that can do all the things that this book cannot. First, start with Mike Meyers' All In One A+ Certification. Then, use the Syngress Osborne A+ Certification Guide Third Edition. I breezed through the two tests with just these books.
Rating:
Summary: If you only buy one, make it this one
Review: No one book contains enough information to "Ace" the A+, the knowledge required for that test is too diverse. You need multiple books plus practical experience to be an A+ expert. But if you get this book and pay attention to every line written within it, you will get your c-card. There is no "fluff" (wasted words) in this book. You need to know everything it says you need to know.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Book For Reviewing, Not Enough Pics, Great VALUE!
Review: I used this book after completely reading and highlighting keyfacts of the A+ All In One Certification Guide by Mike Meyers. This book was a great review, and went over a lot of things that the All In One Guide didn't have (but then again, that had a lot that this didn't have). This book had a great way of making my understand some things I didn't get before, but then at some points I felt like I only understood them because I had all ready read through a different A+ book earlier. Also, the book seemed like it would be much shorter than the A+ All In One Guide (this one is only 462 pages while that is 1216 pages) but it ended up not being much shorter because the print was just smaller and this Exam Cram only had a few pictures while the All In One Guide had thousands of pictures. I would recommend this book to anyone who already has some experience in the things that A+ requires, or has already read another book or taken a class before. This is a great review book, and did the job for me, especially on the Operating Systems exam. Before this book, I got a 68% and a 80% on the two practice Operatins System exams I had taken, but yeseterday I got a 86% on my practice exam, which is a decent improvement. Today, I felt ready and went out and took both the A+ Hardware and A+ Operating System exams and pased them both! So I am very happy with this book, as it did the job! The only major drawbacks is the lack of pictures, the fact that you have to already know a little of what you are reading about, and the decieving look of the book which makes you think it's really short but ends up taking quite a while to read! But then again, the great VALUE of this book and all the info it packs in makes it worth the money and 4 stars!
Rating:
Summary: Not sure of your weak spots?
Review: If you're not sure on where you need to study or if you even do, this is a perfect tool. However, if you have no applied knowledge of hardware, this is not the tool for you. I am a PC Technician and needed to take my A+, this book/cd let me know that I could pass the tests and where my weak spots were so I could brush up. Passed the tests - I now have my certification.
Rating:
Summary: I GOTTA DEFFEND THIS BOOK
Review: What was strange about this book, was that on several instances, it directaly contradicted the for dummies book by Ron Gilster. This book was almost always right, except for maybe once, and I wasn't even sure about that. This book is worth every penny. Also, and I don't usually say this about study guides, it was worth every minute of reading. Very to the point, very accurate. An excellent "get to the point" book. I usually backed up whatever I was unsure of with another book, which you should always do. This book never went into great detail on anything, it just gave you what you needed for the test. Enough said. I passed.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book. A must buy!
Review: After taking a course in A+ at college, I didn't feel like I was fully ready to take my certification test. I went out and bought this exam cram, and was able to pass the test a few days later, both the Core and the Software. This book is a must if you want quick information on what to know for the A+ test.
Rating:
Summary: All you need for test.
Review: Read this book and take all the practice tests you can find on the web and you will pass the test with flying colors.
Rating:
Summary: Probably not enough...
Review: Probably not enough to get you the minimum 465 score on the DOS/Windows test. The core portion of the book is adequate though not outstanding. The DOS section fails to adequately prepare one for the questioning presented by CompTIA. Also, the test is being revamped and a new version will be out in early 2001. Readers may wish to consider weathering their urges to run out and buy this book, and instead wait for new literature with current 01 test information.
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