Rating: 
Summary: EXCELLENT
Review: I found this book to be invaluable in preparing for the A+ exams. Focussed, concise, well-written. The numerous tips were invaluable, particularly how to approach the exam itself. I passed with scores of 84 and 85 percent! I have recommended it to co-workers, friends and newbies as THE guide to preparing for a+. What more can I say? BUY IT!
Rating: 
Summary: A very good cram book
Review: This book by James Jones & Craig Landers is indeed a useful book for cramming for the A+ cert.However I would only recommend this book if you have studied a previous manual like the A+ prep by jean Andrews or charles brooks A+ training guide etc. Because the writing style could easily confuse beginners with little or no experience, I'd recommend this book only to mid range techs & above. Overall this book is excellent prep for cramming info into the last week or two prior to taking the actual test. A few minor errors pop up here and there however these are few and far in between, and the cramming sheet to memorize in the front of the book contains all the corrections, albeit I found this sheet to be a little too simple in regards the info . The practice test is very good and the book goes over many essential areas I especially found the appendix very useful as it contains a good trouble shooting and configuration section. Don't hesitate to order this book, as a final exam cram source it's excellent especially if you combine it with the above mentioned books or similar.
Rating:
Summary: Full of info, some confusing points
Review: I recently passed my A+ exam. As proof that the practice exam in the back of the book is pretty good, I got 87% correct on the practice exam, and I got 85% and 90% correct on the two actual A+ sections. I would consider the practice exam in the back to be a good guide as to whether you're ready to take the actual A+ exam. While I found the book to be an excellent, info-filled guide, there were several points that were unnecessary confusing. For example, throughtout the book the authors refer to conventional memory as the first megabyte of memory, even though every other source will tell you that it's the first 640k of memory. Facts like that should be clear-cut, not left up to the opinions of the authors. However, I think everyone preparing for the A+ exam should study this book cover to cover before sitting down and taking the big test.
Rating:
Summary: Great for Core, DOS, Win3x.....BUT Win9x fell a tad short
Review: I passed my Core and DOS/Win exam after one month of self study. Having put together several PCs over the past 2 years also helped tremendously, hence keep in mind this book is not a substitute for for experience. Here's an example: I spent A LOT of time on DOS, memory management, and differences between DOS,Win3x,and Win9x. But when I took the DOS/Win test I got hammered with about 12-15 questions relating to Win9x configuration, device manager, Explorer, control panel, printing. Like I mentioned, lucky for me I had prior experience configuring Win9x machines. CORE exam was cake, btw. So what's the solution to this dilemma? Get the Mike Meyers book too. If you doubt technical info from the Exam Cram book, then the Meyers book acts as an reference. Plus it covered more Win9x than the Exam Cram and has nice visuals. Otherwise, I'd have to say Exam Cram is good for those who already "know" about computers. Next stop: CNA, MCSE =)
Rating:
Summary: The essential core reference for the A+ exam
Review: This is the primary reference I used to prepare for the A+ exam, and I scored in the high 80's on both. I think that my scores on the actual tests were well reflected in how I did on the book's final quiz. This book is a great value. I found few errors that had not been found and corrected on the errata page - in marked contrast to some of the MCSE study guides I have used. The authors did respond pretty quickly to e-mail. There are a few additional texts I would use. For DOS, I would check out Van Wolverton's (Microsoft Press) DOS books (check the library or used book stores) and for WIN 95, I would add O'Reilly's "Windows Annoyances." Finally, the Barron's "Dictionary of Computer and Internet Terms" (Business Guides series - another highly rated little book) is useful for modem, microprocessor, and other information.
Rating:
Summary: Some errors but was to the point, Passed high 80's 1st try.
Review: Exam cram admits that they are not the only book you will need to completely know your duties as an A+ Service Tech, however they do a great job at what they set out to do. Get you to pass your test! The book was excellent on the hardware and troubleshooting but somewhat light on Windows, fortunately for most of us it would be redundant for them to add more Windows content. Passed High 80's after 1 week reading this book. Had average PC knowledge prior to reading book.
Rating: 
Summary: Excuse me, what was the answer again?
Review: Ok...real quick and simple, this book shows definite promise, as far as easy reading and comprehending. Although, there are MANY, let me repeat that, MANY mistakes in the practice test in the back, as well as a few other errors, but the practice test is a test in itself, while you are correcting the authors! So, if you want a good reading book, and feel like correcting mistakes, and not getting paid for it, this book is for you. If you want a book that WON'T confuse you, DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE NO BACKGROUND IN COMPUTERS!!! STAY AWAY!!!
Rating:
Summary: Great but not Excellent
Review: I thought the book was good and it gave some very good information realted to windows knowledge in general. I liked how the topics were laid out. You can quickly bone up on a section you may not be clear on. However a lot of the material was not and did not have a chance to be on the exam. ie. the history of Windows and 8088. However in their defense it was relevant info for the big picture of computer knowledge. I also studied peter nortons win 98 book and other books. Overall I studied much more than I needed to for the exam. The hardware part was fair. The windows/dos part was more challenging. As others mentioned, know your windows3.1 and 95 well and know how to get around. For me hands on experience was a major factor in me passing/ 84 on both tests. If you have not hands on you will have a tough time probably. STUDY HARD. It's not free.... Good luck...
Rating:
Summary: A good single reference for the A+ Exam
Review: Strength: __1. Overall, well condensed material, very informed Authors. __2. Particularly good in the Hardware (Core Service Tech) material. __3. They consistently highlighted subject areas that they found represented on actual Tests. __4. A good working reference book on the operating systems Start-Up processes. Weakness: __In the Microsoft/Windows material, there was much more detail on DOS than on Windows 95, but the Test was mostly on Windows 95. Much of the detail presentation had detail jumbled together between DOS and Windows in areas where technically they are distinct. It would have been less confusing if the information had been organized in a more linear fashion with respect to the evolution of the DOS/Windows operating system. The Mother board drawing in the Practice exam had labeling that contradicted the same drawing in the text. Plus, one error in the Practice Exam answers where they called a strange drawing of Keyboard Socket the Power Supply. (this is a confirmed error with respect to the drawings and available answers that appeared on the actual test.) Troublshooting and Diagnostics lacked technical material. Book offered mostly elementary non-technical concepts. Like act confident when your confused. The practice exam in the book was more simplicitic than the actual exam. Several of the exam questions required examining complex relationships learned from experience and not covered in the book. Items in Test > Not in the book. __1.Must know CPU socket names and numbers matched to Specific Intel CPU's. 2 questions on this. __2. Basic Modem AT command set: 4 questions, nothing in book. Not mentioned as subject matter: __1. Must know EXPLICITY (click by click)the Windows 95 navigation paths to infrequent settings in the Device Manager, Control Panel Appletts, and changing file attributes in Explorer. I read book in 4 days and got 84 an 85 on the two test. The book added about 50% to my hands-on experience.
Rating: 
Summary: An OK book, but contradicts itself in different chapters.
Review: Having 12 years in the industry I had hoped to use this only to review, but found it had many errors of spelling as well as correct info. They can't decide if there are 23 or 24 logical drives available on a dos/windows system. Plus others.
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