A+ Exam Cram: Pass the New A+ Certification Exam Expected to Go Live July 1998

Rating:
Summary: Helpful but full of errors not corrected in the errata
Review: Generally, the book is helpful. But it does not delve deeply enough in certain areas that are covered on the exam, areas including modems, networking and basic electronics. If you've been servicing computers for long and know them fairly well, including PC operating systems, this book should get you through the exam. I read this book, took a number of software practice tests, and read some (but not all) of the Exam Prep by the same publishing company. That, along with my own personal experience, allowed me to excel on the exam. This book would allow you to pass. The test in the back is fairly indicative of the difficulty of the exam. If you can't pass it, you won't pass the exam(s)

Rating:
Summary: Great book if you want to pass
Review: Great book if you want to pass, but if you want to score in the 90's you will need extra help. It covers a lot, but not all, but it will pass you if thats what you want.

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Summary: I'm one of the authors of this book. (Craig)
Review: When we approached this topic, we realized that to cover the entire field of PCs in one book was going to require exceptional focus. While we'd thought we would have 600 pages, the publishers wouldn't allow more than 450, and we had to do a lot of last-minute cutting and re-arranging. We'd also thought we would have a database of possible topics for the test from CompTIA, but the eventual test included questions that weren't even on the beta exam (which we both took). With this book being complementary to the Exam Prep book, the publishers required that we focus on "already learned" material, rather than trying to provide "training." To that end, we did the best we could for anyone who doesn't already know computers, but we had to eliminate some of the in-depth background we would've liked to include. Ultimately, we decided that putting a book together in "story" format, with some sort of logical thread to the topics would make it easier for a reader to remember the main points. Again, the publishers edited out many of the tools we included for mnemonics and so forth, but even so, most of what we wrote went to print. Our intention was to create a highly-concentrated overview of the PC hardware and operating system world, and to provide the basis for all the assumptions we could think of. We think we came very close to meeting our goal, in spite of the final edits. Reader feedback has been very helpful in finding the mistakes in print or logic, and in each reprint we've tried to make those corrections. As many people have said, this book is meant to be both a final review before taking the exam, and an introductory overview of the world of WinTel machines.

Rating:
Summary: not bad at all
Review: Having most of my computer experience being self taught, and currently working in my first "real" computer job, I found this book to be most useful. I read this book cover to cover,and took a few practice exams, and passed with no problem. A definite must for any A+ candidate.

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Summary: Great Study Tool!
Review: I just passed my two A+ exams today. I did take a class but I just didn't feel that the class gave me enough insight into the exam, and I was having a hard time determining what to study. I spent two full (10 hour) days reading this book (and yes I read it from cover to cover) and then I took the exam. I thought this book gave some good insights into the exam and what to concentrate on. It was easy to read and kept my attention, however, it didn't cover anything on modems and there were questions on the exams regarding modems. I wouldn't recommend this book alone without prior experience or classes, but it was a great review and in-depth insight into the exam, and like the title says it was a great exam cram book!!

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Summary: An Essential for Your A+ Certification Arsenal
Review: This book will give you a method for reviewing the essentials. I found it very useful in reviewing for the environment exam, which covers a lot of territory. I found the test questions at the end of every chapter very helpful as a study tool, but the questions were not as difficult as those on my DOS/WIN.X/WIN95 environment exam. Overall, I considered the book an excellent review! I studied this book and M. Meyer's to sucessfully prepare and pass the A+ Exams. Bob Hayes, M.Ed., M.B.A.

Rating:
Summary: very well written
Review: the author has a great insight into the a+ certification program. It has been a very useful book

Rating:
Summary: Good -- but not complete.
Review: I just took both tests today and passed both with a 90%. Along with Exam Cram I used Self Test's A+ test and A+ Exam Prep. The book has some large holes, i.e. there was very little on basic electronic and nothing on modems.(there are at least 3 questions on modem commands in the hardware exam) You can pass the tests with only this book, but not with glory.

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Summary: Core only?
Review: Although I read this book and must say, it was more than enough info for the core module. I thought it lacked the material on the Windows/dos module for the exam that I just took and passed. There are only two chapters devoted to windows and a whole chapter for Windows NT, that was not even on the exam! Know your way around explorer and device manager for the windows/dos exam! Being that windows 95 covers about 75% of the exam,I found that a good Windows 95 book for the MCSE exam is the ultimate way for passing the windows exam.

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Summary: My second review after passing both exams!
Review: Again, I stand by my first review. This book is excellent. This is the ONLY book I used to pass the certification exams with high scores! As stated by another reviewer, there are several mistakes in the book. So be careful and check out their website for the latest erratas. Read this book, and study up weak areas on various Web sites, and you will do well!