Rating: 
Summary: Best CCNA Study Guide Available
Review: I was privileged to be one of the technical editors again for this book. It was reworked to match the new 640-607 exam. I've edited nearly a dozen books for Cisco Press and Wendell's work is among the best I've ever seen.Each chapter starts with a "do you know this" quiz, complete with answers. Depending on how you score, you might want to skip, skim or study the chapter. There's an end of chapter quiz, too, to let you know how you did. In between, the text is straightforward and the graphics are clear. Finally, there is a CD included with practice exams in the new format. If you're only going to get one book, get this one.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book, BUT . . . .
Review: I will agree with others that this book covers everything you will need to pass the exam, BUT..... as with the practice exam and the eSim (supplementary study tool), the exams are questionable. I received a 77% on a test which was false. After review of every question, I found 6 questions that the exam said was wrong, but were in fact correct. Also, the practical simulations graded wrong as well. I accomplished the goal that the question asked, but the exam interpreted the answer as wrong. Again, as far as the book is concerned, the knowledge included is incredible. As for the tests.... well you make the call.
Rating: 
Summary: More of the same from Cisco
Review: I'm sorry but this book is not a comprehensive review for the CCNA exam. It offers some material that is not included in other cisco books but that's all. This seems to be the pattern for all cisco books. Info is spread out among many sources and not summarized in any one place. Combine that with poor indexes and incomplete glossaries and you get the picture. I suspect to get a complete high-points review for the CCNA exam you will have to seek a non-cisco publications to do it.
Rating:
Summary: Save your Money - This book stinks
Review: I've worked on the maintenance and installation of networking and communicaion equipment for nearly 20 years and never have I seen such a poor quality instructional aid. The book has unbelievably poor structure for an exam guide - nearly unusable.
The book has numerous errors, typos and inconsistancies. Section quizzes frustrate with questions on topics not covered.
The included CD with practice exams is so terrible that timed sessions expire before they're up, answers are incorrectly graded, and questions are not rotated for exposure to different topics. The CD is nearly useless it's soooo bad. NO Quality control on this item what so ever !!! I am a professional trainer and I purchased this book as point of reference in use for preparing field engineers to install routers and qualify for the CCNA exam certification. From an professional instructional consideration, the overall effect is one that frustrates and itimidates rather than provide an effective learning environment - which is exactly what the book was intended to provide. This completely misses the mark. There is a great deal of information presented in a hap hazzard disorganized flow that overwhelms instead of instructs - save your money - but something, almost anything else. THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF THE WORST INSTRUCTIONAL AIDS I'VE EVER SEEN. For better organization and relevant material, see Todd Lammle's Study Guides (they're not as current but they're at least usable). Cisco Press's Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices is also useful, but after my experience with the CCNA Exam Cert Guide, I'm very,very leary of anything Cisco Press has published.
Rating: 
Summary: Done in a rush....
Review: If you want a study guide to become a CCNA then this book offers more than you will actually need for the exam. But be warned about taking the practice exam. It might shake your confidence a bit. The score you get on the practice exams is often misleading. The exam itself needs a lot of editing. A lot of the items on the practice exam are gibberish. To make matters worst, it seems that no one bothered to publish an errata yet. An update on the practice exam is in order.
Rating: 
Summary: Too many errors, too hard to read...
Review: Man, is this stuff dry! I did buy Todd Lammle's book (who hasn't?) and this is so hard to read after reading that book. Although this has a lot of technical information, it is hard to gleen it from the text without falling a sleep. Plus, too many errors on the practice exams to make them worth while.
Rating: 
Summary: More than enough...
Review: Not much else to add to the previous reviews. If you study for the CCNA certification, this guide would probably be all you need to pass the test. I would also get the Lammle's book as well to cover any blank spots... If you are ready to take it beyond the CCNA level, I would also look into getting the following books: 1. "Cisco IOS for IP Routing" by Andrew Colton. A lot of information on IP routing protocols (EIGRP, OSPF, IS-IS, BGP, etc.).
2. "Routing TCP/IP, volume I" by Jeff Doyle. Covers just as much as the Colton's book.
3. "Interconnections: Routers, Bridges..." by Radia Perlman. Good academic info on routing and bridging. Overkill for the CCNA to CCNP level though.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but the test engine ...
Review: Prior to taking and passing the test I read through last years Cisco Press CCNA study guide, the Sybex CCNA book and the ICND. I'd recommend using this book and the ICND for the test and not using the practice exam on the cd. This revision is much better than the 2nd edition. The organization is better and the explanations are not nearly as painful to decipher. I was very disappointed by the practice exam on the CD. There were to many mistakes in the answers (nonexistant commands referenced as correct answers, configuration syntax incorrect, not allowing you to select the proper number of answers, exam not recognizing correct answers, etc). However the test engine is still far ahead of Sybex's. You can see areas where you are weak in and it will pop up with simulations where you have to diagnose and repair network problems. ....
Rating:
Summary: IS IT TOO LATE TO RETURN THIS BOOK???
Review: That's it! I have tried several times to keep focused and read this book but it's a very poor training guide. If I didn't have a background in networking it would be impossible to learn anything new. I have read several certification guides with no complaints. I am very disappointed and ready to order a different book. Time to auction this baby off!
Rating:
Summary: Edited?????
Review: The editors of this book did a horrible job. The book has many errors. A lot of questions and answers in this book but the answers don't necessarily match the question. The CDROM is very frustrating since it is not possible to get several of the questions correct since the answer format doesn't allow it. I also had trouble with the flashforms which represent the practical experience questions. After I would finish configuring the routers and clicked on "done" I would go to the next question but then the test engine would get stuck on that question and couldn't go forward. I'm completing the Network Academy and I wanted this book to get experience on the hands on questions. It's just too bad that the editors didn't catch all the errors in the book and CD.
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