Best A+ Cert book with 2003 objectives? 2

[cdp14]

I know this might be an exercise in futility but is there a general consensus on which book or books is best for the new A+ Cert exams (220-301, 220-302)? Money is an issue so I would rather not buy a poorly written book or one that is not comprehensive enough for the exams. I realize that maybe no one book will be all inclusive but am still in search of the the best prepartory book if you could only choose one. I would pretty much expect any decent study book to include a CD with a practice test engine of some sort.

I know each book will have its advantages and disadvantages and most people will only be familiar with 1 or possibly 2 of a book such as A+ but I am having a hard time finding what I would deem quality information in the form of reviews or comparisons. I even tried to utilize CompTIA but they would not comment on the quality of any of the specific books as they are to remain "nuetral" and only directed me to their list of books that have passed a sort of minimum standard. Considering the cost of the study materials and tests it's kind of frustrating that I can't find very conclusive information to base my decision on.

Thanks in advance for any comments, advice or info!

 

[glister]

The nature of the new tests requires a new approach. A+ 4 REAL is the new approach. Written in a conversational style you interact with experts from the Pacific Northwest to Moscow and beyond. Built to be "The Missing Link" for Success with A+ 2003 objectives

http://www.studyexam4less.com/aplus4real.asp

A+,N+,S+,L+,I+,HTI+,e-Biz+,Security+,CETsr,CST,CNST,CNCT,CFOT,CCNT,CCTT,ACSP,ISA CCST3

 

[Wishdiak]

cdp14,

I can't really comment on glister's suggestion. I'll check it out the next time I get to the book store.

In the meantime, Mike Meyers' A+ All-In-One Certification Guide, 5th Edition has been getting some good press here.

When I took the A+ exams in June, that's the book I used.

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, MCSA 2003 certified

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[cdp14]

Well I'm not sure how valuable Glister's post is (no offense Glister ). Those couple lines he has there are from A+4real's website if I'm not mistaken. I actually had checked it out already. Not saying it's not a good option but posting verbatim what is already on their site is just advertising as opposed to an unbiased opinion (which is what I was looking for really).

The other problem I found with that program is that the course comes in .pdf format as opposed to a book. I really want something I can take with me and use later to reference. Printing out or carrying around 800 printed pages doesn't sound fun.

I was pretty much looking at the following books or open to other suggestions:

Mike Meyer's A+ All in One Cert Guide, 5th Ed.
Acing the A+ exam by Patrick Regan (comes with a test voucher but can't figure out for how much off the test it is).
A+ Complete Study Guide by David Groth

 

[Wishdiak]

cdp14,

Again, I can't comment on glister's suggestion. It might work for some people. I like to have a tree-book to carry around with me.

I've heard good things about the Groth book myself.

As far as the Regan book that comes with a test voucher, if it's one voucher, then that's good for one of the two A+ exams. Retail price is $145(x2) for the exams, but I've seen them for as little as $180 for both.

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, MCSA 2003 certified

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[glister]

Sorry I couldn't appear more unbiased. The truth is, I am fairly biased as I wrote several chapters in the new book.

The M. Myers 5th ed. was written straight from 2003 objectives before even the beta was released. A+4Real is brand new (released 11/11). All the other authors, as well as myself, have taken either the 2003 beta or the live 2003 exam. That was for research.

800 pages if you print on only one side of the page. The print version is in the final edit. PDF is full (approx 250)of clickable links which provide untold volumes of additional resources. PDF is in full color. Print version requires conversion to grey scale.

M. Myers would probably be the next best selection, but CompTIA really turned up the heat on the 2003 exam and we thought it required a new approach.

A+,N+,S+,L+,I+,HTI+,e-Biz+,Security+,CETsr,CST,CNST,CNCT,CFOT,CCNT,CCTT,ACSP,ISA CCST3

 

[cdp14]

ahh..thanks for the clarification Glister. Makes more sense now. I will have to look at that option more closely but my main study opportunity is at work when it's slow so I need something that I can take with me. Guess I should consider the printing option as well.

 

[lemsion]

HEllo
The book I can really recomemd which is good is A+ Complete Study giude by David Groth.
If you buy this you will not regret.Try it.

 

[newbie35]

I just passed the A+ hardware exam using the Examcram study guide but I an sorry I bought it as it is poorly written. I am looking for a better book for the A+ hardware exam. I am considering using the MCDST certification study guide from Charles River but I am unsure of how much overlap there is in the two exams. Anybody passed both and can comment? Thanks.

 

[gostars]

I used the Mike Meyers A+ book to pass both exams (2001 objectives). I thought that he did a great job of making it interesting and would highly recommend it.

 

[schase]

Having completed the A+ 4 Real book a week ago I can comment. One thing I never could figure out is why this and other of T-Cat and crew's books are on pdf. Personally i can't deal with Adobe trying to struggle through 400 or 800 pages. But I guess it's easy to purchase for the customer, its quick and easy to get.

So I printed it, all 800 pages, got a couple binders and in it went. On the earlier guide of T-Cat's he suggested 10 hrs of studying beyond that particuliar book - he must mean the book and classroom time cause 10 hrs (to me anyway) would be a fast way to fail. So far I've read the earlier 400 page book, this 800 page book and a 300 odd pager from my "school".

Many of the tests on passitnow.com I was scoring high 80's to mid 90's out of the starting gate, other tests i'd hit 55-60 off the bat. Some of the preplogic ones i'm mid 60's on. And I feel that I need a few smaller guides at this point.

Having said all of that, I really like the way the book was laid out. I felt that showing the OS first prior to Core was a real good way of doing it - and if your going to take both tests on the same day, it just made sense. Most of the chapters are pretty thorough. And i'm not just saying this either - but Glister's chapters are very well done. Other chapters are not. For example after reading on the XP side - I felt like I was in a tour bus and not on what differs this OS from previous ones. The XP Command line felt thrown in like someone realized that they needed it - your eyes start to gloss over as every single screenshot looks almost identical to the one before.

But it dives into Linux and Mac, but not so deep you wonder which course your studying for. - I havn't seen many that did that beyond a cursory wave to Mac OS. I do believe it will be a fact of our careers going forward. If you havn't played with Linux or Mac yet and no matter if you like Linux or hate it, or think its about time - we will see it and I think it's best to take a nudge at. The Hardware section was good as usual. In many spots you can see where material was taken from previous books by Tcat. But that *may* have consituted half. Theres a very deep section on MSDS, and Glisters part on SCSI went into more of the "how" than I've seen before. You don't just get ~Raid 5 is the optimum mix between redundancy,speed and space~ Personally I found the section on Basic networking terminology would have been better spent skipping it - because Maxim is a tough author to read. he sure knows his stuff, but whoa. Plus Ian in the networks section covers it in a great method. Having already passed the Core side of the A+ I didn't need to read it, but I wasn't happy with how I did - so I read on.

And they cover Spyware and Spam. Man two areas we as IT folks will not see totally go away - we'll always be battling it and I for one was glad to see it in this book. I'd even suggest taking Virus, Spam & Spyware and give it it's own due chapter.

All in all - I found it to be a heckova good foundation book. Interestingly enough - same as I did with TCat's Net+ book. Theres a reason I keep getting more of his material. The price is right, the foundation will be laid and you hone your skills with targeted guides afterwards. It's a tough test, and Glisters right it takes a different approach. This book will help you get started on the approach.

"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart
Net+

 

[glister]

Good new! The A+4Real has just passed pre-press editing and is on the way to the printer. This book will be published in a little different way than previous books. it's called "print on demand". You order the book and then it is printed and bound. This is a new departure from the old way of publishing and is designed to keep costs down.

The biggest trick with getting the PDF into print is converting the graphics to grey scale. The PDF is in full color put the book is in grey scale. The PDF has clickable links to additional resources, you can't do that in a book. Watch

http://www.studyexam4less.com

for the availability of the print version soon.

Glad you enjoyed it , Schase.


A+,N+,S+,L+,I+,HTI+,e-Biz+,Security+,CETsr,CST,CNST,CNCT,CFOT,CCNT,CCTT,ACSP,ISA CCST3

 

[schase]

now that print on demand sounds pretty cool.

Personally I took advantage of the color laser at work. It's rare i'll click a link inside a pdf - more out of stubborn opinion that if the infos important and relevant to the test it ought to be in the guide. (and to give credit where due - most of TCat's tell you its out of the realm and give the link).

You doing another guide soon Glister?

"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart
Net+

 

[glister]

I am currently involved doing exam revisions for the ETA-I CST exam and the Instrumentation, Systems & Automation Society (ISA) Control Systems Technician exams.

Feb 12th I'm going to Dallas for a week to attend training and certification for Home Acoustics Alliance (HAA), The Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) and the RF Training Institute (RFI). I do Home Theater installations on the side. I was just certified as a Bose Systems Reseller.

This week I've been installing a new vision inspection system at work (20 cameras, 8 lasers, 8 processors). It is quite a large project. One more week until it's commisioned.

I'm doing some work with Tcat on the CompTIA CDIA+. I'd like to get involved with the new CompTIA RFID exam that's in development. I've got two more exams to finish my ETA-I Master CET.

I'm under NDA with CompTIA for e-Biz+, HTI+ & Linux+, so that's out (although my Linux+ guide on

http://www.studyexam4less.com

is still pretty relevant).

I serve on the CompTIA IT Pro Advisory Committee.

My scooter just got back from a complete rebuild

Unfortunately, there are only so many hours in a day...


A+,N+,S+,L+,I+,HTI+,e-Biz+,Security+,CETsr,CST,CNST,CNCT,CFOT,CCNT,CCTT,ACSP,ISA CCST3

 

[schase]

lol

so what do you do in your spare time lmao.

That sounds pretty darn full.

"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart
Net+

 

[Kaycek]

Hmmm I find it interesting that there are only 2 reviews about this book, and one is Houser himself cdp14, no offense meant to you, if you used the book and passed more power to you. How many of the questions in the book were almost identical to the ones on the test?

No one seems to thank the website,

http://www.SecurlySpeaking.com

who hosted Houser's "TEAM" while they wrote the book, nor is any credit given to the people who edited all of the information that was put into place in his "new" A+ book

 

[schase]

Interesting,

How do you feel cdp is TCat?

And to answer your question - no questions are nearly identical to the ones in the test. Even less so than the cram guides you can find.

And your link doesn't work.

Relevant info would be easier to see what it is you are trying to say.

"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart
A+, Net+

 

[Kaycek]

Actually, I left out a comma, cdp is NOT Tcat, he writes too well. What I was saying that if you look at the link, on the site for the A+ book, there are only two people who have comments about the book, and one of them is Houser. as for securely speaking,

http://www.securelyspeaking.com

is run by Robnhood, and one of the moderators, who was at one point working on the book is Sc0rpi0n, who is not only a talented writer, he is also a talented graphics person.

Very simply, Tcat Houser promised people that he would do specific things that he never did. He had editors who worked with him correcting items and they were not given credit. One of the editors worked with him on another project before this one. At one point in time Tcat himself would admit that he can't write well unless he has an editor. Now <shrug> who knows. Glister is extremely knowledgeable, especially about the Surge Protectors, he was always very fair to every one. He was very informative on many points, I know I learned a lot from him, things that have made my job easier every day.

I think if I learned to spell, the link would actually mean something, I spelled Securely without the e between the r and the l.

I know for a fact about several things, and will happily discuss them offline with whomever would like to discuss it with me.

 

[schase]

Interesting opinion I guess. I thought you meant reviewed it here on this forum.

I dunno my review here was pretty extensive of what I thought of the book. Credits were right on top of every chapter and at the back of the book. It's not surprising to me at all that an Author needs an editor - thats what all the publishing companies do as part of their services for thousands of authors.

IMHO - read the book for what it is best for - a solid foundation to continue your knowledge as you study for the test. I believe in no way shape or form could anyone without enough knowledge read the 4 Real book and pass the test.

Seems you have something against TCat's books. To each his own I guess. We all find authors that fit our style of learning to the best method possible. Personally I find TCat's books to be pretty well done - even if I didn't care for that one author's writings. And even his was good just his method of putting it on paper was difficult to digest.

"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart
A+, Net+

 

[Kaycek]

Actually, I have nothing against the books, nor do I have anything against the authors. Tcat is brilliant, he just needs to channel it in one direction, something that he taught me about myself.

He taught me more in 7 months than I learned in the year before I worked with him, and the others.

Yes, credits were given in the book, however I know for a fact that not all credit was given to the people who should have received it, and Craig at Securely Speaking hosted Tcat's group for at least a year and a half and received no credit. Glister downplays his role in the books he's working on, however I can honestly say that he is one brilliant man, who made some subjects much easier for me. I don't think that many weeks go by without my sending a prayer of thanks for the knowledge I gained from picking his brain. Without Glister's brilliance I couldn't have made some of the decisions I've made today.

As for Tcat, I re-learned a valuable lesson about project management and goal writing, as well as the many personal insights he gave me that helped me to find myself. Without him, I never would have had the courage to meet my best half, whom I am happy to say has now been my husband for 13 happy months. I also wouldn't be teaching, or starting my MBA in Information Security. I now have writing samples which I can show to others because of working with him, and some others.

I took the A+ tests in October of 2003, which was right at the peak of the change over of the tests. I got some of the highest scores on the A+ test that were seen in our area on the changeover tests, and these weren't the adaptive versions of the tests, they were tests with the full sets of questions.

Yes, publishing companies do give authors editors -- however Michael who did editing wasn't even mentioned. Truthfully, I think that Glister was one of the backbones of the whole project, as was Phil Hopkins, and both of them taught me a lot. For that I thank them.

I wish Tcat nothing but the best, and there isn't a week that goes by that I don't send a thought of thanks his way either. However I think that the scooter guy won in the end.

kaycek