Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:  
Summary: 2 many authors.
Comment: This review is about the unfortunate disparity in abilities of the 2 authors: Glenn Johnson and Tony Northrup.
Johnson is a nice surprise to those who read microsoft training manuals. He anticipates reader's problems and never leaves you frustrated.
Northrup is the opposite. His chapters are irritatingly lacking in necessary examples and thorough explanations. You cannot avoid the notion that he is taking the easy way out. At times I believe I can hear his X-Box 360 running in the background
In chapter 9, lesson 3 on using WebParts, he admonishes the reader that its up to him to spring ahead many pages to some of the labs at the end of the lesson. He doesn't bother to provide enough of an explanation to do you any good. Mr. Johnson, again, provides both immediate examples and labs.
This is typical.
I don't see how you can avoid being frustrated by this. Carefully crafted explanations followed immediately by examples is the norm. Johnson takes of this, Northrup leaves you constantly throwing your hands up.
I am learning quite a bit, however. You can master much of the elements of Net 2.0 using this book. Be prepared to do additional online research of Mr. Northrups chapters, however.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Passed First Time, but . . .
Comment: I used the book as my principle but not sole source of study material, and I was able to pass the exam today the first time I took it.
The book covers all the * topics * on the exam, but the book alone will not help you to pass.
I credit these factors:
1. Reading the book
2. Doing the lab exercises and case scenarios, especially if it's a topic you're not familiar with.
3. Taking the practice exams on the CD - then clicking the More Info links - you do need to read the info on the MSDN site.
4. Having experience with ASP.NET - I don't see how you can pass without work experience, unless you make lucky guesses
Also, if you come across a question that totally stumps you, just try to reason through it, don't make a blind guess.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Definitely NOT ENOUGH.
Comment: I will agree with the other reviewer who said that this book alone is NOT enough to pass the test.
After deciding to take the exam, I searched high and low for books and this was the only 70-528 prep book I could find. I got this book and spent months going over it and taking the practice exams. I could easily pass the practice exam questions before I went in and felt like I had a good grasp of the material. Another reviewer said that they passed the exam despite the fact that they failed the practice exam, and I honestly do not know how they could have passed. Based on co-worker's comparison of the this book and the practice exams for test 70-536, I decided to go in and take the test.
Let me tell you, the book does NOT go into enough detail in either the examples/text/lessons OR the practice exam. I managed to barely pass the exam by the skin of my teeth.. mostly using this book as a basis and all my on the job experience as a supplement. Unless you are a hands on developer with a fair amount of job experience to back you, just using this book to prepare is NOT going to be enough.
Do yourself a favor and have a very thorough grasp on the material or be prepared to throw the money away.
Customer Rating:
Summary: 70-528 exam needs this book + additional materials
Comment: I passed my exam today and immediately wanted to share it. This is a good book for certification purpose only. Not a knowledge builder. I bought this book as there was the famous Microsoft Press label on the cover page. I spent one month reading thru book and completely omitting Case Scenarios and practiced few lab excercises. The main attraction is the stimulated exam which is very close to the exam but should be accompanied with other exam stimulation available in market..(I used all demo versions did not want to spend too much money). Also, just 7 days ago I read from the book reviews, that MSDN links should be read as well and that's what I did.. the true knowledge is stored there. Please Please read the MSDN links for every question in the stimulated exam and I bet anyone will pass without going thru painful lab excercise. Good luck to all you guys.
Customer Rating:
Summary: I'd recommend it
Comment: I'm only up to chapter 4, but I've already learned more about ASP.NET from this book than I ever did from MSDN tutorials. It's well-written, and has reasonably good code with plenty of room for improvement by a practical programmer who is looking to practice his design skills.
It's cheaper than taking a class (and goes into MUCH more detail than any programming class I've ever been in), more thorough than either MSDN tutorials or webcasts, and seems comprehensive enough... I suspect that a reasonably intelligent entry/mid-level person with .Net skills could read this, go through every example, and come out very well informed. Maybe not ready for senior-level work, but a better programmer for making the effort, whether they take the test or not.
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