Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 11-15 of 15
 Solid test engine, but book needs editing May 13, 2009
Aaron Christian (Indianapolis, IN USA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
As previous reviewers have already pointed out, there are a plethora of inaccuracies with the SQL Server 2008 edition comparisons in Chapter 1. For this, I'd suggest referencing Microsoft's edition comparison list at http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/editions-compare.aspx
Other than Chapter 1, the information in this book is there but a bit thin. I also noticed the lesson reviews tend to "jump ahead", so to speak. For example, the lesson review for Chapter 6 Lesson 2 is on page 144. It gives a scenario about moving orders older than 30 days from the orders table with the least amount of performance hit. It's a 2 part answer and one involves the SWITCH operator. The book doesn't explicitly delve into SWITCH until Chapter 6 Lesson 4 (page 151).
The practice test engine, on the other hand, is one of the best I've ever seen from MeasureUp (their test engines are usually solid anyways). There were a lot of real-life scenario-type questions on there that were scarce in the book. It was also very good about pointing you to good reference materials for each question (some of which were obviously not the book). I took the exam yesterday and passed on the first try, but firmly believe it was the MeasureUp test engine that put me over the top.
In most cases, the practice exams are supplemental to the book. In this case, however, the book seems to be the supplement. Overall, I found this book to be okay at best. If you're wise, you'll do outside referencing anyways... while both on the job and studying. With that said, there's probably better material out there for 70-432. I must give this one an average review because the Chapter 1 epic fail, in particular, just cannot go unpunished :(
 I was definitely written in a hurry. April 27, 2009
Luciano Palma (Brazil)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
The book is not so bad, but it DOES NEED a review!
In many places, it still contais "2005" instead of "2008":(
Repeated texts are very common as well.
But if you're just starting it's a good reference.
Far Inferior to SQL 2005 70-431 Equivalent Text March 20, 2009
Clyde LeBonz (PORTLAND, OR United States)
22 out of 23 found this review helpful
The Microsoft Training Kit text for SQL Server 2005 exam 70-431 (for which Hotek was a contributor, but not primary author) is one of the best technical books I have ever come across. I have read every page at least twice, some sections several times. It covers a wealth of complex material in an organized, well-written manner. I hoped the SQL 2008 version would be an update of the SQL 2005 text, adding coverage for new or updated SQL 2008 features.
Alas, the SQL 2008 edition has been completely rewritten, with Hotek as the only author. I have read the first 100 pages and intend to read the entire text, but am not happy. The content is poorly organized, poorly edited and flat-out incorrect on some important points. (Errors regarding multiple instances were commented on by earlier reviewers. This error was not just stated once, but was repeated.) In more than one end-of-section mini-quiz, the questions are for material not covered in that section.
Hotek claims, more than once, to have worked on "millions of databases". Huh? If he worked on a different database every hour, and worked a ten-hour day for 300 days per year, that would total out to 30,000 databases a year, or 300,000 over ten years. Mike would have to have worked over thirty years to get close to his first million databases!
That said, Hotek is a really smart guy, with tons of SQL Server experience. His contributions to the SQL 2005 text were interesting and useful. Unfortunately, his expertise does not translate to authorship of books like this, and he has been poorly served by his technical editors (if there were any) at Microsoft Press.
NOTE: I submitted the above two-star review on March 19, 2009. I subsequently completed the entire book, some sections more than once, but found no reason to upgrade the rating, either for content or editing. Most of the questions on the Transcender practice exam cannot be answered using Hotek's book. My advice to those prepping for the 70-432 exam is to use the excellent text for the 70-431 exam, augmented by study of new SQL 2008 features like filestreaming and policies. Good luck!
 SQL Developer March 14, 2009
Jeff (Shreveport, LA)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
I came here before reading the other review with the same issue. If the author can not get the first chapter correct, do I have to read the book and then go check other resources to see if the information is correct. Multiple instances is wrong. The book makes it look like CLR is only supported by Enterprise and Standard. Merge replication is Subscriber only for Workgroup. Indexed Views are partially supported in Standard and Workgroup (You have to use a hint in order for you query to use the index).
Inaccurate data very early on in the book February 24, 2009
schmintan (ireland)
9 out of 12 found this review helpful
In Chapter 1 of the 70-432 Sql Server 2008 implementation and maintenance, it lists out the basic features of "all" versions of sql server, but it leaves out Enterprise.
For all editions, it says that multiple instances are not allowed, yet when i check on the official sqlserver 2008 site it tells me all editions support up to 16 instances except the enterprise version, which supports 50 instances.
Such simple facts wrong so early in the book. is this a sign of the quality of the rest of the book? has anyone else used this book yet? Im thinking of just sending it back if its that inaccurate.
Showing reviews 11-15 of 15
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