Reviews for MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-433): Microsoft SQL Server 2008 - Database Development Book/DVD Package

1. The main book for exam 70-433, but a few small niggles

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, March 12th, 2010

   First of all, this is the book you need for taking the SS 2008 Database Development exam, but it doesn't tell you everything. It skips over most areas briefly - just enough detail to give an understanding of the aspect, but more work is required to ensure you're good enough for the exam. It should be considered the central book that guides you around the exam subject. The other book I use currently is Microsoft's "Programming Microsoft SQL Server 2008".
   
   If you don't have a decent amount of experience with SQL Server then you may well struggle - this isn't a book to teach someone new to the software.
   
   There are a few typos, although nothing serious - just annoying. Also, in a couple of areas it will mention a command or property and not explain it until later. Another reason you wouldn't want to learn the subject from scratch.

2. Frightening read, great value and included exams priceless

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, December 12nd, 2009

   I purchased this really to bone up on SQL Server 2008. I have developed versions 6.5 through to 2005 (with some 2008), so wasn't 100% about whether I would take the exam or not before reading.
   
   One thing I will say, is that books written by multiple authors never seem to have that flowing consistency as with single author books, but I guess with technical books like this one, its needed. Having said that, I feel in one way or another the book definitely covered everything needed... Sometimes in great detail, other times just a mention so you can go away and do your own research, but everything none-the-less.
   
   Given the depth of knowledge you need to take the exam, just bear in mind you wont get all the knowledge you need from the book, you will need to go away and research some areas more thoroughly (full syntatx and different usage / options of some statements etc). I say this, because some people think you can read the book and take the exam next day, which would be wrong. You do need some real world experience of using SQL Server, and the book states this from the start.
   
   In addition to the book, you also get an electronic version on CD, trial version of the software in case you don't have SQL Server 2008, and trial exams. The trial exams were also invaluable, as reading the book gives you the areas you need to learn, and the exams tell you how you need to learn them - for example, some of the questions that ask you to put a list of statements in the right order for example (with extra statements not required), use different ways of writing SQL than I am used to (for example it will just say join, instead of inner, left etc, or will sometimes seem ambiguous, so you must know the full sytax of statements including any abbreviations, default or optional keywords etc).
   
   I certainly found there was a lot to learn, but thats good. If I'd come away thinking I could take the exam the next day, I would have failed and therefore been ripped off, so I am glad! I am now going to try the exam (have it booked for mid jan, 2010), and the book also comes with a 15% voucher off the exam which also helped greatly.