Michael Meyers has done it again with another great certification book. This book will take you from beginner to expert and will provide a valuable reference for after the exams.
Writing, Layout, & Style
From the start, the writing style is very clear and several simplistic but effective analogies are used to describe the inner workings of a computer. If you already know what you are doing and have more than the expected 6 months of experience, there are "Test Specific" sections in each chapter which will keep you focused on the exam objectives. For everyone else, including the absolute beginner with no experience, this is an excellent study tool. With just over 1,000 pages, you will get the historical, conceptual, and specific technical knowledge needed for each of the two A+ exams. Many photos and diagrams are used. The photos are helpful enough to keep you from digging around in your own machine to identify pieces and parts. The screen shots and diagrams are great and do an excellent job of illustrating the text. The analogies found throughout keep the book from being dry and difficult to understand. It's easy to read, and despite it's size, keeps your attention for the duration of your study time. The book is not desiged around the separate exams, instead it reads in a logical and well-structured combination of hardware and OS topics.Exam Coverage
Actually, the All-In-One Guide almost covers too much ground. There are more exam-focused books out there if you just need the quick and dirty on the exam, but this one is a true learning tool and provides more than just the exam essentials. The Introduction focuses on what you will find and what to expect from the exam. There is good information on how to use the book and how to calculate the amount of study time you will need based on your level of experience. There are review questions at the end of each chapter. These are solid and provide a taste of what to expect on the real thing. There is also a pretest to help you focus on your weaknesses.CD-ROM
The CD-ROM includes the usual suspects: some shareware utilities, a demo (LearnKey Video), and lots of practice questions. There are three practice exams for each of the two A+ exams, for a grand total of 300 questions. The practice exams come in three modes (practice, final, and adaptive) and the look, feel and navigation are average and easy to use.The Verdict
This is really a great certification book. It's well-written, well-prepared, and if you buy it, will be money well-spent.