ISBN0735619530

One would think that a Microsoft Press book would be better edited; more technically detailed and have more thogrough explanations. But one would be wrong if they thought so. Microsoft, it seems to this reader, slapped together this study guide to make a couple of extra bucks or to just keep the writers busy. The level of user experience listed in the guides as a prerequisite for taking the MCSE exams is greater than the level that the books are geared for. If one has the prerequisite level of experience recommended in the guides then these books will be well below your experience level. However if you are very new to Active Directory and server environments this study guide will give you a fair introduction.
I will say this about Planning and Maintaining Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure by Craig Zacker, Mr. Zacker does not have any MS certifications which does not induce a lot of confidence of the author, and omits lots of really important technical information that is very relevant to planning a network, especially his descriptions of TCP/IP planning and sub netting. I noticed several typos and even some incorrect lab answers in each of the books.
All of the labs and diagnostic procedures are done the Microsoft way, which occasionally is not the way that things are done in the real world.
Trancender tests are ok, but Testking prep tests are way better.

All you need to know to sort out the 90% of the Administration issues in the every day administrator's life. Must have.

I got a copy of the MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit: Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Core Requirements, Exams 70-290, 70-291, 70-293, 70-294.I was very upset when I noticed that one of the books had a huge tear on the back cover. When you pay $200.00 for brand new books, in a sealed state they should be new when you take them out of the box , not dirty and beat up. Get it together Amazon.

I have just gone through the 70-291 and 70-298 books, and went through this one ..... and was gravely dissapointed.. I felt like I was reading the same material as I just finished.. So with that said, I believe if you are going for tests, and you already own 70-291 and 70-298 there is no reason to go out and get the MSPress of 70-293 since the material would have already been covered...

I'm still trying to get through the first book 2 years later. But what's the hurry? I can always start my training tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow...

Seriously, though, these books look a lot like the ones I used to study for my first MCSE, on NT4. Full of most of what you need to pass the exam, plus a lot of junk you don't. I think they're an attempt to trick/force you into learning enough to be more than a paper MCSE while soaking up enough info to pass the test.

The "knowledge" contained herein is no substitute for real world experience, but is daunting to tackle even for a seasoned professional. If you really know computers, and just want test info, I'd recommend something like the Transcender exams instead.