CCNA Exam Cram (Exam 640-802) (3rd Edition),   ISBN:9780789737120

Customer Rating: 

I agree with reviewer Uncle Joe. There are simply too many errors in this book. The errors range from minor typographical errors to bungled command line examples to entire paragraphs which present topics in the most confusing manner possible. At $30 - $40, that's inexcusable. I've noticed that my PMP book from Exam Cram is even more messed up, and thus I will probably be avoiding Exam Cram books in general going forward.

Customer Rating: 

The 16 chapters are full of detailed specifics needed to pass the CCNA without being too wordy. The authors discussed most topics with detail that gave command line and topology examples. However there were also a few topics that weren't given as much attention. For example the RSTP enhancements, port security, and route summarization. The first half of chapter 15 repeats the first half of chapter 7 (the Frame Relay section) and even uses the same end of chapter questions. Chapter 17 provides an example network that needs to be configured. Most of the end of the chapter review questions were useful. A few chapters had wrong answers to questions or were completely missing diagrams. The book includes two practice exams.

The measure up CD had the same questions as the practice exams in the book. There are also router simulations that were similar to the scenarios in Chapter 17. I did find the measure up CD useful. The router simulations were decent because they asked to have more than just a serial interface configured with an IP address.

Customer Rating: 

I last got my CCNA in 2003, and was looking to recertify. Since the test has changed a fair bit over the years, I simply got an exam cram book. I suppose the glaring errors, mistaken diagrams that don't agree with the expected quiz answers, and other mistakes are a test in and of themselves: spot the sloppy mistakes that made it past editing, and that will prove to yourself how well you understand the material. The glaring mistakes on the quiz in Chapter 12 alone made me put down the book, and seriously think about getting another one. Especially sad, given that this is the third edition.

A shame, because I've been a big, enthusiastic fan of Exam Cram in the past.

Customer Rating: 

I just took my 640-802 and failed by 7 points... i feel as though i would have done better with some other guide. I have some major complaints. for one and this is a big one, the test pool is to small, you only get 150 test questions so after you take the exams a few times you basicly know the answers. The formating on som simple tests don't even fit the screen! the simulators are not much of a simulator at all.. you have to type everything out no short hand. All of the errors it's terrible. I spent alot of time trying to figure what i'm doing wrong on the chapter tests only to find out the questions are wrong or the ip address is wrong or they show you a diagram of what looks like a linksys router and your suppose to know that sometimes it is a switch and sometimes it is a router, interfaces inproperly labeled. I'm rambling but it is to prove a point. it really seems like the book is thrown together. the first mistake is on the second page where it says the 640-801 test costs 125.. i don't know about you but i'm not interested in passing the 640-802. find something else, you will thank me oh yeah and if your reading this book already i have one thing to say COMEBACK2009 your going to need it!

Customer Rating: 

The time I have wasted reading Exam Cram 3rd Ed (640-802) by Que Publishing has set me back months---both in time and frustration.

The cliche used to be that tech books were poorly written. Now, as with this book, they are usually well written but they have no editors. I can handle a few typos and grammatical errors, although they leave me wondering just HOW sloppy they are about the facts. But to get the facts wrong is unbelievable.

I could write pages and pages of errors, but what sticks out most is a series of end-of-chapter prep questions based on one diagram (chp. 12). The questions have to do with which switch is the root. The author's answer explanation says that switch B is the root because it has the lowest priority number... but every switch in the diagram has priority number 32768.

For those of you outside the loop of publishing: don't ever trust the blurbs on the book jackets. Publishing is full of incestuous relationships: every author can find another talentless author willing to trade reach-around praise, like Vincent Gov, whoever that is.