I am currently using the McGraw Hill BCRAN book and LOVE it. I used the CCNA
Cisco Press book and got so frustrated I bought the Exam Cram CCNA book.
I found the CCNA book to be too verbose and confusing. But I really
recommend the McGraw Hill stuff. Really nice layout and fun to read.
-Sean.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ayers, Michael [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Monday, July 23, 2001 9:06 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: RE: Cisco Press Vs Sybex Which Way Forward ===> [7:13243]
>
> I use both
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Priscilla Oppenheimer [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2001 6:37 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: Cisco Press Vs Sybex Which Way Forward ===> [7:13243]
>
> At 03:07 PM 7/22/01, hal9001 wrote:
> >Howard
> >
> >In some of the advertising blurb I've seen they suggest that the same
> Cisco
> >Press men/women/whatever have a hand in writing the questions in the
> pool.
>
> Cisco Press authors do not have access to the test questions/answers.
> Where
> did you see this advertising blurb? Can you give us a URL?
>
> Cisco Press publishes many types of books. The ones that say "edited by"
> are the course materials ported to book format. They are usually a very
> good fit to the test.
>
> The study guides are original work, (often by CCSIs), to help you pass the
>
> test. Some of these are very good also.
>
> Then there are other books that are not certification books at all.
> Top-Down Network Design, for example, is not a certification book. For
> historical reasons (people at Cisco turned my earlier work into DCN and
> CCDA), it happens to be a good fit, which is nice, but not intentional.
>
> Cisco Press is not part of Cisco, by the way. But they are in bed
> together.
> Cisco makes money (a piddling amount, I would guess), on the classes that
> are ported to book format. For the other books, the piddling royalties go
> to the author. Cisco has the right to use the materials we wrote (I wish I
>
> hadn't signed that contract!:-) I have been shocked to discover whole
> paragraphs that I wrote in the Cisco Networking Academy materials for
> example, with no recognition.
>
> Regarding the actual question of Cisco Press versus Sybex: as others have
> said, it's a matter of style. Cisco Press requires an academic, detailed
> style. Humor is discouraged. Sybex is much more laid-back. If I were in a
> hurry to learn something, I might go with Sybex. It's a lot less words to
> wade through!? ;-)
>
> Priscilla
>
> >Whether it is spin or not the suggestion is that if you buy a Cisco Press
> >book you buy part of the family jewels.
> >
> >I can't see Cisco missing a profit if they have a hand in the publishing.
> >Surely Cisco Press is sanctioned by Cisco purely by reason of the name,
> >could you see them doing a second best for their own publishers. However
> >the books are quite high brow when compared to Sybex or Syngress.
> >
> >I suggest that if you have the cash that Syngress to Sybex, Sybex to
> Cisco
> >is about right as it covers a gentle learning curve. My tuppence worth.
> >
> >Karl
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Howard C. Berkowitz"
> >To:
> >Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2001 5:23 PM
> >Subject: Re: Cisco Press Vs Sybex Which Way Forward ===> [7:13243]
> >
> >
> > > >"Oletu Hosea Godswill CCNP, CCNA." wrote,
> > > >
> > > >Todd Lammle would do us in the networking field a lot of good if he
> go
> >and
> > > >get
> > > >his CCNP. He can't be writing CCDA, CCNP and CCIE books gear towards
> the
> > > exam
> > > >proper, without passing through the examination process. Good, he
> might
> >be a
> > > >good writer and also might have some wealth of experience. But you
> would
> > > >agree
> > > >with me that, the exams are different scenerio from the day to day
> >hands-on
> > > >job and it is a different ball game from one having experience. Many
> who
> > > >boast
> > > >of tons of years of experience can go in for these exams and still
> fail
> >it.
> > > >
> > > >Let Todd Lammle at be patience and only write books for which he is
> > > >certified,
> > > >by this he will gain more popularity. I like his books for their
> >simpilicity
> > > >and easy of understanding, but what am against is that do not use
> that
> to
> > > >shield me from difficult and complex areas the exam would be bordered
> on.
> > >
> > >
> > > I disagree. I'm an inactive CCSI, under the "old school"
> > > certification rules. While I direct CertificationZone's content, I
> > > have no intention of getting further Cisco certifications. This is
> > > for a couple of reasons, and, without speaking for Todd, might very
> > > well be his reasons.
> > >
> > > Cisco's lawyers are extremely aggressive at pursuing what they
> > > consider even the appearance of NDA violations. I can't be accused
> > > of violating the confidentiality of a test I've never taken.
> > >
> > > Second, I take the viewpoint that I am preparing materials that first
> > > help the student understand the test content, and second deal with
> > > test mechanics. The world is full of examples of people that are
> > > extremely effective teachers of subjects that they either never
> > > practiced or no longer currently practice. I think you'll find that
> > > most sports coaches with a significant winning record were not Hall
> > > of Fame in their sports. Most protocol developers are not CCIEs.
> > > Some very good obstetricians are men. The best collegiate fencer I
> > > knew was at a time when women could not compete, so she became her
> > > team coach.
> > >
> > > I believe it's more important to have a thorough understanding of the
> > > principles of the test than the test mechanics. On this list and
> > > elsewhere, including open Cisco sources, there is a lot of material
> > >
> > > >
> > > >Am sorry, not against Todd Lammle in any sense, I appreciate his
> great
> > > >contributions to us the networking folks, am only trying to suggest
> ways
> > > >through which he can really be of more immense surpport and help to
> us.
> > >
> > >
> > > You are correct that the Cisco Press authors are able to get closer
> > > to the course material without offending Cisco, but I doubt they have
> > > access to the question pool.
> > >
> > > >
> > > >Please you are free to confirm or otherwise contradict what I have
> just
> > > said.
> > > >
> > > >I wish you all well.
> > > >
> > > >My 2 cents
> > > >Regards.
> ________________________
>
> Priscilla Oppenheimer
> http://www.priscilla.com
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