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
Message Posted at:
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