Would this book be helpful for ejb learning?

[Henry Zheng]

It is mentioned in the official page of this book that its level is Intermediate to Advanced.
I have plenty experience in servlet/JSP programming but still a novice in EJB.
Would this book be helpful for me to learn that? or is it too tough for me now?
Thanks

[Nicholas Cheung]

Hi Henry,
I think, if you will consider the exams SCWCD and SCBCD, the books:
1. SCWCD Exam Kit, by Manner
2. HeadFirst EJB, by Oreilly
will definitely help you to understand the core concepts of JSPs, Servlets and EJBs in SUN's exams, and thus the 484 exam. I guess they are in fact similar, cos those exams are based on the same technologies.
In addition, you may consider also Howard's book for the test 287, and Laman's book for 486.
Basically, I used those books as my core study references, plus some other tutorials, like JAAS, JAXP, JMS, etc.
Hope you find them useful too.
Nick.

[Henry Zheng]

Thanks Nick
I am waiting for my SCWCD result, and will move to SCBCD soon. Also planning for 287...

[Ko Ko Naing]

Originally posted by Henry Zheng:
I have plenty experience in servlet/JSP programming but still a novice in EJB.
Would this book be helpful for me to learn that? or is it too tough for me now?

I do recommend Head First EJB for studying EJB concept as well as for the SCBCD exam... I'm currently reading that book for SCBCD exam and going give the exam in May... I hope that three months would be enough for that and planning to give one IBM exam parallely, probably 287.....

[Nicholas Cheung]

Hi Ko Ko,
So, when will you take 287 exam?
I planned to take it after 484 and 486, which hopefully can be the 2nd last week of March.
Nick.

[Ko Ko Naing]

Originally posted by Nicholas Cheung:
Hi Ko Ko,
So, when will you take 287 exam?
I planned to take it after 484 and 486, which hopefully can be the 2nd last week of March.
Nick.

Nick, I'm taking it after my SCMAD about three weeks... I guess it might be around the last week in March... Then I hope I can get some tips from u after ur exam... Do u mind to provide some tips for me then?

[Nicholas Cheung]

Hi Ko Ko,
I will also start the IBM tests after SCMAD. So, I need to study and pass 1 exam in 1 week (at most 1.5 week).
So, if you take 287 on last week of March, then when you will take 484 and 486? Or you have already passed them?
Sure, I will let you know the study focus.
Nick.

[Ko Ko Naing]

Originally posted by Nicholas Cheung:

So, if you take 287 on last week of March, then when you will take 484 and 486? Or you have already passed them?

No not yet, Nick... I feel that I need more study for UML and related stuffs... That's why I'm going for 287 first... One more cert interesting is XML... Have u finished it, Nick? I'm going for it soon... Lots of certs to do, but we got limited time and money...

[Nicholas Cheung]

Hi Ko Ko,
I am still in progress.
Becos all vouchers for IBM end on 31 Mar, 2004, thus, I must finish all them before 31 Mar, 2004.
Here is my tentative schedule:
SCMAD: 22 Feb 2004
IBM 484: 6 Mar 2004
IBM 486: 13 Mar 2004
IBM 287: 27 Mar 2004
SCBCD: 1 May 2004
Very tight schedule becos of the "sudden" exam about SCMAD and SCWCD beta.
Nick.

[Ko Ko Naing]

Originally posted by Nicholas Cheung:

Here is my tentative schedule:
SCMAD: 22 Feb 2004
IBM 484: 6 Mar 2004
IBM 486: 13 Mar 2004
IBM 287: 27 Mar 2004
SCBCD: 1 May 2004

Nick!!! That's really really tight schedule... How did u do that? Three IBM's certs within one month...
I'm also taking SCMAD on 21st or 22nd... But not yet registered... Probably on 22nd coz I got more time to study on Saturday... U and me the same again, like in SCWCD Beta...

[Pradeep bhatt]

From where did you get the free certification vouvhers from?

[Nicholas Cheung]

Hi Ko Ko,
I have around 4 years working experiences in J2EE and OOAD, thus, it is not difficult for me to understand the concepts.
If the exams (not like SCWCD 1.3) do not require memorization, but performance based, I guess I only need to refresh my memory within a short period.
I hope I can get all done! In fact, I want to prepare a bit longer, especially 287, but the vouchers are going to expiry so soon.
BTW, which book you will use to prepare SCMAD? The one suggests by Kathy? I dont remember the exact name, does the one "Wireless Java", published by APress?
Nick.

[Nicholas Cheung]

Hi Pradeep,
The vouchers are not free-of-charge. Each of them is obtained from IBM.
When you take the ICE pre-assessment test for certain exams (need to pay for US 10), if you pass, IBM will then send you a free voucher for the real test of that exam.
Since ICE is not an offical exam, and there are no receipt from Prometric, I cannot ask my company to pay it for me.
Nick.

[Ko Ko Naing]

Originally posted by Nicholas Cheung:
BTW, which book you will use to prepare SCMAD? The one suggests by Kathy? I dont remember the exact name, does the one "Wireless Java", published by APress?

I have only the first version of that book... I think I'll rely more on the specs... I've already printed out them all... I have one more book... It's Professional Mobile JAVA with J2ME by Mikko Kontio... But it's not updated as well...
I think I can read the specs for that... Since I got strong foundation in SWING UI programming in the past and have done a little on J2ME...

[Nicholas Cheung]

Hi Ko Ko,
How about the book Enterprise J2ME?
I have also written some MIDLet before, but it was already long time ago (3 years before), and the J2ME version was still 1.0.2.
I hope I can prepare a bit better, maybe I seek for the 2nd edition of the book Wireless Java, hopefully I can find it from bookstore.
Thanks for your advice.
Nick.

[Ko Ko Naing]

Nick, u don't even think about the specs... As u got such amount of experience, I think it's not a big deal for u to follow up the specs... My Wireless Java first edition is really gold for me..... It did build a good background for me in J2ME...
I do recommend u to go for the second edition as well... But for me, since I already have the first edition, I'll pay more attention on the specs and do some programming practice on that book...

[Henry Zheng]

Hey Nick and Ko Ko,
have you two got the vouchers? I'm preparing for the 'MAD' exam now though I haven't got it.
I found the questions might be quite trivial like "which class is in j2se but not in CLDC" or so.
Should we learn that by heart...

[Nicholas Cheung]

Hi Ko Ko,
I have been to the bookstore an hour ago.
Very happy that I saw the book "Wireless Java" 1st edition is on sale. Guess what, it costs only around US 10!!!
Although it maybe a bit out of date, I still purchase this book as the 2nd edition costs me US 30!!
Nevermind, thanks for your suggestions.
Work hard
Nick.

[Nicholas Cheung]

Hi Henry,
I have received my voucher yesterday.

I found the questions might be quite trivial like "which class is in j2se but not in CLDC" or so.

I really wish the exam questions can be that simple.
Nick.

[Henry Zheng]

Hi Nick,
also got my voucher this morning

I really wish the exam questions can be that simple

I am really not good at memorizing such details,though
I prefer code snippets to those 'simple' questions

[Nicholas Cheung]

Hi Henry,
So, when will you take IBM exams? like me and Ko Ko, take it after SCMAD?
Best luck!
Nick.

[Howard Kushner]

Originally posted by Henry Zheng:
It is mentioned in the official page of this book that its level is Intermediate to Advanced.
I have plenty experience in servlet/JSP programming but still a novice in EJB.
Would this book be helpful for me to learn that? or is it too tough for me now?
Thanks

Hi Henry,
We devote three chapters exclusively to EJB's since it is clearly the largest area addressed by the IBM Test 287. There are other EJB books on the market, but my book focuses on the exam objectives, while at the same time showing you how to develop and deploy enterprise applications the WebSphere way.
Regards,

[Henry Zheng]

Hi Nick,
Well I won't take IBM's exam soon after SCMAD, coz I had an SCJD assignment to complete.
But I would prefer to take it before June.
Wish you two good luck in the IBM test

[Henry Zheng]

Thanks Howard,
Your reply really gave me a clear picture of your book.