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To the author: SCBCD Exam Study Kit

 
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Paul,

This is the 2nd book I found from the market which targets to SCBCD. The 1st book is the famous K&B's HF EJB.

I understand that the style of your book should be similar to SCWCD Exam Study Kit (by reading the 2 sample chapters), I would like to know what is the distinction between your book and HF EJB.

Also, what is the motivation for you to write this book? As the exam had been released for around 2 years.

Nick
 
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One more question to the author: which book is easier to read? I don't think the style of Kathy is suitable for serious certification books
[ July 26, 2005: Message edited by: Raj Birru ]
 
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So what should the style of a 'serious' certification book be? Dry and long-winded? Possibly, it should not bring any humor to the table? I have found the HF EJB book to be one of the easiest to read and not fall asleep books in my library. This is one of the first books I mention to anyone that asks about what books to use as a study guide...
 
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Will Sun Up the SCBCD version?
And Will U Up This Book if Sun Up the test version?
 
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Raj, I know that some people like to read only "serious" books. But if it doesnt hold my interest, such books put me to sleep. I definitely prefer the HF series of books....
 
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I enjoy reading "SCWCD Exam Kit" alot, and it is still useful after I've passed the exam. It is not-so-serious certification book but I learn alot from there.

As one of the tester for the SCBCD beta exam, I choose "Enterprise JavaBean" by Richard Monson-Haefel as a study material. It is a serious EJB book and I found that I'm totally loss after reading halfway. Recently I pick up HF EJB and it guides me back to the track, and now I found reading Richard's book wasn't too hard to follow.

Serious or not-so-serious certification book is not the problem, just to pick the book that suits your learning/reading styles. So that you can get most out of it.
 
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I have read both HF and Paul Shangera's book.
I feel both complement each other.
After 2 reads of HF there is only so much that will stick, then I picked up Mannings book, the beauty of this book is that it makes you think, especially topics of life cycle after reading the Manning book It was very easy to remember the lifecycle, it gives you pointers to think through.
Second topic was the environment stuff that was coved in the first chapter, put a lot of things in prspective. There is continuity in this book a very easy read. I feel HF is very good for certification, but after reading the Manning book I feel I could not have passed without it. The other topics I liked was exceptions and transaction. EJBQl was also was good. More over I feel there ia lot of utility after the certification too. One can pick it p write real life applications, the continuitry is there. For eg. in the HF book , I knew the ejbQl was in the DD but where in the DD, how is it linked things like that it was not clear. Could be entirely my error but in my case Paul's book put into perspective.
In summary the focus in Manning's book is to make you think through the logic so a lot less cramming. [ Entirely my perspective]


Kay
SCWCD
SCBCD
 
Nicholas Cheung
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One more question to the author: which book is easier to read? I don't think the style of Kathy is suitable for serious certification books


It depends on what you want. As others said, Mastering EJB is a very detail book, but it is difficult to read. I believe the most serious materials must be EJB specification itself. However, I guess you will find it very painful to read the specification.

Thus, choose a book that you think it is suitable for you is the most important issue, rather than a "serious" book.

Nick
 
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Hi,

I am planning to take SCBCD . How does your book help us in prepartion for exam. Does it covers all objectives. I have just started with EJB. Hope this is good opportunity for me to discuss few doubts.

Thanks
ARathi
 
Nicholas Cheung
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Will Sun Up the SCBCD version?


This issue has been discussed many times, and we expected that the exam will not be upgraded soon as EJB 2.0 and EJB 2.1 is of small difference while EJB 3.0 is still under review.

And Will U Up This Book if Sun Up the test version?


This is for sure if the exam has been upgraded. Just the same case for SCWCD Exam Study Kit.

Nick
 
Nicholas Cheung
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Another advantage of SCBCD Exam Study Kit over HJEJB is PDF version of the book. Despite for privacy problem, it helps you a lot for preparing the examination.


That's might be true, if the PDF version is just an encrypted version.

For Sybex books, you have to read the ebook with the CD with you. If you wanna study in both office (during lunch break) and other locations, you have to bring the CD with you, and you cannout use hand-held devices to read the file as there is no CDRom.

Lucky that SCWCD Exam Study Kit is not in this case.

Nick
 
Nicholas Cheung
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Kay,

I discovered that there are only 10 pages for EJBQL, does the coverage of this topic in SCBCD Exam Study Kit better than HF EJB?

Nick
 
Nicholas Cheung
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Is it subjective ? It is up to your judgement. I have no connection to both publishers.


It really depends. If I am a beginner or of little knowledge, I will prefer HF EJB. But if I am an experienced developer, I would prefer SCBCD Exam Study Kit.

But now, even I got SCBCD and HFEJB, I still prefer to read SCBCD Exam Study Kit.

Nick
 
Nicholas Cheung
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As some comments from javaranchers, Head First EJB is good for SCBCD and ICED tests. How about SCBCD Exam Study Kit ?


HF EJB is good for ICED because of EJB knowledge ONLY, HF EJB did nothing with WSAD specific contents. In this aspect, I believe SCBCD Exam Study Kit will also be useful for EJB related topics.

Nick
 
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Arathi:
Yes, the book covers all the exam objectives, and it does not assume that you already have any experience with EJB. It's written in a logical learning sequence, and there is no hopping from topic to topic.
Hope it helps.
Cheers.
Paul

Originally posted by Arathi Raj:
Hi,

I am planning to take SCBCD . How does your book help us in prepartion for exam. Does it covers all objectives. I have just started with EJB. Hope this is good opportunity for me to discuss few doubts.

Thanks
ARathi

 
Paul Sanghera
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Nick, Raj, Keith, Danny, Vijay,Peter, Kok, Kay, and Arathi:
Thank you for the nice discussion. I agree that different styles are a matter of taste. Some of us prefer funny style the others serious style. However, funny and serious are not the styles themselves, they are the categories of styles. It's possible for a "funny" book to be boring and for a "serious" book to be interesting. In other words the word "serious" is not synonymous to "boring". As long as you keep the reader interested and engaged, regardless you are "serious" or funny; it should work either way.
Cheers.
Paul
 
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The special version of Whizlab SCBCD Exam Simulator, downloadable when you buy the book, only contains 30 questions and certainly not enough for practice!

Originally posted by Peter Sin:
There is one thing that SCBCD Exam Study Kit is superior than Head First EJB. You can download the special version of Whizlabs SCBCD examination simulator.


Peter

 
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Originally posted by Peter Sin:
For one subjective assessment, according to the amazon's average customer review, SCBCD Exam Study Kit is SUPERIOR slightly than Head First EJB.

SCBCD Exam Study Kit = 5 stars
Head First EJB = 4.5 stars

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1932394400/qid=1122435053/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-0665078-9372749

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0596005717/qid=1122435067/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-0665078-9372749

p.s. Is it subjective ? It is up to your judgement. I have no connection to both publishers.



Please note that:
SCBCD Exam Study Kit = 5 stars based on 5 reviews
Head First EJB = 4.5 stars based on 53 reviews.

I will definitely trust HF EJB by this criteria.
 
Devender Thareja
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Originally posted by Paul Sanghera:
Nick, Raj, Keith, Danny, Vijay,Peter, Kok, Kay, and Arathi:
Thank you for the nice discussion. I agree that different styles are a matter of taste. Some of us prefer funny style the others serious style. However, funny and serious are not the styles themselves, they are the categories of styles. It's possible for a "funny" book to be boring and for a "serious" book to be interesting. In other words the word "serious" is not synonymous to "boring". As long as you keep the reader interested and engaged, regardless you are "serious" or funny; it should work either way.
Cheers.
Paul



Well said. I agree.
 
Nicholas Cheung
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SCBCD Exam Study Kit = 5 stars based on 5 reviews
Head First EJB = 4.5 stars based on 53 reviews.

I will definitely trust HF EJB by this criteria.


In fact, both books should be good books and I believe it is better to have more choices to meet different people's needs.

Based from SCWCD experiences, I guess the 2 books will be the best "partners".

Nick
 
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