2 stars (Poorly written) - I am using this book in a CCNA semester 1 class. Although it is by Cisco and therefore contains the information they want you to know, it is poorly written. It is as if the original text were 3 times as long, and to shorten it, they had to take out every third sentence, because it does not flow, and concepts are often only half-explained. I am *often* reading it and think "What????" (And I'm fairly certain it's not just me - I have a B.S. and M.S in Computer Science and plenty of real-world computer experience). All in all, I have to say that this is not a high-quality book. Although it's not a substitute for the CCNA material, I really like the book called "Interconnections" by Radia Perlman. 5 stars (An Excellent Companion) - Cisco seems to have made a transition from being a high performance workstation and server supplier to being a supplier of high end networking equipment. It seems like you cannot go into an Internet Service Provider without seeing at least some Cisco equipment. As such, being an authority on Cisco equipment and even more important understanding the Cisco approach to networking is a good start on employment. And the crowning achievement is the Cisco Certified Network Associate certificate. This book is a companion to the on line course. It was written by the people who wrote the exam so it covers what you need to know to pass it. ... Cisco Press :: Computers & Networking & General :: Tests :: Test Prep :: Study Guides :: Study Aids :: Networking - General :: Data Transmission Standards And Protocols :: Compute :: CCNA 1 and 2 Companion Guide- Revised (Cisco Networking Academy Program) (3rd Edition) (Cisco Networ
5 stars (To answer the ultimate poker software question:) - First, I am using the Pro version and I also own Wilson's Turbo Texas Holdem. Second, interfaces mean very little to me. I want a deep opponent, plain and simple. Third, I have to finish this review because I can hear the Bots of PA calling me! The bottom line? Wilson has a pattern that admittedly takes some time to get and here it is: It's afraid more than not of excessive raising. All you have to do is win though tight check raising to be up $1000 and it will believe you capable of anyting as it folds to excessive raising. Now keep in mind Wilson's Turbo will every now and then pull a nasty little surprise on you by bluffing while holding nothing all the way past through the river but RARELY. PA PRO though? Geez, I already have a joyous dislike/admiration for what the bots can do. And the bluffing they can pull! Think you gonna ALL IN them into death? Or check raise them to death? Heh, see you in the bread line. I caught myself swearing like a sailor at some of the moves by this program! Did I say I didn't care for interfaces? Sheesh, if the AI wasn't so damn good(I kinda get the creeps when I see it load EVERY hand I have ever played against it)then the graphics and ergonomics would have begrudgingly gotten a nod. But due to its intelligent and imposing opponents the rest of the game is a sight to behold. Kinda like the graphics at Paradise Poker. I love the Blue table option. This software is INVOVLING. Just get it and enjoy. (I intend to follow up with several records of various hands played by both titles PA vs. TTH It'll be funnnnnn.... 5 stars (Great Learning Tool and Excellent Player Models) - I am very pleased with my purchase of "Poker Academy: Texas Hold 'Em". It offers several variants of play and several models of players to play against. Writing software that simulates a good poker player is non-trivial and my experience with other poker games and/or learning tools is that the authors ... Pokersoft- LLC :: poker :: academy :: texas :: hold :: -em :: mac :: pokersoft :: llc :: games :: kids :: pokeracademy-texashold-em(mac) deluxe :: Poker Academy- Texas Hold -Em (Mac)
3 stars (Good/Bad, I can't classify it, it goes all over the board) - I'm going to warn everyone looking at buying this game to make sure that their computer's specs are much more than the requirements of this game. My Computer has twice the requirements and I get really choppy performance (twice the RAM, twice the processor speed, a better than recommended graphics card, et cetera). The reason anyone's going to be looking at this game is for the lightsaber combat, which is awesome!. The problem is that when you're fighting someone else with a lightsaber, there's so much that the computer has to do, that your framerate drops to unacceptable levels. One thing to look at is this game's predecessor, Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast. My computer runs that game flawlessly, even with multiple jedi duking it out with all their powers. So I don't get why my coputer can't run this as well. One area where this game is much better than it's predecessor is the maps. In Jedi Knight 2, I'm always looking at the maps and thinking about, "why is there this bottomless pit here?" Or, "How did all those guys up there shooting at me get there, there's no way up or down from there." At least in the two levels of this game that I've played (I have the demo, not the full game) everything seems to have a purpose where it is, even if it does seem a little odd (like a tomb in ruins, that's built straddling a bottomless rift) As for the story, I can't tell you whether or not it's compelling like the one in Jedi Knight 2 or not because I haven't played the full game, but from what I've read, it's a lot more contrived than it's predecessor. So beware of this game, don't play it unless your computer is at LEAST 1.25ghz and you have about 512mb RAM, otherwise you'll get stutters where you don't know what's happening. As for me, I'm not going to buy it solely because of the poor performance I've gotten on the demo, I might buy it for my xbox though, just so I can play it through. 2 stars (Could... Aspyr Media :: star :: wars :: jedi :: knight :: jedi :: academy :: mac :: aspyr :: media :: games :: video :: games :: starwarsjediknight-jediacademy(mac) 19 december :: 20 :: Star Wars Jedi Knight- Jedi Academy (Mac)
5 stars (If Horse Back Riding is your thing...) - then, this is the game for you. You can ride in all different locations around the world - which is fun. For example, in Holland you go past windmills, and in Switzerland you ride past mountain top huts. Since the controls are uncomplicated, you can enjoy the game right away. In order to win races, you need to be strategic with the horse you choose for the track and conditions. Also, my daughter and I race against each other, which is why I have to practice. I am having fun with this and I am the grown up in the family! Even better, she's only 8 and she's doing just fine with it. She's even better at it than me! ... Viva Media- LLC :: riding :: academy :: jump :: ride :: viva :: media :: llc :: home :: education :: kids :: parenting :: ridingacademy-jump-ride 01 october :: 200 :: Riding Academy- Jump - Ride
5 stars (Handy and Useful, but pricey) - This book is a concise reference for use by practitioners and those on the shop floor. I use it daily in our one square mile manufacturing complex. Our people understand the tools with help of the illustrations. The how to use the tools is clear. Sure some may be overwhelmed by the statistical detail; however, the graphs are useful in showing folks what we as a team are working towards. At only 265 pages, this spiral book is pricey, but that's expected from the millionaires of the Six Sigma Academy. ASQ's entries into this segment pale in comparison. Overall, I use it in any public course offering I teach. Keep it simple! ... Goal-QPC :: Sports :: General :: Business & Economics & Finance :: Six SIGMA Academy :: Goal Qpc :: :: Black Belt Memory Jogger- Pocket Guide for 6 Sigma Success
