Industry and commerce are overwhelmingly led by 'Microsoft' Networking and Server Operating-Systems. The standard platform for around eight to nine out of every ten business networks is predicted to be 'Windows' Server. This application has seen quite a few upgrades now, beginning with NT server, after that turning into Server 2000, Server 2003 & right now 'Server 2008'. A substantial number of companies still use 'Server 2003' as their standard platform, & do not plan to change. It's more probable that installation up-grades to 'Server 2008' will be needed by companies that need to miss a generation or 2, from 'NT' or 2000. If you look at our MCSA & MCSE web-pages, you'll discover more about Networking, Servers and the question of Server 2003 verses 2008.

Think about the following points very carefully if you've been persuaded that the marketing blurb about examination guarantees seems like a good idea:

It's become essential these days that we are a bit more aware of hype - and the majority of us ought to cotton on to the fact that we're actually paying for it - they're not just being charitable and doling out freebies! If you want to qualify first 'go', then the most successful route is to pay for each exam as you go, give it the priority it deserves and be ready for the task.

Take your exams at a local pro-metric testing centre and go for the best offer you can find when you're ready. A lot of unscrupulous training providers make a great deal of profit because they're charging for examinations upfront and hoping either that you won't take them, or it will be a long time before you do. Many training companies will require you to sit pre-tests and prohibit you from re-taking an exam until you've demonstrated an excellent ability to pass - which makes an 'Exam Guarantee' frankly useless.

Exams taken at VUE and Prometric centres are in the region of 112 pounds in Britain at the time of writing. Why spend so much more on 'Exam Guarantee' fees (often hidden in the cost) - when the best course materials, the right level of support and a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools are actually the key to your success.

If you may be starting with a certification company that is still using workshops as a feature of their programme, then consider these problems reported by many students:

- Many round trips - often 100's of miles or more.

- Getting constant holidays or time off - most companies will only provide Mon-Fri class availability and typically group 2-3 days together. This is generally difficult for those of us who work for a living, even more so when travel time is included.

- Usually, we end up feeling 4 weeks off each year is not really enough. Spend a big chunk of this for educational events and see your problems doubled.

- Training events can become bloated with students.

- Some trainees lean towards a somewhat more suitable pace - rather than be dictated to by the rest of the class. Often this can bring about a lot of tension amongst the class.

- Let us not ignore the added financial outlay of driving or taking public transport or accommodation over-night either. This may well run to many hundreds of pounds more - sometimes thousands. Work it out - you'll get a shock.

- Not wanting employers to know about the training is often very important to most trainees. You don't want to lose any possible promotions, income boosts or achievement at work because you're getting trained in a different area. When your boss discovers you're taking steps towards certification in another sector, what are they going to be thinking?

- It's not unusual to find that, at times, it's uncomfortable to raise questions in a class full of our fellow trainees - so we don't appear ignorant.

- If you occasionally work away from home, it's a fact of life that workshops now become difficult to get to - but unfortunately, the money has already been paid.

Why not just watch and learn with teachers one-to-one through pre-made modules, doing them when it's convenient for you, not someone else. Whenever an ugly problem rears its head, make use of the 24x7 support (that we hope you'll insist on with any technical courses.) Bear in mind, if you've got a notebook PC, you can study just about anywhere. Repeat lessons and modules whenever you feel you need to - repetition aids memory. And you can say goodbye to note-taking - it's already laid on for you. Could it get any simpler: No wasted time or money, travelling is avoided; and of course you get a more stress-free training environment.

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