@kwriley87

I have these video's, and they are long!!! Each video is about 45 minutes long, and there are 20+ video's. The guy who does them is very knowledgeable, but also long winded on his explanations. I watch a few of them, and they are nice. But I believe Professor messer has done a great job on his. Making them very short and to the point. I still believe that Labs are the key to passing the 70-680. IMHO

I found Don Poulton's book to be the best fit. Beware it is long, and the deployment chapters became a time Vampire. But if you can get past deployment by doing labs, it would help a ton in getting this book finished in a timely manner.

I am also waiting for a book to be delivered. Windows 7 Desktop Support and Administration: Real World Skills for MCITP Certification and Beyond (Exams 70-685 and 70-686) by Darril Gibson If you are looking to take the 70-685 or 70-686 then I will let you know how good or bad it is for taking those exams. I plan on taking the 70-685 after completion of 70-680.

Well before yesterday I was thinking about stopping at the 70-680. But I got the book I was waiting on, Darril Gibson's "Windows 7 Desktop support and admin". And I really, really like how its laid out. There are tons of Labs to help you understand the material as you read about it. It also has video's, Flashcard, and practice tests for both the 70-685 and 70-686. I am now leaning toward finishing up my MCITP in the next few months. Then I want to finish up my CIS degree, I only have my Associates degree.

And hear I was thinking that last year this time, I would just get my Network+ and stop. lol

I would also like to get my CCNA and a Linux+ cert. Then look at a SANS GSEC cert or DoDD 8570. But that could change depending on what my career turns into. After the last 3 years, being in Engineering then getting laid off. Then starting in IT and getting a ton of opportunities to learn (drinking from a fire hose), all I can say is I am blessed. And hope I can continue to learn and experience more of the IT field.

Well my 10 year goal is to start my own company. Not for the money reasons, it's way easier and less time consuming to work for the Man. But me and my wife would like some freedom to take off and go places when are kids get older.

But for now I need to learn and experience what I can, where I am now. And my job is pretty unique. I do pretty much everything, I work for a IT consulting firm that has the contract for the City/County we live in. So everything from Desktop support, IP phones, Printers, Servers, e-mail, GIS, Webpage development, and on and on. Everyone I work with has over 8 years of IT experience. I am the newbie, with tons of other background experience. But they saw how hungry I was to learn, and they took a chance on me. Like I said earlier I am Blessed. Getting to my current job, has been a journey. And I like to tell my story when I can, to help those that are just starting out or just need some words of encouragement.

Right now I am planning on taking the 70-685. I don't see a reason to go for the 70-686 right now. I would think I need to take a Microsoft server cert, before diving into a server heavy cert like the 686. IMHO