Preplogic.com - I like it. Makes me feel smart.

Posted 04-12-2009 at 08:14 AM by jaymarting
Updated 02-15-2010 at 09:55 AM by jaymarting (updated for progress)

Tags 2009, audio, firefox, install, newbie, prep logic, preplogic, preplogic.com, training

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About five months ago, I decided to for my CCNA. And I decided to use Preplogic.com to train for it. Preplogic has a fantastic program for networking wannabes (and networking already bes). For those of you only interested in the technology side of things, the CCNA is a decently high level certification from Cisco: Cisco Certified Networking Associate. My career in the networking field has been short for many but lengthy for me. Most of my 4 years have been spent as a Jr Network Admin at a small consulting firm. Here's a little synopsis of why I LIKE PREPLOGIC.COM!

Well after deciding to go for the certification, I had to decide how to go about it. I had heard of Preplogic (and other self paced companies) before but thought it may be better to do something with a live instructor). I considered the local community college - I'm in the Atlanta area (western side) - but that was too expensive and would take me a full 10 months. Books were an option but I was again faced with a time issue. Sure I could read the books and sure they would do the trick but dear God I really didn't want to have to read 650 pages of Cisco Press. And besides that, Preplogic has their own ebook for CCNA that I got for $1 on their site. Using Cisco's book would take me 6 months for sure. I couldn't torture myself like that.

I began doing some online research and came across PREPLOGIC. They were advertising an unlimited access program. It was less expensive than my local CC but much more than some books. So I did more research. I liked the program because they said it gave me access to everything on their site. So after I finished my CCNA I could go on. It works like netflix. I finally bit after the sales guy set me up on payments. I was not really excited about dropping over $1000 bucks in one shot. I've got rent, you know. My thought was this unlimited program from Preplogic better get me a raise!

Long and short of it is, very smart decision on my part. I got my CCNA training from Preplogic and quickly figured out I wasn't ready for it. I needed some additional basics under my belt. So I asked for the Network+ training from Preplogic and got that out of the way and went back to the CCNA. So now I'm A+ (had that already), Network+, and CCNA certified. And now I'm going for my Security+. And I still have another 19 months left on my unlimited subscription. The only complaint I have about the program is that It took me 6 days to get my Security+ training. I wish I could get my stuff more quickly. I hate waiting for anything. But I guess they can't control the post office. [update: Preplogic now offers their training online. I get everything instantly now and can watch it on video.preplogic.com]

Good news is I'm certified. Good news is I'm on my way. Good news is I still have a job while 2 others in our tiny little shop have been... um.... let go. I'll try to keep this blog updated with my progress on the CCNA and my experience with PREPLOGIC.

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1. Preplogic - I like it too I'm also happy with the overall product from Preplogic. The video training is a little long but it's also very comprehensive. I particularly like that Preplogic allows you to bookmark the videos so that you can come back later and pick up where you left off. I tried another certification training company and they weren't as convenient as Preplogic either. I like that you can take Preplogic's audio training with you by downloading it to your MP3 player. I often listen to the training in the car or even at work. I have a few small criticisms about Preplogic. The main one is that I don't like waiting for the materials to arrive in the mail. Preplogic should really think about a completely online delivery process for their training products. Instant access would be a really nice feature, but I guess I can't be to picky because Preplogic's prices are very reasonable. The exams are great too. I've taken other practice exams that were just static and made you work through the entire exam before scoring. The Preplogic exams are superior in my opinion because they allow you to just focus on the portions of the exam that you are having trouble with. I think that this approach produces training results more efficiently. Overall I am really happy with the Preplogic line of products and I will recommend them to anyone who needs certification training.

   Posted 09-11-2009 at 10:04 AM by CiscoRay

2. Preplogic.com is great PMP training too I'm using Preplogic's PMP video training and practice exam. I guess the thing that I like the most is that when I'm finished, not only will I have the certification, I'll be able to "talk the talk". I looked at some other training resources before purchasing the Preplogic training and it seemed like a lot of them were just braindumps that wanted you to memorize the exam questions. That really wasn't a good option for me because I know that any employer would quickly find out if I didn't actually learn the material. The other big advantage for me is that the Preplogic exam allows you to just focus on the areas that you need help with, while skipping the stuff that you already know. I imagine that this would be a huge time-saver for any certification training. If anyone is interested in the Preplogic PMP training, check out my Preplogic Review thread.

   Posted 09-14-2009 at 03:51 PM by pereb Updated 09-14-2009 at 03:53 PM by pereb

3. Preplogic for A+ I'm using Preplogic now for my A+. I've talked about it on my blog here. It seems to be really useful training. I just started this weekend. Like you, I was not very excited about the thought of having to pick up a huge book and read. Going to a course at the local community college really wasn't an option for me either, that's really hard to do when you have work and a family at home. I read a lot of the good reviews here about Preplogic and decided to give it a go. The instructor for the A+ video training is really good. The video is very long though. I'm just glad that they made the training program so that you can learn at your own pace. One thing that I liked about it is that it gives real world examples and shortcuts that IT pro's use. They don't really do that in regular school. Preplogic is really career training and not academic coursework. I think there's a huge difference between the two and it shows. When you're in school you dip your toe into everything and try to get a feel for what you like, but in the real world you have to specialize and receive focused training to succeed. I also have the Preplogic "Mega-Guide" which is nice because I can take it with me to work or anywhere I go really. This is good because if I just have a few minutes I can study it on the go. Same with the Preplogic audio training. I listen to that in the car. I've done just a little so far with the Preplogic practice exams. I need to study more before I dive into those but I did check them out while I was waiting for some of the other materials to be mailed. Preplogic lets you skip around to the sections of the exam that you need help with. That's cool because you don't need to spend time on the stuff you already know. All in all I'm excited about training with Preplogic and I'll keep you guys updated.

   Posted 09-21-2009 at 07:41 AM by lnarea Updated 10-21-2009 at 08:41 AM by lnarea

4. Preplogic's Audio Training? I've been looking around for people who have used Preplogic. I've been using an audio training product from another vendor and it's just not great. I need audio training because I listen in the car and at work. I hear that Preplogic has audio training but I'm concerned because of the quality of the audio training that I've gotten from other companies. Specifically, the product that I'm using right now just seems like someone was dictating the text out of a textbook. The dictator even went so far as to say "see figure 1, figure 2" etc WHEN THERE ARE NO FIGURES. Clearly the "audio training" that I'm getting from this other company was meant to be accompanied by a book and I'm having a hard time following along. Additionally, there are a lot of instances where I feel like this training is out of date and obsolete. So I guess what I'm asking is, is Preplogic's audio training a stand-alone product? What is the overall quality of this training? I don't want to have to spend money on 10 different programs to figure out which one is the best. I'm regretting taking the cheap route now. Everything I've read about Preplogic seems good so far but I just want to hear about the audio training from someone who has used it before I buy. Thanks!

   Posted 09-21-2009 at 03:48 PM by salmon913

5. Audio training is good. Salmon, I've heard that same complaint about some other companies. The audio training from Preplogic is just as good as their other products. I listened to it in the car on the way to work today. It is designed to be standalone and was clearly written from the ground up with the audio format in mind. The "quiz me" audio product is good too. They ask a question, then pause for you to answer, then explain the answer. I'm impressed with the audio training from Preplogic, it had to be written by someone with a background in education because the lectures are formatted in a way that is easy to remember. I'm sure you'll be happy with it.

   Posted 09-22-2009 at 07:44 AM by lnarea

6. Going to try Preplogic Quote: Originally Posted by lnarea Salmon, I've heard that same complaint about some other companies. The audio training from Preplogic is just as good as their other products. I listened to it in the car on the way to work today. It is designed to be standalone and was clearly written from the ground up with the audio format in mind. The "quiz me" audio product is good too. They ask a question, then pause for you to answer, then explain the answer. I'm impressed with the audio training from Preplogic, it had to be written by someone with a background in education because the lectures are formatted in a way that is easy to remember. I'm sure you'll be happy with it. Thanks for letting me know. I went ahead and ordered based on this and other favorable reviews about Preplogic. I am just waiting for the materials to arrive now. Hopefully they will be here by Monday. I'm hoping that it is as good as everyone says it is. It's hard to find good portable training. I've been putting off getting my CCNA forever because I don't have the time to train. Time to get serious about it. I'll let you guys know how it works out. Thanks again.

   Posted 09-24-2009 at 07:42 AM by salmon913

7. Wow. I'm surprised at all the responses. Well I've been working at my new job for 3 months now. They want me to focus on security so I've been studying for security+. I'll be tackling cissp early next year although that one will take me some time. Again, good part is I don't have to pay for any more training since I've already got everything from PrepLogic. By the way, you did well with the PrepLogic audio training. I would suggest you get the video training too though. No way you can pass an exam based on audio training alone no matter how good PrepLogic makes it. Good luck.

   Posted 09-25-2009 at 04:37 AM by jaymarting

8. 	Have you ever used Preplogic for any Microsoft (MCITP) exams? I'm looking at the 70-642 training. I'm just curious if you think it's better to go one exam at a time or go with their unlimited access. Thoughts on this? Also, have you ever tried Measure Up exams? Are they any good as well? I like to two practice exams when I study. Call me paranoid.
   	Posted 09-27-2009 at 03:44 PM by scarce10

9. Preplogic unlimited access Congrats on your new job. I'm still working on my A+ but should have it finished soon. If everything works out the way I'm hoping, I'm seriously thinking about getting on the Preplogic unlimited access plan so I can get some more certs. I've had some friends who are having a little trouble getting a job with just A+ in this economy, but then again we kind of live out in the middle of nowhere so your mileage may vary. I haven't decided whether I want to go with Microsoft or Cisco but Preplogic trains for both so I guess with unlimited access I'd be covered either way.

   Posted 10-08-2009 at 03:57 PM by lnarea

10. Lnarea: Preplogic unlimited access is a great choice. I like it because it's hard to come up with hundreds or even a thousand dollars up-front for training. That's a major purchase for me. But unlimited access lets me just pay a low monthly fee and get all the training I need. I used it for my A+, Net+, Security+ and now am working on my MCITP. It's really the best value of any training I've seen. I don't have to save up or plan whenever I need a new credential and it's just a lot easier. In today's economy, it's especially silly to think that you can get by with just 1 certification so it's important to plan ahead. You should do well on this plan with Preplogic.

    Posted 10-29-2009 at 02:02 PM by Tancredi

11. Just wanted to update. I'm going to sit for my A+ on Friday and I'm happy to report that I'm feeling very confident. Also, I did call Preplogic and talked to a very friendly representative who switched me to unlimited access and applied what I have already paid toward the balance. I'm really excited about getting my first certification on Friday and moving up from there. Thanks to everyone for all of the encouraging advice, and thanks to Preplogic for great training. I'll update after the test to let you all know how it went.

    Posted 11-04-2009 at 08:30 AM by lnarea

12. 	Passed A+! So as expected I passed my 2nd A+ exam on Friday. So that's on my resume now and I'm excited. I don't think I would have been able to accomplish that in such a short time without Preplogic. Now I need some help with what's next. I don't know whether to go for Net+, Security+ or just straight for CCNA? Does anyone have any advice?
    	Posted 11-09-2009 at 07:57 AM by lnarea Updated 11-11-2009 at 12:33 PM by lnarea

13. Congrats on your A+. From here I think that Net+ is a good way to go. That should help you with getting your foot in the door. Then once you're on the job you can get experience toward a CCNA or MCITP or something, but in the meantime you can go with Security+. It seems like a lot of companies are looking for security certs right now. It's good that you're on the preplogic unlimited program - you should take advantage of that to really beef up your resume. any job prospects yet? keep us posted.

    Posted 11-13-2009 at 09:13 AM by mauhong1

14. 	Redhat just added by PrepLogic. Good addition.
    	Posted 12-08-2009 at 10:09 PM by jaymarting

15. preplogic worked great for my CCNA training I Just finished my CCNA training with preplogic and passed my exam no problem. There are so many different courses out there to choose from, but I heard so many good things about preplogic from my colleague, that I decided to go with them also. I am very happy with my purchase and the quality of instruction is pretty impressive. If you are thinking about getting any type of certification, because they offer pretty much everything, definitely give preplogic a try. Preplogic runs a ton of specials AND offer you the opportunity to preview their training at a super discounted price. That way, you can not only decide if you really like preplogic, but also really find out how serious you are about getting certified. I was very hesitant to dive into the preplogic training commitment for several reasons- the time, money and overall fear of failure. Usually I have heard horror stories about people signing up for a college based class and being instantly overwhelmed with the amount of work and energy it will require. When I watched my first lecture series of the CCNA preplogic training, I felt just the opposite, like this endeavor was totally possible. I just made studying a routine and the material wasn't too challenging. I accredit this to the preplogic instructors and idea to create a audio supplement for reinforcement. The instruction is quality and with the promotions they run, I would have been kicking myself for not taking the initiative. Now that I’m done with my CCNA and it went pretty quickly, I'm using my momentum to take advantage of the preplogic unlimited access package and continue on with my MCITP The beauty of the Preplogic unlimited package is that it gives you a lot of freedom in your purchase. We all know that our careers take turns as circumstances or opportunities arise. Well, with the preplogic unlimited access package, I can go in any direction I choose with my career and the training material will still be there for two years. This way, if a potential job position is appealing to me, and I am lacking a specific certification requirement, preplogic will still allow me access to that material so I can acquire that certification at anytime. I took the preplogic practice exams before the CCNA test and felt very comfortable with the material. I can't say the same about the technical college I paid big bucks for to get my A+, the comparison of training was night and day. I wish I had known about preplogic sooner so I could have taken more advantage of their unlimited access package. Another cool thing about the actual preplogic training material is that the training videos and audio series made retaining information so easy, compared to other instruction I've had. I think some of the instructors in the video were actually more interesting and better teachers than I have had in a classroom. Also with preplogic, I was able to stop and go back over whatever section I needed to. This is such a nice luxury when you need a break and you don't need to worry about missing anything. If you do end up ordering preplogic, make sure you order the audio lecture series with whichever certification training you order. If you have a long commute to work, you can download the same material to your ipod. This was such a huge benefit for my 45 minute daily commute, as well as long flights traveling for work between our east and west coast offices. The preplogic practice exams and the quiz me series are the best way to boost your confidence for the exam. As anyone who has ever studied for one of these tests, there is a ton of material to remember. With the preplogic "quiz me series" and practice exams, you gain a very accurate understanding of how you will do on the actual certification exam. This was very helpful also in deciphering what sections I needed to study more thoroughly. I can honestly say, preplogic took a lot of pressure off me, knowing how successful the course was for my colleagues and how well I did with the practice exams. Sure enough, I felt very confidant with my performance on test day.

    Posted 02-12-2010 at 11:48 AM by tech4545

16. glad to see this thread cuz I have been hunting around for a good prep solution for my A+ I'm about to take. I don't feel prepared to head into the test even though yes, I know, the A+ test is like a basic as they come. Call me a noobie or whatever you want to call it, I'm still starting somewhere, right? I know that this will be the first of many different certifications that I get. I'll definitely have to check out the Preplogic site and see what they are all about. At first glance the site looks like they have a ton of info, so I'll just have to take a closer look and see what they really offer. Sounds like a lot of good comments though about them, at least at first glance. I'll check back in soon!

    Posted 05-13-2010 at 12:04 AM by gbaxtin

17. moving on to bigger and better from Net+. Commented a while ago asking what everyone would suggest beyond that. Just have had time to jump back in here. I'm looking for some direction on the next path to take for increasing my certifications. Some of my buddies that have gotten certified told me that it's kinda addicting, and I totally agree now. Each certification makes me feel more accomplished and helps a lot. Right now, however, I'm still kinda in the basement as far as certifications go and I want to continue to beef up my certs. Anyone have any good suggestions on the path to take? I'd love to hear some experience stories where more certs have helped with salary and getting jobs.

    Posted 05-18-2010 at 10:38 AM by lnarea

18. Inarea: it kinda depends on what your current job situation is and what you want to do with your career. One of the hottest certs right now is MCITP, and a lot of my buddies are going for that. Obviously MCITP is Microsoft specific but again, what you decide depends on what you want to do. How is your current salary and stuff? I guess none of us are ever really happy with our current salary, but one thing I will say is that as I have built up my certification list/profile, my salary has gone along for the ride, in the upward direction. So whichever track you choose, the only thing I would say is to put your mind to it and go for it. Preplogic does have a lot of good resources for the training stuff. I have used them in the past as well. Make sure you are prepared for each test before you go and sit for it. It looks like you passed your A+ and Net+ pretty easily, so I have faith in you as you go and take more. I will say, however, as you know, that those are definitely going to be the easiest exams you will see in your whole certification experience. CompTIA is great for a base foundation, but as you go on it gets a little more uphill. My first couple exams on my way to MCITP have taken me a while to prepare and I even failed one once and had to re-take it. Hard for me to do double duty with my job and studying for these exams at the same time, but we can all find time to knock out the things that really mean something to us, right? Let me know how it goes.

    Posted 05-18-2010 at 12:41 PM by pereb

19. I have now had a chance to check out these guys and everything is solid. Had a really good convo with one of the sales guys and he steered me toward their unlimited access program. This will give me all the access I need to train for my A+ and beyond. I'm the kind of person who will try to hunker down and knock out just a huge list of certs but I know this takes time. Either way, I wanted to echo a lot of the above positives from a PrepLogic perspective. These guys were solid and I think they are just starting to really gain some ground in the industry. I'll keep the wave going cuz I really don't think there is a better solution out there. Once I got a chance to jump in and take a look at the videos I found them to be actually easy to understand and follow along. Most of the exam prep resources I have used in the past were bone dry and I would like fall asleep. I think the video style is the best style that works for me from a study habits perspective. I find it much easier not only to follow along but also to retain the info when I get ready to take the test. Overall, I would highly recommend Preplogic. These guys have been great.

    Posted 05-18-2010 at 01:11 PM by gbaxtin

20. Pereb: I totally agree with you from the "it depends" standpoint. I also agree that the A+ and Net+ are the easiest exams. I have started to take a look at Preplogic's training material for some other certification exams and it all looks a bit more daunting than the A+ and Net+ material. Unfortunately, to answer the salary question, I am definitely not happy with my current situation and I feel like I am underpaid. Call me greedy, but that's definitely one of the main reasons I am trying to get certified, so I can see if (1) the certs will give me a boost OUTSIDE of my current job (like looking for a new one), or (2) they will show my current employer that I am worth more money. I am hoping one of those two things happens, and happens soon. I just really can't take it anymore and I have some personal situations that are requiring me to find more money somewhere, wherever it may come from. I figured that getting certified would not only increase my salary to solve my problem, but also give me the benefits of being certified as well, which has job happiness and other benefits as well. I will definitely make sure that I am ready for each exam. You were right that I did pass my A+ and Net+ pretty easily, but again, I know those are the easiest. The last thing I would want to do is somehow fail and have to retake the test multiple times. I don't have the time or money for that by any means.

    Posted 05-27-2010 at 05:27 PM by lnarea

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