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tramahound · Mar 23, 2004, 02:22 PM

I'm preparing to become an Apple Certified Technician, but wonder if I should just go and take the test already. I'm reading the Mac OS X Panther Unleashed book to prepare for the OS X Help Desk Essentials exam and I've gotten about half-way through. It's concentrating a lot on the Unix underpinnings and I wonder if it's something I should even worry about reading into. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to know as much about Unix as possible, but for the test it doesn't seem particularly important. On Apple's skill assessment guide they list the command line once maybe twice. It just doesn't seem like I would be utilizing my time well by reading over these very lengthy parts of the book. I'm very curious as to how I would do and want to just take the exam to find out. If I take it and fail miserably, does that stay on my record if I later go and ace it? Is there anything wrong with taking the test multiple times? besides, by the time I take it we might be up to Puma or whatever cat Steve calls 10.4!
Any grain of advice you can send my way would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Xeo · Mar 23, 2004, 02:24 PM

Originally posted by tramahound:
by the time I take it we might be up to Puma or whatever cat Steve calls 10.4!

For the record, Puma was 10.1.

tramahound · Mar 23, 2004, 02:33 PM

was it?

Chuckit · Mar 23, 2004, 02:37 PM

Originally posted by tramahound:
was it?

Yep.
10.0 - Cheetah
10.1 - Puma
10.2 - Jaguar
10.3 - Panther

I think every release after Cheetah has been predicted to be called "Lion." Maybe someday it'll actually be right.

Kenneth · Mar 23, 2004, 03:09 PM

Did you get this package?

AppleCare Technician Training (M9312Z/B)

Yea.. I know it costs $299
I bought one last year.
Well.. they provide a lot of information on the site.

Unfortunately, I realized that I don't have the time to study all the material and the subscription is about to expire.

tramahound · Mar 23, 2004, 03:17 PM

That's mostly for the hardware side of the test I thought...

sbjordal · Mar 23, 2004, 03:18 PM

Originally posted by tramahound:
I'm preparing to become an Apple Certified Technician, but wonder if I should just go and take the test already. I'm reading the Mac OS X Panther Unleashed book to prepare for the OS X Help Desk Essentials exam and I've gotten about half-way through. It's concentrating a lot on the Unix underpinnings and I wonder if it's something I should even worry about reading into. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to know as much about Unix as possible, but for the test it doesn't seem particularly important. On Apple's skill assessment guide they list the command line once maybe twice. It just doesn't seem like I would be utilizing my time well by reading over these very lengthy parts of the book. I'm very curious as to how I would do and want to just take the exam to find out. If I take it and fail miserably, does that stay on my record if I later go and ace it? Is there anything wrong with taking the test multiple times? besides, by the time I take it we might be up to Puma or whatever cat Steve calls 10.4!
Any grain of advice you can send my way would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

You've got to focus on hardware for the technician exams. The OS part of the exam is very easy, however, the hardware part is what the focus is on. Are you working for an AASP, or is this for self-learning?

CatOne · Mar 23, 2004, 03:21 PM

Originally posted by Chuckit:
Yep.
10.0 - Cheetah
10.1 - Puma
10.2 - Jaguar
10.3 - Panther

I think every release after Cheetah has been predicted to be called "Lion." Maybe someday it'll actually be right.

Wrong

tramahound · Mar 23, 2004, 03:29 PM

Originally posted by sbjordal:
You've got to focus on hardware for the technician exams. The OS part of the exam is very easy, however, the hardware part is what the focus is on. Are you working for an AASP, or is this for self-learning?

see, that's the 'unique' part. I work for a computer hardware/software reseller. They just want me to get ANY Apple Cert. They don't care which. I was thinking of doing Desktop, but think maybe Portable may be easier to 'just get' as I would not have to worry about the (from what I've heard) difficult and lengthy CRT portion of the Desktop test. Is it worth just going in and taking the OS portion to get it done if I end up passing so I could concentrate on the hardware section which is harder? Do you have to have them both within a certain timeframe of one another?
Thanks

Millennium · Mar 23, 2004, 05:13 PM

Originally posted by Chuckit:
Yep.
10.0 - Cheetah
10.1 - Puma
10.2 - Jaguar
10.3 - Panther

Somewhere along this line, there was a release codenamed Bagheera, but no one knows for sure what it actually applied to. The most plausible theory is that it was 10.1 Server.

Xeo · Mar 23, 2004, 09:39 PM

Originally posted by Millennium:
Somewhere along this line, there was a release codenamed Bagheera, but no one knows for sure what it actually applied to. The most plausible theory is that it was 10.1 Server.

I have been searching for "Bagheera" and "OS X" on Google and I'm not getting much. All I get is Bagheera the Panther from Jungle Book. Obvious connection there, but then it would be closer to 10.3. I have no clue though, as I've never heard that name before today.

I think the list Chuckit posted is accurate for the client GMs at least.

tramahound · Mar 24, 2004, 08:01 AM

so, getting back on track, is anybody certified for desktops or portables through apple? which would be best or easiest to get? Would taking the OS exam to get a feel for it and see if I can pass it be recommended?
Thanks

mitchell_pgh · Mar 24, 2004, 09:33 AM

I'm interested in also becoming certified... Interesting stuff...

Where are you taking the test?

tramahound · Mar 24, 2004, 09:56 AM

There's a Prometric testing facility one town over from me, XINCON TECHNOLOGIES INC...

sbjordal · Mar 26, 2004, 09:56 AM

Originally posted by tramahound:
so, getting back on track, is anybody certified for desktops or portables through apple? which would be best or easiest to get? Would taking the OS exam to get a feel for it and see if I can pass it be recommended?
Thanks

I am certified in both, and the OS exam is relatively easy. The CRT portion of the desktop hardware exam isn't that bad. There are a handfull of questions. The LCD portion and the nitpickyness of the Apple exams make the Portable exam equally hard if you don't know your stuff. I;m not condoning anything, but the all the repair manuals are floating around, as well as repair training manuals etc. Apple also has a training kit for sale, but it;s getting outdated now.

tramahound · Mar 26, 2004, 10:35 AM

Actually, I spoke with the guy that (said he) is responsible for writing both the hardware test and the tech kit that they put out. He said they're not set to change it up until October at least. So I do have some time...

gorickey · Mar 26, 2004, 11:01 AM

I'm ACPT Certified; however, I also have access to GSX where I was able to use all of it's training materials and practice exams in order to get famalier with the type of questions that were going to be asked. My exam was actually proctored by an AppleCare employee of Apple as well, instead of taking it at a Prometric center...

As stated, the "OS Exam" I thought was a piece of cake. I missed one actually, some really nit-picky System Preferences question. Luckily, as of last November, there are no any more OS 9 questions for you to worry about. That's a big plus just to focus on OS X and stuff.

If you are going for the ACPT, I would highly recommend you study up on all past iBook and PowerBook G4 models (especially the DVI model)....I was shocked on the hardware portion how specific some of the questions were in regards to past portable models and the differences between each one.

Hope my insight is helpful and BEST OF LUCK!

tramahound · Mar 26, 2004, 11:07 AM

what is GSX? I called a rep at Apple to see if I was able to have access to any special study materials for the OS exam since your company is an apple value added reseller, but he said they have nothing more. My only options are to read the book I've already been reading or take their $1500 classes...hmm, I registered for a test on May 8th to give myself a deadline. This way I'll read up as much as possible and hope for the best. The apple rep I spoke with keeps telling me to read the OS X Panther Unleashed book which I am, but I'm only half way through it and it's very command-line heavy which according to Apple's test prep outline the exam is not. so i'm wondering if I should just skip around to portions their outline says will be necessary. that would afford me some time to read the Missing Manual book as well which might be beneficial

gorickey · Mar 26, 2004, 11:08 AM

Also, "tramahound"....I want to make sure you understand that passing the OS Exam does NOT make you certified in anything. You have to pass the OS Exam before taking either the ACPT/ACDT portion. In fact, you can't even take the Portable/Desktop without having successfully passed the OS Exam portion first.

It's a (2) part exam to which you need to pass the OS Exam first and then either the ACPT or ACDT to become actually certified and receive your certification certificate.

gorickey · Mar 26, 2004, 11:10 AM

Originally posted by tramahound:
what is GSX?

Global Service Exchange (http://gsx.apple.com)

This is where an AASP places orders via the Web to facilitate repairs and/or order parts; however, it's also a place to get service manuals, training materials, service history, etc. etc....

tramahound · Mar 26, 2004, 11:39 AM

Originally posted by gorickey:
Also, "tramahound"....I want to make sure you understand that passing the OS Exam does NOT make you certified in anything. You have to pass the OS Exam before taking either the ACPT/ACDT portion. In fact, you can't even take the Portable/Desktop without having successfully passed the OS Exam portion first.

It's a (2) part exam to which you need to pass the OS Exam first and then either the ACPT or ACDT to become actually certified and receive your certification certificate.

Yes, I'm aware of that. Actually, I thought it was up to you which part, OS or hardware, you take first. Either way, I was told taking the OS one first is recommended. See, that's my problem with this whole process. Nothing seems certain. The steps to get certified are somewhat fuzzy, and the preparation materials and procedure are anything but certain (to me at least). Prep is anything but convenient for hardware too. I need a mac connected to broadband to use their tech kit. well I have two macs at home neither of which are hooked up to broadband and a mac at work that's not allowed on the network. So I have to struggle through downloading all the materials because they have no book or classes that I can realistically attend. I can't travle to Canada.

gorickey · Mar 26, 2004, 12:08 PM

Originally posted by tramahound:
Actually, I thought it was up to you which part, OS or hardware, you take first. Either way, I was told taking the OS one first is recommended.

Yes, you are correct in the fact that you can choose which to take first. To me, it doesn't really matter which order they are taken...so long as you pass...

The AppleCare employee who proctored the exam told me that in his experience more often than not, people fail the OS Exam the first time and have to take it again. He said people find the Hardware exams easier. I was opposite as stated above I guess...

GOOD LUCK!

tramahound · Mar 26, 2004, 12:45 PM

was this maybe in the days where OS 9 was still included? I could understand that. If it were still in there I don't think I'd even attempt it. Following the rep's advice of reading the Unleashed book I kept thinking "man, if this is all that they'll cover in the test I'm a shoe-in" but then I've gotten to the rather complex BSD/command line section which isn't so simple. however, if that isn't even on the test then I may be just fine. I guess I'll find out soon enough. Like I said though, if the first 11 chapters are pretty much what the exam covers then I may be perfectly fine. It is multiple choice after all though, at least I have some good odds because of that...

gorickey · Mar 26, 2004, 01:16 PM

Originally posted by tramahound:
was this maybe in the days where OS 9 was still included?

Probably; however, I can see how people could struggle with the OS part but fly through the Hardware part for the simple fact that some people actually are just Hardware-oriented and understand how a computer is put together, LCD components/layers, etc. etc....heck, you can be one hell of an Apple hardware repair person without knowing much of anything about the OS...

It sounds like you are doing your homework and will be just fine. Some of the multiple choice questions are just ridiculous and the answers are plain obvious.

tramahound · Mar 26, 2004, 01:20 PM

cool, thanks for the encouragement. it's not easy to come by regarding these exams in my experience so far.
I understand what you mean by just being hardware-oriented. I'm OS-oriented so hopefully the all-or-nothing tech kit will be enough to get me to pass the hardware exam. I found it encouraging that the person that writes the exam also prepares the tech kit materials. that's good at least...

gorickey · Mar 26, 2004, 01:22 PM

Originally posted by tramahound:
cool, thanks for the encouragement. it's not easy to come by regarding these exams in my experience so far.
I understand what you mean by just being hardware-oriented. I'm OS-oriented so hopefully the all-or-nothing tech kit will be enough to get me to pass the hardware exam. I found it encouraging that the person that writes the exam also prepares the tech kit materials. that's good at least...

I'll be interested in your results, report back after your exam...

And again, GOOD LUCK!

moonmonkey · Mar 27, 2004, 03:10 AM

Originally posted by Millennium:
Somewhere along this line, there was a release codenamed Bagheera, but no one knows for sure what it actually applied to. The most plausible theory is that it was 10.1 Server.

wasn't there a Tigger too?