Sun Java Course

meghatronic · 13 May 2008 at 22:24

Has anyone ever been on the above either in UK or elsewhere? I'm quite interested in one, as I won't have to pay myself. Waste of time? CDROM/books better? My Java is very rusty, I can hack other people's source... but building something complex from scratch is a laughable concept.

Been looking at the following:

Code:

Instructor-led training
5 days
Java Programming Language (SL-275-SE6)

Web-based training
180 days
Java Programming Language (WJB-275A)

Web-based training
365 days
New Features in the Java SE 6 Platform (WJO-1001)

Web-based training
180 days
J2SE Platform 5.0 for the Developer: Language Changes (WJO-2762)

ePractice exam
365 days
ePractice Certification Exam for the Sun Certified Programmer for the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition 5.0 (WGS-PREX-J055)

Exam voucher
Up to 1 year
Sun Certified Programmer for the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition 5.0 (CX-310-055)

Sic · 13 May 2008 at 22:57

if you're not paying, go for the instructor-led one. I want to do the MySQL equivalent at some point, but I'm damned if I'm picking up the tab for it!

meghatronic · 13 May 2008 at 23:04

Sic said:
if you're not paying, go for the instructor-led one. I want to do the MySQL equivalent at some point, but I'm damned if I'm picking up the tab for it!

I couldn't believe how expensive they were..... I thought maybe they include accommodation. Nope!

I reckon it's going to work out cheaper to go the the USA one, although I'm not sure what effect that has on sitting the exam/using www stuff etc...

RockLobster · 14 May 2008 at 00:16

jdickerson said:
I couldn't believe how expensive they were.....

£3k?

meghatronic · 14 May 2008 at 09:28

RockLobster said:
£3k?

£1700 for this one.... only 5days taught! And technically you're supposed to have done the fundamentals first... which is another £1500 if you want it in a classroom.

drak3 · 14 May 2008 at 10:20

I am not sure if these courses will help you become a better "Designer", because building from scratch is the job of a software designer. A java programmer is a person who can convert a detailed specification into fully functional code that satisfies the spec.

Not sure what they cover, but if they will teach you "java" as in how to produce generic code etc. you will still be unable to build froms scratch

fumbles · 15 May 2008 at 14:03

I've done something similar, not worth the money. Just buy yourself a good book, or just use sun.java.com

Dj_Jestar · 15 May 2008 at 14:56

drak3 said:
I am not sure if these courses will help you become a better "Designer", because building from scratch is the job of a software designer. A java programmer is a person who can convert a detailed specification into fully functional code that satisfies the spec.

Not sure what they cover, but if they will teach you "java" as in how to produce generic code etc. you will still be unable to build froms scratch

Developer, not designer.

meghatronic · 15 May 2008 at 19:34

fumbles said:
I've done something similar, not worth the money. Just buy yourself a good book, or just use sun.java.com

Thanks. I think I'm going to get the web-based course from sun. About 90% cheaper.

fumbles · 16 May 2008 at 03:56

jdickerson said:
Thanks. I think I'm going to get the web-based course from sun. About 90% cheaper.

Honestly I think that would be worse, at least with an instructor you can ask questions and get help etc. If its the cisco/sun one, then I can tell you now it's rubbish.
With the course it really depends on the teaching ability of the guy teaching it. This also gives you a more structured way of learning it.
Although I still think a $90 book and a few hours on the weekend is your best bet, or java.sun.com (not sun.java.com, whoops)