The most obvious difference between the CompTIA Linux+ and the older version is that this newer version covers a wider variety of topics and questions on the hardware. However, there are also some smaller changes that might affect the way you think about problems that were found on the exam. For instance, instead of having the CompTIA logo as the answer key, the newer version uses the Device Support Profile tool that has been standardized by the USB TypeID project. In some ways, this doesn’t really change much. It is more like adding a different layer to the exam instead of changing the content of the question.
Examining the two different versions side-by-side can show you what has changed and why. On the surface, the most obvious difference is that there are two different questions with two different answer keys. This is a minor point. In reality, it is the real deal breaker. While it might not seem like much right away, the difference in behavior between the two versions of the exam shows that vendors are following different standards when it comes to USB type devices.
Another example is laptop support. On the one hand, both versions of the exam require laptop support for every topic. On the other hand, laptop support is a different implementation of the same standard. When laptops began to become common place on business computers around the world, it became necessary to provide laptop support for those who use these devices. The USB port was never designed to handle laptop drives, so it created a need for laptop drivers.
The USB ports and laptop drivers developed by different vendors are incompatible. Each one uses their own implementation of the USB specification. Most of the time, this leads to the laptop always having problems trying to communicate with a USB device. In practice, this can often times be fixed by installing the proper USB drivers. The USB support issue has affected all of the versions of the Comptia Linux+ Practice Exam.
Examining the different versions of the question types can help you determine which questions will have different behavior. The most common question types on any exam include word, numerical, triangle, and fill. The only way to determine which question types will have different behaviors is to study each question individually. For instance, you could mark the text boxes and highlight the correct answers. You would then find the other questions and check the question types to see if the behavior for that question type is the same.
Another common problem comes from laptop support issues. Many people who use laptops to take the exam will experience various laptop support issues. Some of these laptop support issues can cause the laptop to not boot up or shut down properly. Other laptop support issues might prevent you from using certain functions on the laptop. This means you might have to download and install different software applications to get the function working again.
The only way to fix laptop support issues is to purchase a new laptop from the Comptia support page. Support pages for every product line are listed on the product support page. You can also go to the laptop support page for the specific product line. By purchasing a new laptop from the link above, you will have the ability to download and install the newest version of the operating system on your laptop.
