A+ Certification?

[Bobtheduck]

I am NOT an IT guy... Not in the slightest... I can't fix or build computers, and my hands don't handle really small things very well, and those ribbons...

Still, I used to be really up on computers... Like, when I was in HS... Well, I just can't take how out of date I am... Well, in my school Library, I saw this guide to A+ certification... Well, I don't think I'd want to get certification, but maybe if I started to become more knowledgeable, I would want to consider it... It would be nice to have on a resumeé, I would assume. I was just wondering a few things:

1.How long does it generally take to get certification? That book was massive... Is this, say, a yearlong training? 6 months? Is it feasable to get in 2 months?
2.How often and how drastically does the subject matter for the test change? The book in the library was only up to date as far as 2001, so XP wasn't even in there. I assume the test changes rather drastically when a new OS comes out, and with Vista coming, is it even worth using that guide?
3. Is there a way to follow only what changes in the test rather than reading another entire book? Or is it just accepted that people who read the books at that level should be able to figure things out on their own past that point?

At the very least, I wanted to read an A+ book just to de-dumb myself... To catch up a bit from what I've lost in the last 7 years...

[Mr. Rogers]

The A+ certification shouldn't take too long if you have some time to study almost everyday. I'd say a few months at most. I think the test changes every couple years (you need to upgrade your certs sometimes). But I don't think it changes too badly (I would assume mostly the software section, obviously). http://www.comptia.org/ has a lot more information. There are a few good A+ cert books out there. I was studying for my A+ and Network + before I started going to school, I still need to finish those... >_>