The difference between Kaplan 800 and Kaplan GMAT 2007 (with CD-Rom) is that Kaplan 800 does not come with a CD-Rom, but includes all the difficult questions from Kaplan GMAT 2007. Kaplan GMAT 2007 comes in two versions: 1 with CD-Rom, the other without. Between the two Kaplan GMAT 2007 versions, make sure to get the books that include the practice CD-Rom. They're only about $15 more expensive than the books without the CD-Rom and the practice tests are definitely worth it! Here we only include the CD-Rom version.
Two things set Kaplan's book apart from the Princeton's Review's book. First, Kaplan's book tends to focus on methodical ways of doing problems whereas the Princeton Review's book looks more at shortcuts for solving problems. Which one you choose depends on your personal preference for solving problems. If you're the type who likes a step-by-step method for each problem, Kaplan is the book for you. On the other hand, if you would rather skip all that and just learn the quickest way to find the answer, the Princeton Review's book might be more suited to you.
The other main difference is the difficulty of the practice exams included with the book on a CD-Rom. Kaplan's practice tests tend to be more difficult than the actual exam while the Princeton Review's tests are a little easier. Again, which one you choose is a matter of personal preference as to how high you want to see yourself scoring before the real thing.
Consult the Game Plan to determine if you should buy one or both of these books. Regardless of what you decide, make sure to get the books that include the practice CD-Rom. They're only about $15 more expensive than the books without the CD-Roms and the practice tests are definitely worth it!
