Typical of the Using series, this book attempts to document its subject completely and does an admirable job. In these pages, you'll find information on every menu, button, and dialog box you might encounter while using Microsoft Outlook 98--and for that reason, this book is valuable. On the other hand, documentation-oriented computer books tend to take something of a machine-centric view of the world, and aren't always as attentive to human situations. Padwick begins by helping you dive into Outlook, explaining how to use the program to send and receive electronic mail and access Usenet newsgroups. Almost simultaneously, the author explains how to work with information you acquire to perform such tasks as searching message archives. He then steps back, detailing the processes involved in connecting to information resources such as the Internet or a local area network (LAN). His documentation of these potentially confusing topics is intelligent and thorough. Subsequent chapters cover the mechanics of advanced messaging procedures, such as sorting incoming mail with filters and synchronizing folders.