Customer Reviews

Running Microsoft Outlook 98

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If you're like me and can't use Outlook 97 anymore due to security changes made by your ISP then I suggest this book as the CD it contains has the hard to find upgrade to Outlook 98. However, as a reference text this book is only useful if you are a true beginner.

Outlook has lot of good features, but the interface is disorganized. This is a reasonably well-organized book with enough depth to satisfy a user who wants to get up to speed. It helps you get find your way through the maze Microsoft has used to group various options. It also offers some help with advanced features like writing Visual Basic routines, but it's real strength is that it's for non-nerds who want to get the most out of Outlook. (There's at least one major error - it described field mapping, which was apparently in the Outlook 98 beta but was omitted from the final version. There's now a badly implemented patch for field mapping available on the Microsoft web site.)

Neibauer writes extremely well, and his book will show anyone unfamiliar with Outlook 98 the program's basic functionality and use. However, it has one major flaw: It inadequately covers the forms creation and use feature of Outlook 98 and how that feature could be implemented to make Outlook perform for you. This "Running..." title from Microsoft Press is inconsistent with other full-coverage content titles in the "Running" series for Office products. It is more a beginner's guide than a "user's" guide.

...if you're looking for something for the power-user, IMHO, it doesn't fit the bill. But, it is good for the one who has to install and configure OL98. Plus! It comes with a copy of Outlook 98 on the accompanying CD-ROM. That was my main reason for purchasing the book since MS pulled the OL98 download when Outlook 2000 became available.

I needed a reference to help me set up Outlook '98 for about 100 uses. This isn't it. It is very weak on forms, and completely omits file structure and "under the hood" details of how Outlook works. If you are a beginner or just want the basics, it's probably okay. If you need technical details, information on customization, or coverage of advanced topics, this is not the book.

This book is like all of the rest of the publications from the Microsoft Press - pointless. All this book does is step you through the online menu's of the program itself. It does not offer any solutions or propose any uses for the program. If you are intimidated by computer programs and would rather read about them than try them out yourself, get this book. Otherwise, just try out the program. What we in the IT industry could REALLY use is a guide containing practical uses and implementation schemes for the product.