Easy Internet (4th Edition)

A lot of people buy computers these days specifically to use the Internet. Easy Internet does a commendable job of explaining what you'll need to find out first to do so successfully: how to send and receive e-mail, view Web pages, search for information, and participate in chat groups. There's a little bit on basic Web publishing, too.

The book focuses on the Microsoft suite of Internet tools, including Outlook Express, Internet Explorer, and FrontPage Express--although it covers CuteFTP and other non-Microsoft software, too. Technical stuff is addressed, such as how to select an Internet service provider (ISP) and gain access to newsgroups. But, more than that, this book shows you how to achieve real goals, like sending greeting cards and improving your connectivity speed.

Easy Internet does make the mistake of trying to document Web sites (Blue Mountain Arts, Deja.com, and others); because their interfaces change more frequently than even software products, such an approach can make a book obsolete in a hurry. Fortunately, there's not much of that, and the how-to procedures are supremely easy to follow. The number of each step appears twice: once near the text that tells you what to do, and once to indicate the key interface element that you need to use. --David Wall

Topics covered: Navigating the Internet by using a computer that runs Microsoft Windows, Outlook Express, Internet Explorer, FrontPage Express, and other popular programs. Accessing and using popular Web sites, chat rooms, file archives, and newsgroups.