This amazingly effective book helps you to “read less, learn more” about Windows 98. The key to its success is the use of a visual grammar developed by Richard Maran. Each Windows task is documented using a small set of visual elements, making for an extremely quick read. The annotated screenshots communicate well; they show you what to do, instead of just telling you.

When you want to learn how to carry out a specific task with Windows 98, look up the subject in the index. Go to the indicated page and start learning. Each set of two facing pages is treated as a unit. On the left-hand page, the heading is followed by a concise overview of the topic. At the bottom of the page are two screen shots, each with a few annotated, numbered steps, walking you through the process. On the right-hand page are tips suggesting how you might use this feature, and two more screen shots. If necessary, the topic is continued to additional sets of pages, using the same visual elements. The book contains 1200 screenshots to help readers discover the many features of Windows 98. The publisher’s Web site, www.maran.com, includes a sample set of pages from the book.

The book is organized into eight sections: “Getting Started,” “Windows 98 Accessories,” “Customize Windows 98,” “Work With Disks,” “Connect to Other Computers,” “Networking,” “Windows 98 and the Internet,” and “Installing and Troubleshooting” (33 pages related to hardware, Microsoft system information, and system tools). An appendix explains what is on the accompanying CD-ROM and how to access the information. The authors have put the entire book on the CD, and it is searchable by word using Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Use of screenshots is a central feature of the book. Naturally, I wanted to learn how to capture a screen. The answer is to hit the “Print Screen” key to copy the screen to the clipboard and then paste it into a document. Good, but I had to stumble on this information under “Copy Screen” in the index. It would be helpful if “Print Screen” and “Screens, print” were added to the index, but this is a minor point. The subject coverage is complete, and the style makes learning easy for both beginners and experienced users. This is an excellent reference book, and each chapter helps you to master the topic.