Author Andy Rathbone, in the tradition of the Dummies series, spends the first part of the book familiarising readers with hardware terminology. For the novice computer user, this information may well be a godsend in helping them to better understand computers. Experienced readers will find it fairly dull so unless a topic grabs your attention you can probably skip Part I and head straight to Part II of this book. Here you will learn about starting Windows ME and all the parts of the environment. Part III includes information on using Windows Explorer and descriptions of the free programs that accompany Windows ME such as Notepad, Paint, Calculator and System Tools. This section is completed by information on connecting to the Web and managing email with Outlook Express.
The final two parts of the book may well be the most popular and more frequently referred to sections for some readers. In the chapter on Help, Rathbone provides answers to some of the most common computer problems, explanations of error messages with solutions and information on how to use the Help screen. This is followed by the niftily named The Part of Tens which is Rathbones pick list of the good and the not so good in Windows ME. Information on using PC Health, installing digital cameras and scanners and using Media Player fall into Rathbones Ten New Windows ME Goodies. Common problems encountered using this operating system, and how to fix them, are covered in Ten Aggravating Things about Windows ME.

While the book is a wealth of information, it is let down to some degree in the execution. Some of the graphics are too dark and small to be easily seen and understood. The Table of Contents seems to be too long and overly descriptive. This can make it difficult to identify topics of interest quickly and easily. To get the most out of Microsoft Windows ME Millennium Edition For Dummies you need time to read it and familiarise yourself with where the subject matter is located. But in doing so, youll probably enjoy yourself, as Rathbone will have you laughing at things you never thought you would have found amusing before.

Nancy Choi