First Look Microsoft Office 2003

Overview

Much of what we communicate is information about information. We write messages, memos, and reports and create spreadsheets, presentations, and Web pages to show others-down the hall or around the world-what we want them to know about our businesses, products, plans, and people. But evolving technology in the increasingly connected world has brought about changes that continue to streamline and expedite the way we view and use information- and the way we communicate-in our jobs and lives.

Today communication is information; the notes we jot down, the words we speak, the sketches we draw, and the circles and boxes on a presentation whiteboard all contribute important data bits to the larger whole. The ability to capture and save that information in a usable form, and share it instantly with coworkers or team members, ensures that our best ideas can be preserved and applied as quickly as possible, which can make a difference in the way we do business over the long term. Innovation, the sharing of ideas, and the smart use of technology-all are good things.

This chapter explores the additions and enhancements in Microsoft Outlook 2003-and there's a lot of ground to cover. Because communication and collaboration is one of the focal points of the far-reaching changes in Microsoft Office 2003, Outlook is the application sporting the most noticeable modifications. Let's begin where it's most apparent: in the user interface.