Confusion With SQL Server Database Data Types

I trust you'll bear with an SQL Server newbie with what may seem a rather inane request. I am designing a web app in Web Designer 2005 Express with SQL Server Express. Unfortunately, I'm finding a little confusing with some of the data types when designing tables. I have tried to find information on the various Microsoft sites (general site, MSDN, here) and while I found one document that had a table comparing data types in different implementations of SQL, it wasn't at all helpful. Most of my confusion is with the various string and char types; the numeric types seem pretty straight forward for the most part. However, it might be helpful to know the difference between money and smallmoney/datetime and smalldatetime, particularly space/size information and formatting options (unless the latter is up to the interface).  It would also be helpful to know which string/char types correspond to any counterparts they might have in, for instance, Access (with which I am already quite exprienced). Or any particular quirks or idiosyncracies they might have. I don't expect anyone to write a full tutorial, but if someone could point me in the direction of a good online doc, it would be most appreciated.  You might well ask, why not use Access databases? I would answer...I like to learn new stuff!

Thanks much.