Office Visio Standard 2003 has new templates for documenting business processes, as well as enhancements to many of the existing templates. Tablet users can create hand-drawn shapes. There is also support for collaboration by tracking changes, or those with Windows Server 2003 can use document workspaces to enables features such as team working and change notification. The only caveat with Visio is that much hinges on the quality of the templates, so if you have a particular use in mind it is worth checking that a suitable template exists. This standard version has a limited number, while the professional version has an extended range including building plans, engineering, networking and software development. As a general-purpose diagramming tool Office Visio Standard 2003 is outstanding. -Tim Anderson.

Web Tables make your calculations that much more current. -David Wall.

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Another aspect is great integration with SharePoint Services running on Windows Server 2003, allowing users to save documents to an internal web site with features like update notification, task lists, and version control. Tablet PC users get built-in support for Ink, letting you add handwritten notes and drawings to Office documents. Those with always-on Internet access will like the updated Task Pane, offering online help and potentially third-party services direct from the Internet. Outlook has been reworked in this edition, with a better interface and more secure email reading. Office Word 2003 is enhanced with a new Reading view, using ClearType technology and automatic page sizing for ease in reading online documents. Office deserves its position as the leading productivity suite. It's an excellent deal, but makes less sense as an upgrade unless you have a Tablet PC or will make use of the new collaboration, XML or rights-management features. -Tim Anderson.