Microsoft's flagship office suite is undergoing a revamp. Check out our special report to get an overview of Beta 2, more detail on the new OneNote application and an IT strategy perspective on the forthcoming suite.

Microsoft has released the public beta of Office 2003, the final version of which is due to ship later this year. Companies of all sizes will be keen to discover what's on offer, and will need to decide whether they should give Beta 2 a hands-on evaluation or merely keep a watching brief.

ZDNet has been hard at work looking at Office 2003 Beta 2, so check out the reports below. We've got an overview of the suite, a more detailed look at the new OneNote application, and an evaluation of Office 2003's implications for companies' IT strategies.

OneNote 2003 Beta 2

Microsoft's OneNote is a unique and innovative application that can provide a workable alternative to the day-to-day use of pen and paper. It could be the 'killer application' for which the Tablet PC has been waiting.

Office Professional 2003 Beta 2

Corporate buyers should test this beta -- we suspect you'll love Office 2003's integrated XML. Home users: Office 2003 hasn't been enhanced enough to merit a test. Wait for the final release, and then check our review.

Office 2003 Beta 2: an IT perspective

As Microsoft's forthcoming office suite takes clearer shape, we report on the latest beta version, and its implications for companies' IT strategies.