Don't confuse Microsoft Works with a slimmed-down version of Office, because Works is for the home productivity market.

Works 2003 has incorporated an interactive and easily editable calendar and appointments manager on the main task launcher page.

However, while the core Works 7 apps have remained fairly static in their development, those all-important templates that drive them haven't. There are 150 new ones, bringing the total up to an impressive 400.

While a welcome addition, the Projects section illustrates the home user level of Works 7, as it's really nothing more than a glorified to-do list, where items can be associated with tasks from within Works. It's nicely presented, though, and established Works users will appreciate the new quick-start task launcher home page, which provides click-access to schedules, to-do lists, the other apps and a history log.

The new tabbed interface with its Web styling brings navigational ease of use that was missing in previous versions.

The configurability is also appreciated, even if it's restricted to little more than toggling audio prompts, deciding whether to keep a history or not, and choosing between the undeniably cool large icon approach to task launching and the boring, but more mature, list-based interface. Meanwhile, the Works clipart set has been redesigned, bringing a crisp, modern edge to the artwork.

In one box you get five CDs containing a clean sweep of home productivity titles from Microsoft including Word 2002, Money 2003 and Encarta 2003.

Even though these are just the standard versions of Encarta and Money, it doesn't take a genius to work out the exceptional value for money this package provides. Works Suite 2003 is an ideal and great value package for the home user, although Office still remains the indisputable choice for serious business.