Let's make it clear: SmartSuite does pretty much everything that Microsoft Office 2000 can plus a whole lot more, but costs just the same. The suite includes four business essentials: word processor (Word Pro), spreadsheet (1-2-3), database (Approach) and presentation (Freelance Graphics).

It's good to see a full database package in there, especially since other office suite publishers tend to omit them from their Standard editions. Also thrown in is the desirable Lotus Organizer for managing contacts and appointments even across networks and the Internet, and which also happens to import data from Outlook, ACT and Sidekick.

SmartSuite optionally installs an interface enhancement called SmartCenter which puts a row of expandable 'drawers' across the top of your screen. These can hold application shortcuts and Explorer lists, dictionaries and thesauri, appointment calendars and program help. It's just a shame that SmartCenter's calendar doesn't integrate in any way whatsoever with Organizer.

Word Pro and 1-2-3 are superb business programs for the power user, yet neither are mere copies of Microsoft Word and Excel, while Approach on the other hand does feel similar to Microsoft Access in many respects. Freelance Graphics is much more than a presentation package, also letting you publish to multi-page Web sites and handle in-page editing of vector art and colour correction of photo images. You also get a dedicated Web publishing tool called FastSite which could be very handy for updating online documents regularly.

SmartSuite incorporates IBM's ViaVoice speech recognition technology and headset as standard, not as an extra-cost item. Also thrown in the box is a full version of ScreenCam for recording real-time on-screen actions and overlaid audio as special movies for playback, which is extremely useful for IT training. Another look in the box reveals a free copy of Notes 5, Lotus' groupware client, into which SmartSuite can integrate directly. This is certainly not an office suite which leaves you wanting.