I commented at MCslp Coalface recently about the issues and approaches used for developing office suites, and by coincidence I was talking to a client and friend about the issues over the weekend.

The crux of the matter is that, for whatever reason, the UI and approach of the cornerstone of company software, the Office suite, doesn't seem to have changed very much over the years. Suites - from whatever source - still follow the basic principles of a Word Processor, Spreadsheet, presentation software, database etc. Today, that may not necessarily be the right approach considering the business and work that many individuals do.