Microsoft has announced a “try it before you buy it” program allowing people to take an online test-drive of the 2007 Microsoft Office system release. With more than 2.5 million people already using the 2007 Microsoft Office system Beta 2 since its release last month, it is proving to be the most popular beta version of Office to date. This new online test-drive is designed to help people explore the benefits and enhancements of the 2007 release through their own Web browser without having to download or install Beta 2.

“We’re seeing many firsts with this release of Office, including a new user interface, a new set of solutions to enhance your work experience and a record high number of people using Beta 2,” said Chris Capossela, corporate vice president of the Information Worker Product Management Group at Microsoft. “The level of interest is a nice validation that we’re delivering what our customers want and need, and the online test-drive offers the perfect opportunity for everyone to experience an easier and better way to work.”

With the online test-drive, people can experience products directly for themselves to learn how the next release can help them better manage documents, organize their work and collaborate with others. In just minutes, anyone with access to an Internet connection can try out the latest improvements to familiar Microsoft Office applications using sample data to demo editing documents, sending e-mail, and posting to Microsoft Office SharePoint sites to illustrate real-time collaboration functionality, as per the company.

The system is set up not only with Microsoft Office client applications, but also with server offerings pre-populated with data to allow people to easily experience the new server functionality in Microsoft Office. This is the first online test-drive made available before the launch of a Microsoft Office release, and it features 18 product-specific tutorials with step-by-step instructions covering most Office system client products and servers, including Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Office Project Server 2007.

The most significant advancement people can explore is the new user interface that was redesigned based on extensive customer research to make it easier to find and use the features needed to get results faster. Additionally, with the new graphics engine, better visualization capabilities and improved task management, people can produce more professional content that has greater impact, find and consume information more quickly, and better prioritize their time and tasks.

Beginning today, people can explore the upcoming 2007 Microsoft Office system through the online test-drive in English. Later this week, the online test-drive will be made available in French, German, Japanese and Spanish.