Title: Microsoft Warns of Limited Support for Office for Mac Users Upgrading to High Sierra

Introduction:

Mac editions of Microsoft's popular productivity suite, Office, have always been refreshed with new tools at irregular intervals. However, this has led to a situation where Office for Mac users may face limited support when upgrading to the latest macOS operating system, High Sierra.

Limited Support:

In April, Microsoft announced that it would be releasing new features in its Windows applications twice a year for enterprise subscribers to Office 365 ProPlus, with each release supported for 18 months before giving way to a pair of successors. However, this is not the case for Office for Mac users. Unlike Windows users who receive 10 years of security support, those running Office on macOS are allotted half that time.

End-of-Support Deadline:

The end-of-support deadline for Office for Mac 2011 is approaching quickly, with Microsoft ceasing to supply patches for security vulnerabilities and fixes for other bugs on October 10. After this date, companies will be taking a risk by continuing to use the suite, as malware exploiting unpatched flaws could compromise systems.

Compatibility Issues:

Microsoft has warned users of Office for Mac 2011 not to upgrade to Apple's macOS High Sierra when the new operating system launches next month. In fact, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Lync have not been tested on macOS 10.13 High Sierra, and no formal support for this configuration will be provided.

Recommendations:

To avoid compatibility issues, Microsoft recommends that Office for Mac users update their applications to version 15.35 or later if they intend to upgrade their Macs to High Sierra. However, even with the latest updates, users may still experience limited support and potential risks when using older versions of Office on the new operating system.

Conclusion:

Microsoft's decision to limit support for Office for Mac users upgrading to High Sierra highlights the disparity in treatment between Windows and macOS users. While Windows users receive extended security support, those running Office on macOS are left with half that time. As a result, Office for Mac users must be aware of these limitations and take steps to ensure their continued use of the suite.

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