I currently use MS Office 2008, which I installed when I had an old Mac Pro running Snow Leopard. The only apps that I use are Word and Entourage. Both work in El Capitan, with some minor glitches, but I foresee the day that a future OS update will break them.

I am considering being proactive and buying either Office 2011 or Office 2016. My questions:

1. Which version of Word works better? My needs are simple in that I do very rudimentary word processing. I don't use the various formatting options at all. I have tried Pages but I don't like it.

2. I would have to buy the more expensive version of Office because the Home and Student edition does not include an email program. Each one can be had with Outlook, which is similar to Entourage. I could learn to use Outlook but my wife doesn't like to be forced into learning a new program. I have tried Mail (and it's OK) but I'm accustomed to Entourage and it does what I want. Can Outlook be configured so that it looks like Entourage? How does Outlook 2011 compare with Outlook 2016?

Any comments will be greatly appreciated.

I've been using Office for the Mac 2011 — only Word, including updates (now up to 14.6.3), for the past 5 years. I likewise have few demands on its power. When I create documents, my default is RTF format, which generally saves 90% of document size with no noticeable losses, making the documents openable by any system.

About the only thing I've found to be annoying is that bulleted and numbered lists are now restricted to a single type, unlike previous versions which allowed for options (such as various types of bullet).

Also, you won't find the annoying smartass paperclip (or any other cartoon character) when you go for Help.

Otherwise there seem to be precious few differences in functionality between 2011 and previous versions.

I have no idea what Entourage or Outlook is or why one might want such. If they're related to email, why not just use whatever email client you already have?

Entourage and Outlook are email clients. I started with Outlook Express in OS 9, went to Entourage X (Office X) and continued with Entourage 2008 in Office 2008.

I switched to Office 2011 quite a while ago and have been happy with it. I'm much like you in that my needs are simple word processing, although I also create uncomplicated spreadsheets. I periodically use PowerPoint when someone sends a file requiring it to view. I don't recall any significant re-learning needs from Office 2008. I can't comment on the mail programs as I've only ever used Apple mail.

Microsoft continues to send security updates and minor updates.

I haven't upgraded to Office 2016 because a) I don't need anything different and b) I seem to recall reading some concerns about it - although that may all now be history.

Also like you, I've tried Pages but didn't cotton to it. Ditto for Numbers.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe Microsoft has since dropped Entourage from the Office for Mac product and gone back to their old standby email client Outlook.

You are correct. That's why I'm concerned about switching to Outlook from Entourage. Hopefully, someone can add some advice.

I just looked in my MS Office folder and found Outlook (not that I'll ever use it, or Mail, for that matter); no sign of Entourage. Just shows how much attention I pay to things I don't use.

EDIT: Subsequent to this and my earlier post, I found that MS Office for the Mac 2011 has another update — 14.6.4 — which ostensibly dates from 10 days ago but which just seems to have become generally available.

As an aside: Thunderbird and Adobe Flash Player have both been updated in the past day or so.

I have been using Office 2011 for a few years, and am pleased with it. I do use Outlook for my EMail needs, along with Word and Excel. There are times when I create "somewhat complicated" spreadsheets, and Excel does a good job.

Honestone:

Have you ever used Entourage? If so, how do you like Outlook in comparison? What differences have you seen? Can you make Outlook behave and appear like Entourage?

The last question is of particular importance to my wife, who doesn't like to learn new ways of doing the same thing (no snide comments, please ).