Microsoft today released an update for Office 2011 for Mac that provides support for the Retina Display in Apple's latest MacBook Pro systems.

As explained in its Office for Mac blog, the update (version 14.2.4) gives the enhanced resolution support to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, and should give text and interface elements throughout the Office suite a sharper feel and look when used on Apple's MacBook Pro with Retina Display.

Screenshot by Topher Kessler/CNET

While this update may be beneficial for those who have Apple's next-generation MacBook Pro systems, Microsoft makes no note of the update offering any security or stability enhancements in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint for those who use the software on systems without Retina Displays. The only other enhancements and bug fixes in this update are to Outlook, which Microsoft has outlined in its Office 14.2.4 update page.

As always, be sure to back up your system before applying this software update. Since the update for the most part adds support only for new hardware that some may not have, if you do not have a Retina Display and do not use Outlook, then you might consider waiting on this update to see if it poses any problems for others.

If you decide to install the update, it will be available using Microsoft's AutoUpdate utility, but the 111MB updater can also be downloaded from the Office 2011 14.2.4 Update download page.

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