I have microsoft office 2003 on this computer

Clarifications

In the 2007 version the default file extension is different from 2003. The older version cannot recognize the file at all without the compatibility pack. There are certain features added to the 2007 version that required the new extension. Some of these features may be lost in the conversion, but you'll have your file. You can save files created in the 2007 version with the old extension. You just have to watch what you're doing.

Also, if you upgrade your current 2003 to the 2007 version, your files will remain intact and unharmed.

I have Office 2003 on my home machine and have not bothered to install 2007. I have the computability pack installed and it mainly will allow you to view and interact with Office 2007 documents which I receive from time to time. It does not affect the normal usage of Office 2003. Hope this helps.

Bruce

Yes, the compatability pack has service packs and updates There was at least an SP1 maybe an SP2 as well by now

If you need to edit word docs from 07, then yes, you need the compatibility pack, however, if you simply want to view or print them. You can simply use MS's free Word viewer.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=95E24C87-8732-48D5-8689-AB826E7B8FDF&displaylang=en