Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003 [OLD VERSION]
by Microsoft
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Software Summary
Manufacturer: MicrosoftBrand: Microsoft
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: CD-ROM
Release Date: 2002-07-04
Platform: Windows 2000, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows XP
Software Reviews of Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003 [OLD VERSION]
Customer Review: Very good content, very good software, very good product.
Summary: 5 Stars
I've bought both ENCARTA and BRITANNICA for years. This is my opinion:TEXT: The Britannica is a superb encyclopaedia in text since 1768. If only its electronic version were worthy of it! Text in the electronic version is different from Printed Encyclopaedia (large articles have been shortened). Britannica claims that it has more articles than Encarta, but this is a joke: articles like "Spain" are only one with a lot of subdivisions in Encarta, while in Britannica subdivisions are considered articles, and you must "jump" from one subdivision to other.
In some areas Encarta is better than Britannica. For example consider "controversial events in modern history" such us "My Lai Massacre": In Encarta one large article and a lot of mentions in others; Britannica does not even know the name.
In theory, you can update Britannica over the Internet free for a year quarterly (4 times), but this does not work. Encarta is updated free EVERY WEEK) with new articles and additions to the old ones. The new articles and additions are included in the next version of Encarta, but this is not true for Britannica. For instance: "Bilbao, Spain": Britannica does not mention the Guggenheim Museum, which opened in 1997, and the population is !!estimated!! of 1982. The same article in Encarta: similar text, 3 photos, 1 map, related articles, sidebar, dynamic timelines and 4 internet pages, plus one specific article "Bilbao Guggenheim Museum". I think Britannica updates its contents very slow, whereas Encarta is completely alive.
MULTIMEDIA: They say that "serious" or "adult" readers do not care about "pictures"; that multimedia is only for kids. I do not agree, because I think that, sometimes, "A picture is worth a thousand words". Works of art, anatomy, maps, diagrams ... Encarta devastates Britannica with a lot of photos, paintings, drawings, maps, animations, interactivities, videos, music and sounds, pictures, literature sidebars, new translation dictionaries (not very good though), atlas, 2-D and 3-D virtual tours, timeline, games ... It's not only the quantity and quality. It is the easy access you have to all the multimedia, and that text and multimedia are fully integrated. Britannica's Atlas is a joke and statistics do not exist or I have not found them. Encarta's has a great detail: 1 cm/ 4 km all over the world (though you find some mistakes) and hundreds of statistical maps.
INTERFACE AND SOFTWARE: This is the worst side of Britannica. In Encarta you only have to type a phrase, a word or the beginning of a word to see all the articles and multimedia that contain it. If you have typed the name of a small village, you see it in the Atlas without clicking again. If Encarta does not find anything, it gives you alternative spellings and you find what you were looking for. To go "jumping" from article to article is very easy and quick, because you have a lot of links and the "Related Articles" section. If you need to copy text or pictures, the integration with Microsoft WORD is perfect. If you don't understand a word, you can double-click it and the dictionary appears in a window.
Navigating with Britannica is different. You get crazy. I will only give an example: if you do not know the exact and correct spelling of a name or word, it does not help you with alternative or similar spellings. The dictionary does not permit double-clicking of words in the text of articles for their definitions. Once an article is displayed you cannot search for a word within the article. This is extremely annoying: you have to perform this task yourself. One "pro" for Britannica: they say it works with Macintosh computers.
This is my piece of advice: If you can afford it, buy both. If not... read again this review.
Description of Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003 [OLD VERSION]
Microsoft's Encarta Reference Library 2003 is an extremely comprehensive, updatable archive of data on topics from the recent film A Beautiful Mind to the rodent genus Zyzomys. It's paired with a dictionary and thesaurus (one that translates words between English and four other European languages), helping researchers and students track down hard facts on almost any topic imaginable.To anyone who remembers the first CD-ROM encyclopedias loosed upon the computer-using public in the 1990s--with their tiny, clunky maps and mere handful of digital animations--the scope and capabilities of Encarta Reference Library 2003 will seem like sheer luxury. The mainstay of any encyclopedia is text, of course, and Encarta's articles are as informative, well indexed, and easy to search as ever. Better still, they are more integrated with high-resolution photographs, references to a world history timeline, and film and video clips that genuinely expand on each entry's content. The wealth of tools that accompanies this core of data includes everything from a virtual flyover of Earth's continents to a database of Internet links for further research.
Encarta Reference Library 2003 has features specifically geared to teachers and students, like literature guides that come complete with essay topic suggestions, chart making software, and educational games. The encyclopedia also contains all the information from Microsoft's award-winning Encarta Africana, making it an excellent resource on subjects like the U.S. civil rights struggle, black comedians, and African music.
This stellar treasury of information will be an asset to learners of all ages, something every member of a family can use and appreciate, whether for putting together a report, satisfying curiosity about a particular issue, or browsing for pleasure. --Alyx Dellamonica
Microsoft's Encarta Reference Library 2003 delivers a comprehensive research and reference station to your desktop. Perfect for every member of the family, this premier reference on CD-ROM combines current and complete information with homework tools that let students spend less time searching and more time learning. Encarta also integrates thousands of Internet resources, so the learning extends beyond the Encarta library. And with its extensive multimedia resources, Encarta Reference Library 2003 provides a powerful tool for learning and exploration at home or school.
Nine great resources round out Encarta Reference Library 2003, including Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe 2003; Encarta Interactive World Atlas; Encarta World English Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Book of Quotations; Encarta Africana, the authoritative source for black history and culture; Encarta Researcher; new learning tools, including Chart Maker, Literature Guides, and Homework Starters; and new translation dictionaries.
Easy to use, this reference library's encyclopedia is always up to date. The Update Encarta feature automatically keeps the content in Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe 2003 current. Explore dynamic media presentations, including hundreds of engaging videos, animations, maps, and other tools. Learn about historical events using interactive timelines and live streaming media, including news from MSNBC. Plus, Encarta's Web Center offers editorially selected Web links and sidebars.
And with your purchase of Encarta Reference Library 2003, you can become a Club Encarta member. You'll receive free content updates until October 31, 2003, as well as a free newsletter--Club Encarta Connections--with members-only specials, tips on using Encarta, and more.
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