Print
Discuss
Send to friend
If Microsoft's Encarta Encyclopedia 2002 isn't enough for your enquiring mind, try Encarta Reference Library 2002.
It bundles the Deluxe version of the Encarta Encyclopedia along with the Encarta Dictionary and Thesaurus and Interactive World Atlas. Encarta Researcher is also on hand, as well as Encarta Online Deluxe.
Presentation is neat, and the links to connected items, including text and media, are clearly defined.
The textual content isn't up to Britannica 2002's standards in terms of depth, but generally beats it for clarity and ease of understanding. Sidebar articles from The Times add gravitas and provide a fresh perspective.
Encyclopaedia vendors like to talk statistics. Among those boasted on the packaging are 26 million words across the four CDRoms, more than 23,000 graphics and multimedia that stretches to 3D virtual tours. All the stats in the world don't matter if a product is oblique.
In the case of Encarta Reference Library 2002, the different elements are well integrated and the software is fun to use. The interface could prove complex for younger users, but does make it easy to browse away for hours.
Price: £89.99 (inc. VAT)
Contact: Microsoft 0845 700 200
www.microsoft.com
See also:
The latest version of the well know encyclopaedia from Britannica. 17 Oct 2003
A wealth of knowledge within reach of your wallet as well as your fingertips. 04 Nov 2002
Britannica offers a lightweight package which is perfect for heavyweight research. 28 Feb 2002
All Education
del.icio.us
Digg this
reddit!
