CompuServe Messages

Sheldon, as far as I know (info circa December, 1992) there were/are two versions of the Oxford English Dictionary. The first, of the old OED and revisions etc., was two discs and ran under DOS. Haven't seen it, or seen it for sale. The new version is the OED II, a complete revision of the old OED. It is a Windows product, have seen and tested it. It is a remarkable reference and research device indeed, very fast, of course very complete and searchable in ways that would make your jaw drop. It is also quite expensive, about $850 U.S. You might be able to save some money by buying it through a U.K. store and having it shipped. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a deep-discount price. Historically the Oxford University Press does not do that. Waiting for an OED super-sale is a little like waiting for a paper-back version of Encyclopaedia Britannica to make its way to K-Mart shelves. OTOH, if you use the language a lot, especially professionally as a teacher, writer, researcher etc. (and are particularly interested in its etymological aspects), it is certainly worth every penny. The average person would find it (and the price) over-kill if all they really need is a dictionary to check spellings and definitions. Hope that helps. Cheers!