MS Encarta
26 messages in this thread
Where is Microsoft Encarta? How much longer will the software mail order
companies list it for sale, only to apologize that Microsoft has not
delivered it yet.
I have been told about five different dates. I wanted to get one for my
kids for Christmas. Does anyone know the real story?
Microsoft Public Relations said not to April or May I enquired about
Encarta. Software projects are difficult to estimate. They may have
decided to make some performance enhancements or add additional features
not in the original design or may be chasing some elusive bugs or
compatibility problems.
Bruce, may I ask when you spoke to Microsoft Public Relations about
Encarta?
When I asked Microsoft Canada PR rep two weeks ago she said end of
February, first of March. When I spoke to the Project Manager for Encarta
in November he said March as well.
I suspect your dates are more likely and more recently given. I'm just
wondering now if I should get back to the product manager for an update.
Thanks.
Dates were given last week.
The reason you often get different release dates for software is that
they really don't know, either, and it depends on whether you are speaking
to a company optimist or pessimist. Honest.
Thanks Jack. Personally I think part of the reason for the late(r) release
date for Encarta is because Microsoft wants it to be so superior to Grolier
and Compton's that it will be — or be close to — the "killer app"
everyone talks about with CD-ROM. I think that's a tough row to hoe. I'd
love to see a disc with more in-depth articles than Grolier AND more
multimedia effects than Compton's. Cheers!
Jim –
Sorry to intrude, but … for someone who doesn't want to wait for Encarta,
and doesn't want to buy both Groliers and Comptons which of the two would
you recommend? Have you seen and used both?
Thanks in advance.
Jack
I've seen all three — Encarta, Compton's, and Grolliers (not the Windows
version). Here are my thoughts.
Encarta is super. Love it. but it's not ready yet; only saw it in alpha.
Compton's is jazzy, but neither I nor my family find it easy to use. The
kids don't find it really helps them with their homework all that well.
Grolliers has been solid. It has the information, and it is very
accessible. Gets the most use.
Hope that helps.
Ron
Certainly no intrusion, Jack. Frankly I'm beginning to waffle in all of
this. The first thing I would say is go and look at both Grolier and
Compton. If you local computer stores don't have them, and they should,
then try asking on a local BBS. I'm sure people would be happy to help you.
If someone called me, I'd tell them to come along and take a look.
I personally prefer the information in Grolier. I like all the mm effects
in Compton's. For older students/people who want in depth articles and are
content without a lot of glitz, glitter and animation, I would recommend
Grolier. For people with young families, or who want an encyclopedia that
is entertaining as well as informative, it would be Compton's.
Now comes in another factor: Grolier is available in networks and flea
markets for about $60, Compton's is a couple of hundred dollars. I'd say
get the Grolier first then if you aren't happy you aren't out as much money
— and you don't hate me quite as much.
Does any of that help/make sense? Cheers!
Jim –
Thanks for the info.
Jack
I can't understand why everybody compares Grolier's with Compton's.
I have both (Compton's for Win, Grolier's for DOS), and Compton's is
totally useless. I'll look up something in Compton's and find a pragraph on
it, I'll look it up in Grolier's and find 5 pages on it (I'm not
exaggerating)!
Deepak –
Thanks for the input. Have you (or anyone else) seen the Grolier's for
Windows version? They claim to have it released but I've not seen it
anywhere.
Jack
Yes, I have the Grolier's for Windows version and it works just fine
(MultiMedia is underused, though) and the user interface and lookup engine
is much improved.
It's apparently just now getting into the full retail channel, but
upgrades were sent out as soon as they had the CD ROMs.
Strongly recommended.
Would Compton's be the better choice for primary school children?
My kids (grades 5 & 7) strongly prefer Grollier's when it comes to homework
assigments.
Ron
FWIW, I own Groliers and Comptons. I use Compton's to demonstrate the
concept of MM encyclopedias to neophytes, but find Groliers is MUCH better
with respect to the quality of depth of the information. It is also much
faster as my Grolier version is a DOS program and my Compton's is a Windows
one.
Thanks for your note on Grolier's/Compton's, Paul. We seem to think much
alike, including the speed of the DOS Grolier's. It has an added advantage
to me as I often access the CD-ROM from the cottage and as yet do not have
a remote program that runs with Windows. That will be one of my next
purchases — if I can ever find out how well it works between a 286
(cottage) and 486 (home). Cheers!
<It has an added advantage to me as I often access the CD-ROM from the
cottage and as yet do not have a remote program that runs with Windows.>
Cottage, huh. I carry a portable CD-ROM case ($9 at Wal-Mart) with me
whenever I travel. I gather you don't (yet) have a CD-ROM player with you
at the cottage location. I use a 700C on the road and have sound (courtesy
of Disney Sound Source) but no portable CD-ROM player yet. At home I have
four CD-ROM players networked (from my old 286 machines–they work great).
I'm waiting for REAL encylopedia stuff–better in content that print
ones–to come out of CD-ROM. Multimedia is exciting to show off, but so
far for me (as a writer), not yet suitable for real work.
Hi again, Paul. No, I don't have CD-ROM at the cottage yet — may soon
have. I think I'll take the one I have at home (old Magnavox) once I get
the new one working. One of the reasons I bought the Magnavox was the hope
that I could cart it back and forth — didn't realize I wouldn't be able to
buy a second adapter card to leave at the cottage. Maybe I should have
pushed harder, but I guess that's a moot point now. I've just got a Pioneer
604X which will allow me to have six discs on at all times — plus the one
at the weekend place or whatever. That is assuming I can figure out how
everything works. Anything with IRQs and such is pretty well beyond me <G>.
And I'm waiting for even better encyclopedia stuff as well, certain now
that it will come. Frankly I was amazed with what was available last year,
even moreso now, and five years from now? Gads! But I write for a pretty
"average" type audience and so am more interested in general information
than specifically "research" stuff. Cheers!
THe Groliers is pretty good, and I'm most impressed by the fact that I
had it under its first incarnation and when they brought out the new
multimedia Windows version (bigger, jazzier, etc.) they sent upgrade
notices just like any other software company and did a nice reasonable
upgrade.
Alas, most CD ROM software companies have no upgrade policies at all.
If you really want an OK encyclopedia, Groliers is fine. Neither it nor
Encarta nor any other disk-based one matches my 20-volume Britannica,
though, in terms of information available.
Jack, noticed your comment on upgrade policies re: Grolier, Compton,
Encarta.
According to the most recent information I have, all three will be updating
regularly and have stated prices around the hundred dollar mark. As I
recall Microsoft used the phrase "less than…" and whatever its top price
would be.
That's all from press releases. I have the prices around here somewhere,
but since none of us will have to worry about it for about a year, I'll let
them be where they are
Well, MicroSoft is always pretty good at that sort of thing if you send
in your card (over-zealous, in fact–I got seven "Upgrade to Workgroups for
Windows" packets and I only own 3 copies of Windows!), but while I have
Comptons around I've never heard "boo" from them–Grolier, though, actually
upgraded. When dealing with software companies I'm kind of like the U.S.
policy on Iraq — I judge 'em by what they do, not what they promise to do.
I agree with your update comments, Jack. What I posted previously was for
information only, just what the companies were saying in their releases —
I thought the pricing was of particular interest.
I remember back when Grolier was promising (at least here on CIS) upgrades
every couple of months. Never happened as far as I know. I did get an
update notice from Grolier — about three months after I started seeing the
new disc on the nets, and for about $20 more. By then I'd already picked up
both Grolier and Compton's Interactive through other channels.
I suspect that both companies (Grolier and Compton) have been a little
overwhelmed by the boom in the past year, both in terms of customers and in
changes to their products. I don't *know* that is the case, and I'm not
trying to make excuses for them, just what I think might have happened.
Cheers!
Jack,
>> upgrade notices ??
Never seen one, and I returned the registration card the same day
everything was delivered.
Betcha they only went to US mailing addresses<g>.
Adrian
Could be. Most upgrade notices I receive are really second or third
class mail, the kind used for all those circulars that kill more trees than
Brazilian foresters. There might be a problem with them crossing the
border. If so, it wouldn't hurt to contact whoever you KNOW has an upgrade
out directly yourself and explain the problem. They might not be aware of
the problem (most of that class of mail doesn't get returned at all if
undelivered) or they might be but they'll still upgrade you. I never depend
on upgrade notices–I read the computer press and if I hear that
something's been upgraded, I call or fax right away. In the case of a few
companies (Calera comes readily to mind, HP as well) that's the only way I
got the latest software.
Hi Jack,
Just as well I've got a CI$ account<g>, otherwise I'd never hear about
anything. I tend to see messages on Compuserve before any adverts in the
computer press.
Adrian