#Cd/Oxford Dictionary
5 messages in this thread
Does anyone know where I can buy the Oxford English dictionary on CD at a good
price – and does anyone know if it is readable from an OS/2 program such as
Describe – or anything about OS/2 and the Oxford Dictionary/exit
Dang, Sheldon, I thought you had one to trade. Like in exchange for King's
Quest 5, maybe. <g>.
The last I looked, they were running about $900. If you find a good source,
please post it up here – I might just go ahead and bite the bullet.
— Tim —
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!
You'll get the best price ordering it from the uk, where it is sold at about
475 pounds or so. Be sure and avoid version 1, which comes on 2 disks. The
software is awful. Version 2 has all the supplements, as well as corrections
from version 1 (based on the printed books, by the way). The software for
version 2 is better, too, but not wonderful, far from it. You must use it from
windows. I know of no link to os/2 programs, or even to windows ones.
-er
Sheldon,
I bought my OED from Blackwell's in Oxford for 517.70 pounds (about $724 at
the time). I was subsequently told on this forum that I overpaid by about 50
pounds (from what a London store was selling it for), but I don't have that
reference.
If you want to order, contact Andrew Sharp at 011-44-0865-794143 (fax number)
with your credit card. The price included air shipping, delivered to West
Coast US in 3 days.
I bought mine in Feb; the price may have changed.
robin