Knowledge at a click (Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2002)

Name: Asylum

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Product:	Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2002
Date:	01/01/03 (267 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: vast database, rich in multimedia, user friendly

Disadvantages: requires plenty hard drive space

Encyclopaedias have always had a certain appeal and a definite value since they provide answers and further information on virtually any subject. As a child I possessed a copy of Pictorial Knowledge which consisted of 10 volumes. The information available was quite impressive ,but like most physical encyclopaedias there was one major flaw. Part way through reading about a certain item you would be directed to a page in another volume, followed by another redirection which became a nuisance and very distractive.
Interactive encyclopaedias do not have this problem, instead a single click of the mouse will take you from one source to another or back in a moment.
Encarta consists of a 3 CD set or is available on DVD. Like most software of this size it offers several levels of installation dependant on your hard drive space etcetera. You can either install everything to the hard drive or partially install it by placing the core program on your computer and running it as disc supported. This way it would be necessary to insert the CD in order to use the program.
The sheer volume of information included on the database is very impressive, with a simple user friendly search box to select your subject of interest. Probably the most impressive content is the massive amount of multimedia in the form of photos, audio and video clips which can be accessed and span the whole spectrum of the content.
Providing that you have internet access, you can also use the Encarta site online to access the latest information available which is regularly updated.
As an adult I find Encarta to be both interesting and useful, but for children of scholl or college age I would feel that Encarta was essential as a reference tool.

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