Though the travelling encyclopaedia salesman is long gone, a good set of reference materials is still important. For AU$199, Microsoft's Encarta Reference Suite 2001 puts more than 225,000 articles, 80,000 sound clips, and 25,000 photos within your grasp.
At the heart of the suite is Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe 2001. The articles are written in a lively, informative style, and the program's clean, straightforward interface makes it easy to navigate Encarta's vast resources. The Pinpointer function, for instance, lets you use keyword phrases or plain-language questions to find information.
Also included on the set's seven CDs are a world atlas and a dictionary. Each application shares a browser-like interface, so it's easy to switch from one program to the next. Unfortunately, this interface can get crowded with numerous windows showing related articles, multimedia clips, and Web links. Also, though Microsoft eliminates the hassle of swapping CDs by allowing you to install the encyclopaedia and atlas on your hard drive, copying the dictionary proved tougher; you'll still need the disc to access some functions.
Encarta Reference Suite 2001 does an exceptional job of integrating Internet content. The new Web Center lets you access more than 20,000 editorially screened Web links, browse a Web directory for any topic, or freely search the Internet. And the new Encarta Today feature integrates information about current events from the Internet into a dynamic section of the encyclopaedia.
Minor annoyances aside, Microsoft Encarta Reference Suite 2001's sheer volume of information makes it a must-have program for your family's PC.
Microsoft Encarta Reference Suite 2001
Company: Microsoft
Ph: 13 20 58
Price: AU$199.
14%
7%
