Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe 2000

I didn't expect this program to be as entertaining as it is! I thought I was purchasing a simple reference work, but I've spent literally hundreds of hours in front of my computer reading about new things, and just skipping from topic to topic as something interesting catches my eye. ('course I used to to this with the paper-based encyclopedias as well, but this involves much less page flipping!) I'm particularly impressed with the virtual 360 degree tours. I visited Rome in October 1999, and the virtual tour of the Roman forum included on the CD is a really neat experience. (Not quite the same as being there, but the CD costs a lot less than my trip!) One of the features that absorbs a lot of my time is the monthly update. New articles are downloaded as a package every month via the internet. I found the material to be extremely current and interesting. It's like having someone preparing new fascinating information for you on a monthly basis. I'd recommend this CD for families with kids of all ages, and any curious people who like answers to the questions that occur to them from time to time. Also, be sure to note that the 2001 version of the encyclopedia ships on Aug. 18, 2000. You might want to hold off your purchase until then.

Hello, Please take out my review. I was wrong. Galapagos Islands info is great, I just looked for it not carefully enough.

My apologies.

I tried to find an article on Galapagos Islands, it showed a poor quality picture and one paragraph of text. In order to expand the picture I had to switch CDROMs. I could not find any history of the islands, climate and animals. It's not what you expect from Encyclopedia. Finally I went to a web site britannica.com and got more than enough on the subject, much faster and for free.

If you want to have an Encyclopedia, DO NOT buy this. My daughter and I just tried to find 'dragon fly'. There is no dragon fly at all. We tried to look for 'lady bug'. No lady bug! Instead, there is 'ladybird beetle'. Is this word more general than lady bug? I completely do not understand why this software is being sold as an encyclopedia.

It seems like Microsoft has spent a lot of time on this software, and it has paid off. It has all of the regular annual features returning (like articles, videos, audio, virtual tours), but also has many new features, such as the monthly yearbook and web link indexes, a homework help center, thousands of pieces of new content, more sidebars, cross references to the Web in articles, and even a special section on millennium and the celebration of time to commemorate the year 2000. This was a very helpful reference and I would recommend it to anybody who may refer to one (which is just about anybody...)