REVIEW: CD-ROM - ENCARTA'95              Microsoft 1994

Microsoft's complete interactive multimedia encyclopedia on CD-ROM is
quite a package of knowledge and learning.  One reviewer said "this is
the CD-ROM that will make print encyclopedias obsolete", but its really
like comparing apples and oranges.  ENCARTA'95 is a LOT more fun than
a shelf full of books!

ENCARTA'95 is a sight and sound show that teaches.  It contains more than
26,000 articles, 7,000 photos and illustrations, 800 maps, over 100
animations and video clips and, if that's not enough, more than 8 hours of
sound!  Microsoft's team of 25 editors update ENCARTA annually - the 1995
edition contains more than 10,000 revised articles and plenty of new material
as well.

The ENCARTA powerful pinpoint tool finds information easily and allows users
to search by title, time, media, place, or key words and filters information
to browse, create lists and find facts quickly and effortlessly.  The new
fly-out menus make finding articles much easier and faster.  ENCARTA is
extremely easy to master by anyone who can point a mouse and click the 
buttons!

System requirements are pretty standard - a 386SX, 4MB of RAM, 3.5MB of
free hard drive space, CD-ROM drive, sound card, SVGA monitor, Windows 3.1
or later, a mouse and loudspeakers.

ENCARTA also features an interactive world atlas, an illustrated timeline
of world history, a media gallery with thousands of graphics and a neat
learning game called MindMaze.   

One feature I find extremely useful is ENCARTA'95's seamless integration
with Microsoft's BOOKSHELF and WORKS programs which allows users to import
information directly into a word processing application for easier report
writing.  I sure wish I had that capability when I was writing term papers
and essays.   Unfortunately, my review does not do ENCARTA'95 justice!  
There's so much great stuff and innovative presentation here.  You really 
have to play with ENCARTA'95 for a few hours to fully appreciate it.  If you
recently purchased a multimedia system you may find that ENCARTA'95 was
bundled with the software that came with it.  If not, buy it and if you're
not pleased, Microsoft offers you a 90 day money-back guarantee.  You can't
lose!


%T      Encarta'95
%I      Microsoft
%D      1994
%O      CD-ROM, $99.95
%K      encyclopedia


(C) 1995
Michael Crestohl
Nahant Massachusetts  USA
mc@shore.net

DISCLAIMER:  I have no interest, financial or otherwise, in the success or 
failure of the book or materials reviewed herewith, nor have I received any 
compensation (other than a review copy requested by me) from anyone who has.  
All opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Other Internet and Aviation book/software reviews by me can be obtained 
by anonymous FTP from:  x2ftp.oulu.fi in the /pub/books/crestohl directory.