Encyclopedias On Cd & Online
by D'Lynn Waldron, PhD.

Microsoft Encarta Grolier's Multimedia Encyclopedia Britannica Encyclopedia Americana Requirements & Prices

The three principal publishers of Encyclopedias on CD are Microsoft, Grolier and the venerable Encyclopedia Britannica. All three companies have internet sites and links to relevant other Web sites. __ None of these encyclopedias run off the disc, and instead require that an access application with index data be installed on a hard drive. These applications can take a large amount of hard disk space. You will also need a significant amount of available RAM. See below under Requirements & Prices. __ All of these CD encyclopedias are far more up-to-date than printed encyclopedias, and each year's CD edition brings thousands of new articles, and usually an improved interface.

Summary: My recommendation is to buy both the Grolier and the Encarta, as together they will cost under $100 in their multimedia editions. Both offer incredible value at a very affordable price and every home with students should have at least one of them. The Britannica is an important addition for those with an interest in candid information on recent history and foreign affairs. Americana is particularly useful for those who are interest social and cultural subjects, and it should be available in many libraries.