Encyclopedia Britannica 2009 Deluxe

Buyers should be aware that the "free" 6-month updates subscription requires entry of credit card numbers.

I have enjoyed using the encyclopedia. It seems 2 come up with a good selection of articles 4 each search.

The dictionairy is really poor - it doesn't even have a "print" function. When the word "canon" is entered, it puts up a list of "canon", then "canon law", etc. When I click on the first "canon", it brings up the definition of "cannon"! The very first word I tried, "philogynist", it couldn't even find. However, the word's antonym, "misogynist" - one who hates women, is in there. Perhaps that gives some insight into the state of our society.

I also found that the program disk took about an hour 2 load initially, & that seems unreasonable.

As an encyclopedia, it does a great job. At this price you get absolutely a great amount of & CORRECT knowledge. Dictionary, atlas, timelines & online updates are all good features.

I'm not a fun of BrainStormer, but that's fine.

As a simple database + search software, sometimes taking up ~60% CUP power on my laptop with a 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo is unbearable. The skin looks nice but I can't read the words on the tag. Searching is slow, not sure it's due 2 the graphic or the searching itself.

Oh, I'm using the mac version, it may work better with PC.

I could forgive many issues related 2 usability if, at its core, this was a great encyclopedia, but it is not. On the searches that I have done so far, the Britannica 2009 returned less useful material than my old Encarta 2003 which installed, loads, & generally just works better & faster than this product.

A couple of warnings:

First, I now notice (too late) that some other reviews seem 2 have been generated by professional 5-star plants that have provide nothing but rave reviews 4 everything with Britannica anywhere in the product description.

Second, I find that the software wrapper 4 this product employs a very simple embedded internet browser that does not seem 2 work on my new Vista computer. That precludes things like updates.

Finally, if you have any notion of ever calling tech support, you might just give it a try before actually purchasing this DVD. Don't worry about bothering anyone - there won't be an answer.

It's interesting...a few years ago, Encarta was king in terms of user interface, speed, & the atlas (content was/is pretty decent) while Britannica reigned supreme in terms of content, but the software was lousy. Britannica has since made great strides while Encarta seems 2 be slowing down (could this be the MS bloat-ware curse?). Encarta still wins on UI, but Britannica really is much improved - the UI is better, you can print whole articles, & the brainstormer feature is kind of interesting. But Britannica still needs work. It's hard 2 describe - it's just slow & twitchy at times - but not so much that it isn't useful. The atlas is still weak compared 2 Encarta, but that's not why we buy Britannica. Oh, & it runs well on Mac OS X. One final thought 4 Britannica - the online Britannica UI is actually slicker & slightly more intuitive than the software. Even so, a very good buy overall.

Unbeatable @$20.00, I remember when the written version was $3-400 & it didnt come with sound.
Thanks Britannica, Thanks Amazon
Tony C

Designed 4 adults & students alike, Encyclopædia Britannica Deluxe is a comprehensive reference resource that gives you up-to-date, in-depth, & easy-to-use information. Learn from Nobel laureates, historians, & other noted experts in one single source. No other software can match the intelligence, depth, & accuracy of Encyclopædia Britannica Deluxe.

A comprehensive reference resource with up-to-date, in-depth, & easy-to-use information.

Benefits

• Award-winning & #1 best selling* reference software
• 84,000+ articles
• Essential Knowledge tools--expand your knowledge with historical timelines, world atlas, Britannica BrainStormer, Britannica Classics, Merriam-Webster's Dictionary & Thesaurus & Spanish-English Dictionary, & more
• More Multimedia--thousands of new images, videos, & audio clips
• Extensive Online Resources--166,000+ Web sites & magazine articles
• Easy Research Organization--Workspace 4 project management & school research, Virtual Notecards 2 save notes from your articles, Bookmark & Save 2 incorporate articles & media into your reports
• Current--free monthly content updates
• Free Encyclopædia Britannica Online 6-month membership--$35 value!
• Dual Platform Windows/Mac compatible
• 90-day money back guarantee

*NPD Group/NPD TechWorld, January 2007--March 2008. Based on U.S. Retail Unit Sales 4 the Encyclopedia Category

Authoritative Content & Interactive Features

The KNOWLEDGE EXPERTS--Encyclopædia Britannica is the world's most famous, most accurate, & most authoritative source of reliable reference information, a position it has proudly held since 1768.

Jumpstart your research with over 84,000 authoritative & richly illustrated articles

Your discoveries come 2 life with images, videos, & audio clips.

English 2 Spanish & Spanish 2 English dictionary.

World Atlas included.

Britannica Biographies covering influential world leaders & great minds.

BrainStormer is an interactive way 2 understand relationships between ideas, subjects, & people.

84,000+ In-Depth Articles
Jumpstart your research with over 84,000 authoritative & richly illustrated articles

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary & Thesaurus
Get instant access 2 thousands of definitions, synonyms, & antonyms.

More Rich Multimedia
Your discoveries come 2 life with images, videos, & audio clips.

New--Merriam-Webster Translation Dictionary
English 2 Spanish & Spanish 2 English

World Atlas

New--Britannica Biographies
More than 2,000 biographies covering influential World Leaders from 2930 BC 2 the present day. Plus Great Minds--2,000 astronomers, Nobel laureates, scientists, & others that changed the world.

Exclusive--Britannica BrainStormer
An interactive way 2 understand relationships between ideas, subjects, & people.

Exclusive--Britannica Classics
Articles written by Britannica's most notable contributors including Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, & Harry Houdini.

Historical Timelines
People, events, & discoveries of the past.

Daily Content
Learn something new every day with "This Day in History."

Take notes & save articles, images, & videos in one convenient location.

Access 2 even more videos & images online.

Includes Britannica Online 6-month trial membership.

Powerful Tools To Expand & Organize Your Research

Workspace
Stay organized at all times! Take notes & save articles, images, & videos in one convenient location.

Virtual Notecards
Save notes from your articles on a virtual note card. Notes are printable 2 make your research easier & portable!

Bookmark & Save
Easily incorporate articles & media into reports.

Extensive Online Resources

Magazine & Related Web Sites
Links 2 more than 166,000 Web sites & magazine articles selected by Britannica editors.

Free Content Updates
Stay current with new & updated articles free 4 one full year

More Multimedia
Access 2 even more videos & images online

6 great reasons 2 trust Britannica

• Credible: Articles are written by Nobel Laureates, historians, & notable experts.
• Accurate: Information is fact-checked by the Encyclopedia Britannica editorial staff.
• Trusted: Content is authoritative, trusted, & unbiased.
• Efficient: Search results are organized by relevancy, not popularity or paid placement.
• Convenient: No downloading or Internet connections required.
• Safe: No pornography, pop-up ads, or questionable content.
• Up-to-date: Stay current with regular updates.

Exclusive Offer 4 Software Customers

Britannica Online 6-Month Trial Membership - $35 Value!

Free 6-Month Trial Membership** 2 Britannica Online Premium when you register your software today! You'll also receive:

• Complete access from anywhere, anytime
• Over one million pages online
• Discounts 2 the Britannica Store

**Software registration & credit card required 2 activate free trial membership.