Though its writing has greatly improved, it can still be stilted and uninspired, especially for younger users. Entries sometimes take a myopic view. World Book gives a better review of his career, influence on music, and politics. Coming in second in overall rating will be World Book and Compton's with 4 stars. World Book 's interface and multimedia are less impressive than Encarta 's, but the writing style is typically clear and the organization of material congenial.
Deals abound, and comparison shopping is worthwhile.
It includes all the text of the 32-volume printed edition and sets the standard for depth of information. Nevertheless, people who never thought they had the space or cash for a Britannica set may find the CD version hard to pass up. Collier's Encyclopedia, the newest CD, is also possibly the cheapest. While respectable in content, the program is a bit confusing to run and navigate and slow to respond to queries. Several of the sets come in both standard and deluxe versions.