So they are stupid when it comes to business side. If you're resourceful enough you'll find on the net a program that will un-protect the executable, effectively removing the CD check. Note that according to the shrink-wrapped license you've accepted by opening the box it is illegal. As far as user-interface goes it's ok but nothing stellar. OED makers succumbed to the Internet mania so program looks like a web page.
Looks are good but it makes for a sub-optimal user experience.
An on-line version of OED exists since March 2000. Yeah, right, even I'm not that crazy.