According to the Encarta FAQ page, Microsoft is killing off the encyclopaedia--the 2009 versions, it would seem, will be the last. The MSN Encarta websites will, with the exception of the one serving the Japanese market, all be taken down on 31 October 2009 (the Japanese version will come down on 31 December 2009). Microsoft Student and Encarta Premium will cease to be sold by June 2009. Customers with subscriptions to online content will be reimbursed.According to Wikipedia, the first edition of Encarta was released in 1993, and in the years that followed the number of articles grew and grew, with the 2008 version of Encarta Premium boasting more than 62,000. But why is Microsoft giving Encarta the axe?
In an answer to Microsoft's own question ("Why are these Encarta Web sites and software products being discontinued?"), the Redmond company responds with: "Encarta has been a popular product around the world for many years. However, the category of traditional encyclopedias and reference material has changed. People today seek and consume information in considerably different ways than in years past. As part of Microsoft's goal to deliver the most effective and engaging resources for today's consumer, it has made the decision to exit the Encarta business. Microsoft's vision is that everyone around the world needs to have access to quality education, and we believe that we can use what we've learned and assets we've accrued with offerings like Encarta to develop future technology solutions. In doing so, we feel strongly that we are making the right investments that will help make our vision a reality."
Many, however, will view Wikipedia as the key reason for the fall of Encarta. For one thing, it's free. For another, it's available on any computer with an Internet connection. For a third, it's updated quite a bit more quickly than Encarta ever was.
In fact, according to Wikipedia, Microsoft's product had on occasion failed to be updated in anything approaching a timely manner: "[f]or example, an early 2005 edition of the article about the political philosopher John Rawls opens with 'Rawls, John (1921- ),' although he had died on November 24, 2002. Encarta failed to note the date of his passing until April 2005--about 2-1/2 years after the event."
(Wikipedia's article on Encarta has already been updated to reflect the latter's decease.)
you call that blaming, i call that "'bout freaking time".
You'd think that, wouldn't you.
Considering the title of that article is 'Microsoft kill Encarta, Wikipedia to blame?', I think it's safe to say that neither Albert nor the writer of this article have any, er, bios'.
Wikipedia is probably the main reason for the death of Encarta, though, however you want to cut it. I did like its geography quiz, back in the day.
When a sentence is followed by a question mark, it implies a hypothetical scenario (or a question obviously), in this case the hypothetical scenario that Encarta has been killed off and Wikipedia may be to blame. Seems kinda different to an accusation.
Just because Microsoft have not spelt it out in such terms does not mean we are not free to speculate.
It was no Encyclopedia Britannica.
+1. I liked it a lot more then that crap bitantinana or what ever it is. te copy cat
That was a peace of crap. Still is.
I liked Encarta, it was waay better than britannica(though i liked the analyst feature, but it was way back in time).
The Math Tool was awwesomme(and still is).
Btw, M$ has changed a lot these days, they are not as vampiric now.
All of them are same, Even Google's no less.
Last edited by Ksquare on 31 Mar 2009 - 11:11
LMAO Encyclopedia Britannica was first published in 1768!
wikipedia :lol:
I bought Microsoft Student 2007, and while it was an interesting way of having a digital encyclopedia, it just didn't seem to give me all the information I would like to go more in depth. Encarta is good at generalizing most stuff, and giving out the more essential data. The multimedia contents ROCKS. Like an article about a country, will usually have good charts, and even the feature to HEAR the national anthem of that nation. Stuff like that rocks.
Also Microsoft Math is absolutely amazing. Really. It's essentially a graphing calculator on your computer. Even with 3D capabilities! And the Student Tools is neat too, giving you custom Microsoft Office templates that are handy in various subject areas and project types. Also, Encarta dictionary has to be the best electronic dictionary there is, giving not just the definition, but a bolded quick phrase to describe it more generally.
I'm sad to see Encarta die, but I certainly hope that some parts can be salvaged, like Microsoft Math, Student Tools, and Encarta dictionary/thesaurus.
I bought Microsoft Student 2007, and while it was an interesting way of having a digital encyclopedia, it just didn't seem to give me all the information I would like to go more in depth. Encarta is good at generalizing most stuff, and giving out the more essential data. The multimedia contents ROCKS. Like an article about a country, will usually have good charts, and even the feature to HEAR the national anthem of that nation. Stuff like that rocks.
Also Microsoft Math is absolutely amazing. Really. It's essentially a graphing calculator on your computer. Even with 3D capabilities! And the Student Tools is neat too, giving you custom Microsoft Office templates that are handy in various subject areas and project types. Also, Encarta dictionary has to be the best electronic dictionary there is, giving not just the definition, but a bolded quick phrase to describe it more generally.
I'm sad to see Encarta die, but I certainly hope that some parts can be salvaged, like Microsoft Math, Student Tools, and Encarta dictionary/thesaurus.
The entire suite should be. There should be a peace of software designed for high school and college students. With Encarta gone, theres nothing but programs with dated UI's and unsorced information,
Nothing what so ever sad about it.
Good riddance to a way over priced product that has no use, if you have internet access anyway.
Good riddance to a way over priced product that has no use, if you have internet access anyway.
Another anti-MS spew for Cork. Please ban this person.
I don't even see MS as denying this, only veiling it in words that don't mention Wikipedia. I think this is exactly what MS is implying with "new ways of searching information" in this FAQ. A traditional online encyclopedia can simply not keep up with the pace of wikis at all. Sure, wikis have their own disadvantages with quality and vandalism risks, but still -- when searching for niche articles and finding up-to-date information, that's such a huge advantage over not finding an article at all.
http://news.cnet.com/2100-1038_3-5997332.html
Bad for students, bad for academics.
Homer Simpson
Actually no, they just renamed Frontpage to Expression Web.
I honestly don't care much about the Encarta portion of the program, I only use the Dictionary segment of it.
I've looked for other computer based dictionaries, and Encarta had the best one, by far.
I can't stand the online dictionaries, so I'm going to really miss the Encarta Dictionary, unless there is another version out there for the computer that's just as good which I haven't found as of yet.
I will just have to use the 2009 version of Encarta Dictionary from now on I suppose.
Either way, I won't miss the Encarta Encyclopedia at all, since I haven't used it in years.
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