Virtual Art Museum

Rating:
Summary: unacceptable image quality
Review: I was sooo disappointed by this set of CD-Rom. The quality of the images is just not acceptable, the resolution is low (not more than 640x480), and the colors are awful. Some images exhibit strong dithering artifacts suggesting that they are 8 bit only. The color fidelity is just incredibly bad. I cannot even believe that one can dare show such bad colors. I do not even know how one can manage to get such bad colors. I am not talking about the slight color shift that you sometimes notice from one book to another, I am talking about terribly wrong and ugly colors, with saturation you would not imagine and soem parts of the paintings completely washed out or darkened. Watching the Van Goghs was a nightamre, I first did not even believe that this was a Van Gogh. Don't buy this CD-ROM !

Rating:
Summary: Dated but useful CDs
Review: You wish the publishers could indicate the years of production and the original titles. These 4 CDs, featuring the renaissance, romanticism, the pre-modern era, and the 20th century, were part of the 10 CDs of History Through Art, starting with Ancient Greece, copyrighted by Zane Publishing Co. 1994-96. At that time they were considered highly valuable tools, essential for any school libraries. Now they are somewhat dated in the technology and design. The pictures are of slightly poorer quality, but quite acceptable. Besides numerous slides of paintings, sculptures, architecture and photos, there are brief narrations and text encyclopedias. You get a lot of interesting information, especially the historical background. There is lovely background music that matches each period of art. These 4 CDs are still very worthwhile for information and enjoyment. The price is reasonable. (They cost twice as much if you buy them separately from Fogware Publishing.) Please note the following in small print on each CD. "Product not licensed for use in schools, colleges, or public libraries." The copyright date is 2000, which is misleading.

Rating:
Summary: Dated but useful CDs
Review: You wish the publishers could indicate the years of production and the original titles. These 4 CDs, featuring the renaissance, romanticism, the pre-modern era, and the 20th century, were part of the 10 CDs of History Through Art, starting with Ancient Greece, copyrighted by Zane Publishing Co. 1994-96. At that time they were considered highly valuable tools, essential for any school libraries. Now they are somewhat dated in the technology and design. The pictures are of slightly poorer quality, but quite acceptable. Besides numerous slides of paintings, sculptures, architecture and photos, there are brief narrations and text encyclopedias. You get a lot of interesting information, especially the historical background. There is lovely background music that matches each period of art. These 4 CDs are still very worthwhile for information and enjoyment. The price is reasonable. (They cost twice as much if you buy them separately from Fogware Publishing.) Please note the following in small print on each CD. "Product not licensed for use in schools, colleges, or public libraries." The copyright date is 2000, which is misleading.