Rating: 
Summary: No QuickDefine
Review: The 2000 Reference Suite includes a QuickDefine feature that allows the ability to highlight a word in a webpage, right click and choose QuickDefine to get an instant definition window. Verbal pronunciation is only available when the CD is in the drive. I purchased the 2004 version hoping that QuickDefine would include pronunciations on the hard drive. I found that QuickDefine is no longer a feature. In contrast, Ecarta 2004 does contain a dictionary that can reside as an icon in the system tray. Definitions are available by clicking the icon and copy/pasting a word into the window. Verbal pronunciation is available without the need to insert a CD if you choose to install the entire 5 CDs to the hard drive.
Rating:
Summary: Pay attention to what you purchase
Review: There is no doubt that the [$] price is a good incentive to give Encarta Deluxe 2004 a try. Before you do spend a bit of time examining all the available encyclopedias and most important put time into figuring who will be the primary user. If research and detail is required consider spending a few dollars more and getting the Encarta 2004 Reference Library or consider Encyclopedia Britanica; possibly even World Book.I mention this because Encarta does a reasonable job as an encyclopedia but as others have discussed, is brief to the point of being unsatisfying. Where Encarta makes up for the lack of detailed text is in it's multimedia content and interface. Microsoft has done a fine job of making a Encyclopedia for the casual user and has outdone itself in areas like interactive tours. The good side of brevity is the way Encarta holds one's interest without being terribly challenging. For middle school students Encarta Deluxe 2004 is a good choice as it makes learning fun. It's negative side is important as well. Compared to Encyclopedia Britanica the articles are too brief and simply lacking for adult content. Users from High School Juniors through University students will need more details not to be found in Encarta or it's additonal web content. The links, however, are substantial and useful to those of all age and learning styles. In conclusion, Encarta Deluxe 2004 is fun to browse and is engaging in a way Britanica is not. If you are a visually oriented user that doesn't need adult level discourse or the sometimes stuffy writing style found in Britanica. if you enjoy tooling around 2D and 3D areas of importance then Encarta is your encyclopedia.
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