2 stars (Bitterly disappointed) - Microsoft have had years to get the Encarta interface right, and they still can't manage it. By now we can be sure of their strategy: deliberately build in imperfections and slyly *remove* existing functionality in order to give them something to improve in future editions, without which improvements they will have no product to market every year. Every year I look for basic improvements which are never there. - The homepage now has a huge picture of a white sea anemone type creature. A high quality image, but I don't want to see it every darn time! Surely Microsoft would realise that you can't please everyone all the time when it comes to images (desktop wallpapers, screensavers, etc) so why would they palm this thing off on us...?? We cannot get rid of it. Imagine if the background image could change randomly every time using pictures from the encyclopedia. That would have been interesting. Microsoft are just not thinking. - On the homepage there is a large green information balloon pointing to the search bar. Isn't everyone sick of this sort of patronisation? The first time you see it the balloon performs its function, thereafter it is just annoying. My instinct is to immediately get rid of it (shouting "Alright, I'm not an idiot!") but I can't! - The only other feature on the homepage is a dull list of subject items on the left, which takes us into a boring spiral of menu choices resulting in a highly selective set of (often disappointing) results. I tried this once and will never use it again. You won't either. - There is still an almost complete lack of options available for customising Encarta. Certainly no improvement here at all over previous years. What on earth have all those programmers in that huge building in Seattle been doing all this time? - There has been no updating of the Atlas maps, no new roads or improved accuracy. That would have been a reasonable step forward, but Microsoft seems to have left t... Microsoft Software :: microsoft :: encarta :: premium :: 2006 :: cd-dvd :: microsoft :: software :: home :: education :: teaching :: tools :: microsoftencartapremium2006cd-dvd deluxe :: Microsoft Encarta Premium 2006 CD-DVD
3 stars (Decent software, but not worth the cash) - Microsoft has, as always, produced decent software. It is nothing to get excited over, but it does its job. The problem with this software, as with all other Microsoft software, is that it is so overpriced. If it is your company buying or something, then go ahead and get it, the software works well, and it does its job as well as anything else you're going to find, not to mention that since most other people use Microsoft products, your documents will be compatible. But if you are buying for yourself, I strongly suggest you look into something else. There are numerous open source programs available on the internet, as well as other commercial programs that can be bought for less money that will work just as well. As for the other programs (money, encarta, picture it, streets & trips), they are also not that great. Why buy an expensive Microsoft encarta when you have Wikipedia? Why buy streets and trips when you have MapQuest and Google Earth? Why buy Money when you can get other programs that are just as good if not better either cheap or free? The choice is up to you 3 stars (Dont think I'll like it as much..........) - as my old Works Suite 2002. I tried installing the 2002 suite on my new computer. Kept getting an error message about not being able to display the EULA agreement for me to accept, and thus wont install the Works Task launcher. I tried all the "fixes" but it just wouldnt install, so, I bought the Works Suite 2005 from Amazon. Well, I got an error message after I installed it. This time about not being able to run it on Windows 95, 98 and 2000. Well, I'm using XP Pro. Long story short, I just right clicked on TASK LAUNCHER, THEN COMPATIBILITY, THEN UNCHECKED THE COMPATIBILITY MODE BOX, and the program started up. I also had to uninstall Office 2003, which uses Word 2003 because Works Suite 2005 uses Word 2002. This was on the advice of Microsoft Tech support. I was shocked to find ... Microsoft Software :: Bundle (Bundles) :: Office Suite (Suites) :: Database (Databases) :: Computer software (programs) :: Home Publishing :: Graphics (Graphic) :: Utilities :: File Conv :: Microsoft Works Suite 2005 [Money- Encarta- Picture It- Streets -amp- Trips- Word 2002]
3 stars (Decent software, but not worth the cash) - Microsoft has, as always, produced decent software. It is nothing to get excited over, but it does its job. The problem with this software, as with all other Microsoft software, is that it is so overpriced. If it is your company buying or something, then go ahead and get it, the software works well, and it does its job as well as anything else you're going to find, not to mention that since most other people use Microsoft products, your documents will be compatible. But if you are buying for yourself, I strongly suggest you look into something else. There are numerous open source programs available on the internet, as well as other commercial programs that can be bought for less money that will work just as well. As for the other programs (money, encarta, picture it, streets & trips), they are also not that great. Why buy an expensive Microsoft encarta when you have Wikipedia? Why buy streets and trips when you have MapQuest and Google Earth? Why buy Money when you can get other programs that are just as good if not better either cheap or free? The choice is up to you 3 stars (Dont think I'll like it as much..........) - as my old Works Suite 2002. I tried installing the 2002 suite on my new computer. Kept getting an error message about not being able to display the EULA agreement for me to accept, and thus wont install the Works Task launcher. I tried all the "fixes" but it just wouldnt install, so, I bought the Works Suite 2005 from Amazon. Well, I got an error message after I installed it. This time about not being able to run it on Windows 95, 98 and 2000. Well, I'm using XP Pro. Long story short, I just right clicked on TASK LAUNCHER, THEN COMPATIBILITY, THEN UNCHECKED THE COMPATIBILITY MODE BOX, and the program started up. I also had to uninstall Office 2003, which uses Word 2003 because Works Suite 2005 uses Word 2002. This was on the advice of Microsoft Tech support. I was shocked to find vast... Microsoft Software :: Bundle (Bundles) :: Office Suite (Suites) :: Database (Databases) :: Computer software (programs) :: Home Publishing :: Graphics (Graphic) :: Utilities :: File Conv :: Microsoft Works Suite 2005 [Money- Encarta- Picture It- Streets - Trips- Word 2002]