2001 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia
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Type of Product | ||
The 2001 edition of the Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia has a a variety of new features and improvements, including a new Research Center, more than 50,000 editorially selected Internet links, a new Topic Navigator that organizes 150,000 articles and media entries, a new Spanish dictionary, and a redesigned interface. The easy-to-use Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia has been designed to deliver age-appropriate, quality content for students both in the classroom and at home. It comes on two CDs and combines comprehensive content with multimedia features and expanded Internet links. It also seamlessly connects to articles in two other online Grolier encyclopedias (New Book of Knowledge and the Encyclopedia Americana) to provide up-to-date information for a wide variety of academic levels. The program includes 60,000+ articles, 50,000 article-to-Internet links, 38,600 EA and NBK Web Links, 6,000+ new and updated articles, 15,500 images, 1,200 maps, 150+ panoramas, 174 videos, 140 Research Starters, 16+ hours of sound, and free monthly updates. Grolier's provides a fast and easy way for the whole family to access current and up-to-date information on the CDs or on-line. You can also read a review of the previous versions of the encyclopedia by clicking on the following links: 2000 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia and 1999 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Price: $49.95. It is available for both the PC and the Macintosh. You can check out Grolier's website for other software titles: http://gi.grolier.com |
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User Level | ||
As with previous versions of Grolier's Encyclopedia, this latest update has been designed specifically to be used by different family members who have individual informational needs. It incorporates material from three encyclopedias in one software package. It is useful for all levels of encyclopedia users: beginning, intermediate, and advanced because it is very intuitive; has a straightforward interface; and includes a variety of search and browse functions, both simple and advanced.
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Features | ||
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Review | ||
Installation: The program is easy to install and takes very little space on your hard drive. You have the choice of installing QuickTime for movies, if you do not already have it. Interface. The interface has been redesigned to make it more intuitive and easy-to-use. The program has a larger viewing area for pictures, text, videos and maps and more intuitive navigational features. There are three main parts to the screen from which all the main features and functions are accessible: the Features Bar (top), the Index (left), and the Content Region (right).
Features Bar. The Features Bar includes six tabs for: All, Articles, Media, Atlas, Timeline, and Research. To give you an overview of how the program works, I will discuss the six tabs and what features are found under each tab. 1. All. If you click the All button on the Features Bar, you can browse a list of all items in the encyclopedia. 2. Articles. You use the Articles button to list all the GME's articles in the Index. Most of the longer articles contain outlines, indicated by an Outline tab. Links to other articles are indicated by words in color in the text. The Related Media Gallery tab lists all the pictures, maps, etc. associated with the article. 3. Media. Under the Media tab is where you will see a scrollable alphabetic list of media in the GME. You can restrict browsing to a single media type or look at all. Different types of media include: pictures; sounds; panoramas; fact boxes; science questions and answers; tables; videos; multimedia maps; animations; and cutaways. There is a new Related Media Gallery that displays large previews of all article-related media items within the article display region in a "picture show" fashion--six to a page. (Available on Windows only).
Panoramas. More than 150 present-day and historical panoramas can be found in the Grolier Encyclopedia. Points-of-interest, scenes and historical sites bring the world to your computer screen. They show sweeping views of such places as the Antarctic Landscape, the Grand Canyon, the World War I battlefields and the Panama Canal under construction. Science Question & Answer. Based on the New York Times Book of Science Questions and Answers, this feature teaches you about science by answering hundreds of questions, many of them drawn from everyday life. (You must register the encyclopedia to be able to use this feature.) Search Features. The Grolier Encyclopedia
has strong search features. You can perform simple and Complex word
searches and restrict a search to specified parts of the encyclopedia.
You may narrow or broaden your search. For instance, you could find
two words in the same article or search only among articles and maps.
By default, the encyclopedia searches the entire encylopedia--all articles
and media for all topics. By applying Search Filters, you can restrict
a search to certain categories of information and/or encyclopedia features.
Wild cards can be used to find words with a common root or when you're
not certain how to spell a word. There are two types "*" and
"?."
Word Processor. You may open you
word processing program from the encyclopedia to quickly place notes
and quotes in papers, documents, etc., via standard copy and paste commands.
You must first set up this capability by selecting Word Processor from
Preferences on the Edit menu. Grolier Web Links. GME has online links: (1) Encyclopedia America Online Article Links; (2) New Book of Knowledge Online Article Links; (3) Internet Index for fast, easy access to more than 50,000 Grolier-selected Internet links; and (4) Hundreds of article updates provided free every month. |
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Personal Comments | ||
The 2001 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia Deluxe Edition is a valuable upgrade. The redesigned interface makes it easier to use. The new Research Center is a great aid to students, and the revamped Timeline is more amazing than ever. | ||
System Requirements | ||
Windows: Optional Online Requirements: Modem (required for online features only) |
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Other Goodies | ||
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Graphics: Adobe Photoshop
5.5 |
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