Britannica on different supports Dr. Inoslav Bešker Dubrovnik, May 27 th, 2005

BritannicaBritannica on different on different supportssupports

Dr. Inoslav BeškerDr. Inoslav Bešker

Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, May 27May 27thth, 2005, 2005

ITN, Interuniversity Center ITN, Interuniversity Center Dubrovnik, May 27th, 2005Dubrovnik, May 27th, 2005

Paper formPaper form

(32 volumes)(32 volumes)65,000 articles 65,000 articles US$ 1400 US$ 1400

OnlineOnline 120,000 articles 120,000 articles ((44 million words44 million words))

US$ 11.95 US$ 11.95 (per month) or(per month) or

US$ 69.95 US$ 69.95 (per year)(per year)

CD-ROMCD-ROM more than more than 100,000 articles 100,000 articles

US$ 50 US$ 50

DVD-ROMDVD-ROM more than more than 100,000 articles 100,000 articles

US$ 50 US$ 50


Britannica’s Britannica’s paper editionpaper edition Started in 1786Started in 1786 Associated Associated

temporarily with The temporarily with The Times, then with Times, then with Cambridge UniversityCambridge University

Moved to Chicago Moved to Chicago from 11from 11thth edition edition

1913 advertisement 1913 advertisement for the 11th editionfor the 11th edition

PPurchased by Swiss urchased by Swiss financier Jacqui Safrafinancier Jacqui Safra 19961996


Britannica’s Britannica’s paper edition structurepaper edition structure

PropædiaPropædia (1 volume) provides a (1 volume) provides a structured hierarchy to all the information structured hierarchy to all the information in the set in the set

MicropædiaMicropædia (10 volumes) contains short (10 volumes) contains short articlesarticles

MacropædiaMacropædia (19 volumes) for longer (19 volumes) for longer articlesarticles

IndexIndex (2 volumes) added in 1985 (2 volumes) added in 1985 (Under the influence of the director of planning, Mortimer Adler, (Under the influence of the director of planning, Mortimer Adler,

from the 15from the 15thth edition, first published in 1974) edition, first published in 1974)


Paper edition historyPaper edition history

11stst 17681768––17711771 3 vol. 3 vol. 22ndnd 17771777––17841784 10 vol.10 vol. 33rdrd 17881788––17971797, , 18 vol. 18 vol.

1801 1801 2 sup. 2 sup. 44thth 18011801––18091809 20 vol.20 vol. 55thth 18151815 20 vol.20 vol. 66thth 18201820––18231823, , 20 vol. 20 vol.

18151815––18241824 2 sup. 2 sup. 77thth 18301830––18421842 21 vol.21 vol. 88thth 18521852––18601860 21 vol. 21 vol.

+ index+ index

99thth 18701870––18901890 24 vol. 24 vol. + index+ index

1010thth 19021902––19031903 9th ed. 9th ed. + 9 sup+ 9 sup..

1111thth 19101910––19111911 29 vol29 vol 1212thth 19211921––19221922 11th ed. 11th ed.

+ 3 sup.+ 3 sup. 1313thth 19261926 11th ed.11th ed.

+ 6 sup.+ 6 sup. 1414thth 1929–19731929–1973 24 vol.24 vol. 1515thth1974–19841974–1984 30 vol.30 vol.

1985–1985– 32 vol.32 vol.


Multimedia troublesMultimedia troubles 1980’s: Britannica turned down Microsoft 1980’s: Britannica turned down Microsoft

proposal to collaborate on a CD-ROM proposal to collaborate on a CD-ROM encyclopaediaencyclopaedia

Microsoft used content from Microsoft used content from Funk & Wagnalls Funk & Wagnalls Standard EncyclopediaStandard Encyclopedia to create what is now to create what is now known as known as EncartaEncarta

1994: Only 55,000 hard copy versions were sold 1994: Only 55,000 hard copy versions were sold (vs. 117,000 in 1990)(vs. 117,000 in 1990)

1994: The first 1994: The first BritannicaBritannica CD-ROM edition was CD-ROM edition was issued for US$2000 issued for US$2000

1996: the cost of the CD had dropped to US$200 1996: the cost of the CD had dropped to US$200 1996: Britannica sold to 1996: Britannica sold to Jacqui Safra Jacqui Safra


Britannica OnlineBritannica Online


Britannica OnlineBritannica Online


Nik RawlinsonNik Rawlinson on Britannica DVD on Britannica DVD

The The Encyclopaedia Britannica Ultimate Reference Encyclopaedia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite 2004Suite 2004 DVD retains a quirky, unintuitive DVD retains a quirky, unintuitive interface that sees the various parts of an article - interface that sees the various parts of an article - text, tables, pictures and so forth - opening in text, tables, pictures and so forth - opening in separate windows that overlay each other and separate windows that overlay each other and stay open when you move on to something else. stay open when you move on to something else.

The atlas, though, is among the worst in any The atlas, though, is among the worst in any reference product we have recently reviewed. It reference product we have recently reviewed. It doesn't fit onto a 1,024 x 768 screen properlydoesn't fit onto a 1,024 x 768 screen properly

What Britannica does have that Encarta can't What Britannica does have that Encarta can't match is an impressive heritagematch is an impressive heritage


Buyer’s Review (on Amazon)Buyer’s Review (on Amazon)

I agree with many of the comments below: I agree with many of the comments below: basically, the content is second to none basically, the content is second to none and easily surpasses Encarta. However, and easily surpasses Encarta. However, the Java interface is so clumsy and the Java interface is so clumsy and unorthodox, that I can rarely be bothered unorthodox, that I can rarely be bothered to access the articles. At under Ł40, the to access the articles. At under Ł40, the DVD obviously makes more sense than the DVD obviously makes more sense than the Ł1000 printed set, but given the tiresome Ł1000 printed set, but given the tiresome interface, you will more than likely find interface, you will more than likely find yourself printing out many of the articles yourself printing out many of the articles you want to read. you want to read.



Not always reliableNot always reliable The entry in the 2001 CD-Rom says: The entry in the 2001 CD-Rom says:

• "After being independent until 1707, Scotland assented to the "After being independent until 1707, Scotland assented to the Act of Union with England and became an integral part of the Act of Union with England and became an integral part of the United Kingdom. It has no separate legislature. Scotland has United Kingdom. It has no separate legislature. Scotland has no sovereign executive or political power." no sovereign executive or political power."

• "Coal is Scotland’s chief mineral resource and the main mining "Coal is Scotland’s chief mineral resource and the main mining areas are in Lothian, Fife and Strathclyde regions." areas are in Lothian, Fife and Strathclyde regions."

• "Automobile manufacturing came to Scotland on a large scale "Automobile manufacturing came to Scotland on a large scale in the early 1960s." in the early 1960s."

CommentsComments::• "The dramatic constitutional changes witnessed in its home "The dramatic constitutional changes witnessed in its home

city appear to have passed the encyclopaedia by."city appear to have passed the encyclopaedia by." ((Ian Swanson, Ian Swanson, Scottish Political Editor of The ScotsmanScottish Political Editor of The Scotsman))

• "They might have been better to chisel out the old stone "They might have been better to chisel out the old stone version. These faults are near fatal in terms of its Scottish version. These faults are near fatal in terms of its Scottish readership." readership." ((SNP education spokesman Mike RussellSNP education spokesman Mike Russell))

• "If it was not ludicrous, it would be hilarious" "If it was not ludicrous, it would be hilarious" ((Robin Harper, Britain’s Robin Harper, Britain’s first Green parliamentarian at the 1999 Scottish electionfirst Green parliamentarian at the 1999 Scottish election))

Documents

Britannica on different supports Dr. Inoslav Bešker Dubrovnik, May 27 th, 2005