Britannica.com Inc. announced that the 2002 editions of the Encyclopedia Britannica CD-ROMs and DVDs will be Mac-compatible. The new sets will be released this fall and will feature new content, an easier to use search-and-display system, and improved browsing features.
The reference guides themselves incorporate video, audio, animation, a world atlas, Merriam-Webster dictionary, timelines and a research organizer.
Britannica.com executive director Jennifer Apy said that the continuing success of the iMac and iBooks motivated her company to support the Mac.
“Each of the Encyclopedia Britannica CD-ROMs and DVDs is an all-in-one resource perfect for students, families, professionals, schools, or anyone who needs reliable information, and the Mac provides a powerful and easy-to-use environment for our customers,” said Apy.
Britannica’s 2002 product line includes:
Encyclopedia Britannica 2002 Standard Edition (CD-ROM). Ideal for laptop users and anyone who values portability, this version contains the entire text of the Encyclopedia Britannica on a single CD-ROM disk. It also has more than 5,400 illustrations, maps and charts as well as audio and video. Suggested retail price: US$39.99. Encyclopedia Britannica 2002 Expanded Edition (DVD). Using the expansive capacity of DVD, this product provides a feast of sights and sound along with comprehensive and reliable information. It features the entire Encyclopedia Britannica on a single disk, along with over seven hours of audio and video enhancements and more than 16,400 photos, illustrations, maps and charts. Suggested retail price: $69.99. Encyclopedia Britannica Concise (Quick Search) Edition. This product features a short-entry encyclopedia from Britannica with more than 25,000 articles on the full range of subjects. Perfect for people who need quick, basic facts. Suggested retail price: $9.99. The Standard and Expanded editions are coming this August. Look for the Concise Edition to hit stores in October.
New features for the 2002 editions include:
easier and more efficient search, with integrated tab-based results screens and A-Z browsing capability; KnowledgeNavigator, a visual tool that makes it easy for users to explore articles related to their topics; new “visual tours” on rock music and thunderstorms; a sophisticated index of over 600,000 hyperlinked references that provide a comprehensive web of knowledge, enabling users to find what they need quickly and easily; the ability to keep the CD product current with new and updated articles provided online. Specific Mac system requirements for Britannica’s 2002 line were not offered.