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Microsoft exits the encyclopedia biz, kills Encarta
On October 31st, the company will turn off all of its Encarta web sites except for Encarta Japan for some reason, which will shut down a few months later. Microsoft will stop selling Encarta software by June. Microsoft will continue releasing updates for the software versions of Encarta until it shuts down the internet service.
Users who have paid for Encarta subscriptions will be refunded for the unused portion of their subscription.
[via Ars Technica]
Comments
13
Subscribe to commentsThe GnomeMar 30th 2009 6:16PM
It looks like Wikipedia took over!
Why? It's free, but is not 100% reliable!
Timmy P.Mar 30th 2009 6:23PM
Yay human subjectivity!
left_shiftMar 30th 2009 6:23PM
Ahh.. poor encarta, i remember being amazed at how much it had fitted on a CD, including tiny videos, very impressive once.
I think it was more that the internet killed it, not just Wikipedia.
CT AMar 30th 2009 10:46PM
Even though I use Wikipedia even more, I love Encarta. Brings back memories from the Windows 98 era... I will miss it =(.
supermewtwo3Mar 30th 2009 10:47PM
I have to say good riddance. It used to be really good, when it came on CD/DVD. But as the years progressed, I bought the 2003 edition, and half the content I paid $50 was only available if I subscribed to their web edition.
NiloyMar 30th 2009 10:47PM
Encarta was truly good. You will be missed.
It was more humane than Britannica and much much more professional and polished than Wikipedia.
RaffiMar 30th 2009 10:48PM
It's a shame, is there really no place for professionally edited encyclopedias anymore? I'd certanly perfer one over Wikipedia, if it was free and had a similar breadth of articles.
MalteserrMar 30th 2009 10:49PM
Yep.. Encarta really brings back memories..
QuikboyMar 31st 2009 7:38AM
I'm really sad; Encarta seemed to have a lot more potential if MS just put more resources to it. While the articles gave a fairly good overview of the subject, it just didn't go as in-depth as I'd like it to have been, or post good links to find more about it.
I loved the multimedia stuff. Like if you looked up a country, you could listen to the national anthem, easy to read tables, maps, etc.
I bought Microsoft Student 2007, and I really hope that the Student Tools will continue to live on, maybe as something free? The Student Tools offers great Microsoft Office templates for various subjects and it's fairly useful.
Microsoft Math is also absolutely wonderful if you've used it, and I think Encarta's Dictionary/Thesaurus thing are probably the best on the web.
Like I said, I really actually liked this product a lot, and I had hope to see MS provide some much more meaningful updates to keep Encarta more relevant to the way users use the web today, but I guess they just didn't see it worth going into.
NateMar 31st 2009 7:38AM
Oh Microsoft, you've done it again. First you crushed my soul with the cancellation of the Flight Simulator series (from which my soul will never recover) and now Encarta. Though I suppose I haven't used Encarta since middle school. I usually just use Answers.com.
r3loadedMar 31st 2009 7:38AM
I had fond memories of Encarta 97 on my new Win95 machine when I was 9...I remember sitting down and putting the CD in just to learn more by reading its various and numerous articles. The world globe and countries section was the best imo.
Encarta, you shall be missed!
a.wiosoJun 18th 2009 8:17AM
i really missed ENCARTA.It has been helpful me to get references when i have tasks
lolMar 31st 2009 1:18PM
I love Encarta!
Heck!
I like it more than Wikipedia. The maps, videos, slick animations etc were amazing!
Wish Wikipedia incorporates videos and jazzes up the UI a bit.
Encarta is my most favorite software