World Book 2001 Deluxe Edition

Reviewed by Sara Hartman
Published by World Book

Age Group: Age 8 and Up, Adults
Type: Reference
Price: $66

PC version requires:
Windows 95/98/2000/NT 4.0, Pentium (133MHz/ Windows 2000), 16MB RAM (64MB/ Windows 2000), 40MB HD (more if World Book not already present), 16 bit color & sound, 2x CD-ROM; online access: 8MB more HD

Mac version requires:
Mac OS 7.1 or higher, 25 MHz 68040, 16MB RAM, 8-bit color monitor, 2x CD-ROM

Description:

I think it is fair to call World Book the standard for school reference materials. With World Book 2001 Deluxe Edition, the same information, and much more, is available for home or school use in a format that is much easier to use.

Everything necessary to complete a research project is here -- a complete range of information, a highlighting feature, graphics, the World Book Dictionary, a word processor, and a number of "wizard" features that help students to write a report, create a timeline or chart or even a web page. For home users with internet access, a one-year subscription to World Book Online (available separately for $50/year) is included with this title. Online updates are also available.

Features:

  • Every article from The World Book Encyclopedia plus thousands more
  • Extensive multimedia including videos, maps, 360-degree panoramas, photographs, sound, animations and simulations
  • World Book Dictionary
  • Research Wizards including Report Wizard, Timeline Wizard, Chart Wizard, Quiz Wizard, and Web Page Wizard
  • "Surf the Millennium" on simulated Web sites for each century
  • One-year subscription to World Book Online (internet access required)
  • Online encyclopedia updates (internet access required)

Technical Aspects:

We tested the PC version of this title. We experienced no problems with installing or using the software. Graphics and sound are excellent.

Most of World Book 2001 Deluxe Edition is accessible to hearing-impaired users.

Report and Conclusions:

World Book 2001 Deluxe Edition is an excellent reference title with many useful functions. My seventh grade daughter, who helped me in testing both this title and the Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia 2001 Deluxe Edition, was especially impressed with the 3-D animated illustrations in World Book. In other respects, she considered the titles to be comparable. I agree that it would be hard to pick one over the other as both present a vast array of information, illustrations and research tools.

The complimentary subscription to World Book Online is useful to ensure that the latest information is accessible; such as for a report that includes a state's elected officials -- many changes occurred in this year's elections which aren't included on the CD-ROMs. World Book Online has additional resources for parents, teachers and home-schoolers.

The research and writing tools are also helpful, especially to the beginning report writer. World Book even supplies suggested citations for including its articles in bibliographies.

Compare the $66 price of World Book 2001 Deluxe Edition, with all its extra features, to the $1,000 needed to purchase a printed World Book, World Book Dictionary, World Book Atlas, and subscription to Worldbook Online. For both content and value, it deserves a Gold Award.




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