Microsoft Encarta 2021 [updated] (2024)

Microsoft Encarta was pioneering, taking the concept of an encyclopedia from the printed page to CD-ROM and DVD. It was a staple in many schools during the early 2000s, providing interactive multimedia content.

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Often cited as the closest modern equivalent to the old Encarta/Britannica software. Google Arts & Culture: For that high-quality, interactive museum and history vibe. The Internet Archive: Microsoft Encarta was pioneering, taking the concept of

By the mid-2000s, the landscape of information changed radically. Encarta relied on a team of paid experts, editors, and static annual updates. Meanwhile, a crowd-sourced experiment called Wikipedia was scaling at an unprecedented rate. Microsoft Encarta Wikipedia (Late 2000s onwards) Paid software ($50–$100 or bundled) Completely free Access CD-ROM/DVD (Later MSN Encarta Online) Web browser on any connected device Updates Monthly patches / Annual editions Real-time, continuous community edits Scale ~60,000 articles Millions of articles across hundreds of languages Often cited as the closest modern equivalent to