Britannica Deluxe Reviewer's Comments
Britannica proves they build encyclopedia software better than anyone with their Deluxe edition, "TopTenREVIEWS Silver Award" Winner. Encyclopedia Britannica Deluxe is easy to use with the same search bar as their #1-ranked Ultimate Reference Suite and it offers an extensive database—a Britannica trademark.
You save $20 by going with the Deluxe version but you also have to give up the report wizard, some kid-friendly elements and some articles and a few features you'll only find in the Ultimate Reference Suite.
Encyclopedia Britannica Deluxe has icons across the top of the screen to help you easily navigate between the dictionary, atlas, timelines and organizer. You'll also find a dropdown bar with extra tools and a link to the Britannica homepage.
Feature Set:
The feature set is the area that sets Britannica apart from the competition. This software package includes 82,786 articles, over 17,562 photos and illustrations and 1,638 maps. This software also includes multimedia elements like video and sound clips as well as animations. The software also includes a brainstorming feature to help with research papers and specialized timelines for almost any category.
This software provides article updates, access to magazine articles and links to relevant websites so you're sure to get up-to-date information.
Britannica Deluxe doesn't have a student or elementary library for the younger audiences so if you have students in your home, you may want to stick to the Ultimate Reference Suite.
Search Capabilities:
Deluxe has a search bar to help you sort through tons of material and find the information that you seek. With the regular search, you're able to explore a topic and retrieve all relative information. The advanced search can locate exact phrases, partial terms, entire terms, matching titles or even matching text.
During a search, the software creates a list of everything it can find on that subject. The list includes all of the encyclopedia articles, images and multimedia files.
Ease of Installation:
We didn't encounter any problems during the installation or setup of this product.
Help/Support:
Deluxe comes with Britannica's great customer support. They offer a phone number and an email address to contact customer service. The software also includes a knowledge base and a FAQs page for quick reference and a quick link to the product homepage.
Summary:
If you're looking for Britannica quality, but don't need all of the features of the Ultimate Reference Suite, or if you just want to save $20, Britannica's Deluxe version is a good choice. This software package makes a great addition to any reference library.
