A to Vladimir Zworykin: A Review of The World Book Concise Encyclopedia

[Jordan Rosenwald]

Need to know the exact temperature of Absolute Zero? How about if you're walking down the street and someone asks you if you know what contributions John Von Neumann made to the field of mathematics? Who knows when you’ll need to know that the tangor is part of the mandarin family of fruits? Enter the World Book Concise Encyclopedia 2003 Handheld Edition.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/jordan-may03-wbce2003-1.gif" /> <br /><!><i>PDAs are all about information… Well, and games, being organized, and multimedia. But definitely information! What better source of information than the World Book Concise Encyclopedia? If you’ve written a report for school, you’ve probably used World Book before, but how does it translate to an electronic format?</i> <br /><br /><span><b>The World (Book) At Your Fingertips</b></span> <br />Making use of the Town Compass DataViewer, The World Book Concise Encyclopedia boast 17,000 entries and 1,200 images. How they achieve so much information is by simply taking the first paragraph from the print edition, for each entry. The end result is a very concise, high level description of what you’re looking up. Not too shabby if you're on the road or in a pinch for some general information. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/jordan-may03-wbce2003-1.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 1: Warm, inviting, and friendly… Eh. It's just the splash screen.</i> <br /><br /><span><b>Organized And Making Sense</b></span> <br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/jordan-may03-wbce2003-2.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 2: Narrowing your search is simple and quick.</i><br /><br />The layout of the reference is simple and logical, especially if you’ve used Town Compass’ DataViewer before. When you start, you are given a picture of the encyclopedia. Click OK, and move on to a list of alphabetic ranges (A-C, D-H, etc.). Select the letter range your interested and it will continue to prompt you (three times total) to drill down closer and closer to the subject matter you’re looking for. Once you select the topic you’re interested in, you will be presented with the information, including cross-reference links and a picture if there is one for the entry, in ClearType.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/jordan-may03-wbce2003-3.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 3: Narrowing your search</i><br /><br />To go back to the topic list, click the back arrow or home button (looking very Pocket Internet Explorer in appearance). You can also view the index (all entries in one HUGE list), search (more on that later), refresh the view, and even beam the database (wouldn’t recommend that seeing as how it's pretty huge) or application. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/jordan-may03-wbce2003-4.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 4: Cross-referenced information accessible by clicking on blue text.</i><br /><br /><span><b>Searches</b></span><br />At first I was going to say there wasn’t much to say about this other than you could search the entries, but I was getting some strange results back when I ran some test searches. My first search (the word radon) took over 14 seconds to return four results. My seconds search, the word Jefferson took four seconds and returned 49 results. To really get silly, I searched for the word ‘the’ and got 100 results (which is a configurable maximum in the options screen) in four seconds also. Every search I ran took four to five seconds after that. <br /> <br />It appears that the first search indexes the database, because if you close the database entirely and reopen it, the first search again takes over 14 seconds, but each subsequent search takes four to five seconds. I have to say I’m rather pleased with that.<br /><br /><b><span>Gotchas</span></b><li> Not much of a gotcha, but with the exception for quick lookup items like how far is a light-year (5.88 trillion miles) or the year The Emancipation Proclamation was made (1863), I found myself wanting more detail on several things that I looked up. But such is the limitation of a <i>concise</i> encyclopedia.<br /><li> Can’t copy and paste entries. I know it's to protect copyrighted material, but I’d still love that functionality.<span><b>Where To Buy</b></span> <br />The software can be <a href="http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&platformId=2&productType=2&catalog=0§ionId=0&productId=64720">downloaded from Handango</a> or purchased for $24.95 (affiliate link). <br /> <br /><b><span>Specifications</span></b> <br />The DataViewer requires 460KB and can be installed on a memory card. The database requires 12MB and can be installed to a memory card, and gives you the option to do it directly from the install!<br /><br /><b><span>Conclusions</span></b> <br />The World Book Concise Encyclopedia is a great reference to have on hand. The interface is clean, the searches are fast, and the information is good (if not limited by its clarity). Add to the overall positive experience with the reference the fact that the viewer has several additional resources that are free for download and you have a pretty useful reference source.

[thomas1973]

Looks pretty impressive! I was just thinking, you could also try out the free Wikipedia encyclopedia (www.wikipedia.org), which is available for Pocket PC download in the Tomeraider (www.tomeraider.com) format. But it's a whopping 103 MB 8O !

Visit the online version here: www.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia is a multilingual project to create a complete and accurate open content encyclopedia. We started on January 15, 2001 and are currently working on 130779 articles in the English version.
Read more about Wikipedia on PPC, and see PPC screenshots, here:
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia%3ATomeRaider_database

Goto the download page (http://pliny.wikipedia.org/tarballs/tomeraider/), where you want the "WP_EN_(P)PC.tr.bz2"-file, or download the demofile: "WP_EN_(P)PC_DEMO.tr.bz2" (bz2-format is a zip-file format.) Sorry about all the links, but it's pretty hard to find the PPC info and downloads on Wikipedias website, so I thought I'd put it all here :roll: ...


Thomas.

[Kaber]

No copy and paste? WTF!?!?

[Duncan]

Looks pretty impressive! I was just thinking, you could also try out the free Wikipedia encyclopedia

Now Wikipedia is an amazing encyclopaedia - with astonishing depth on pretty much anything you can think of (so far there hasn't been a single item I couldn't find). Very accurate as well - I searched for some very obscure stuff that I have some specialist knowledge of and it was spot on every time. Very fast too!

The World Book though - very poor. Basic, inaccurate in parts (largely due to the need for 'consciseness' I suppose) and massively overpriced for such a small database. If it was cheaper then it would have value as a conscise encyclopaedia - but I have a battered old paperback encyclopaedia that has as much detail and cost me £5!

BTW - Jordan - I'm not sure I understand your meaning here:
the information is good (if not limited by its clarity)

[bargainPDA]

We just reviewed the Palm version which uncovers numerous problems as well including a lack of zoom on pictures, very poor image resolution and unreadable captions and labels. We also found the descriptions to be a little light for most topics. If you're interested...

http://www.bargainpda.com/default.asp?newsID=1393&showComments=true

Brian

[Kathy_Harris]

$25 just for tombraider??? Ouch!

[thomas1973]

$25 just for tombraider??? Ouch!
Oops, guess I forgot about the cost of Tomeraider :oops: ... I've just always had it, as the Danish Drug Catalog and the Danish ICD-10 criterias (disease classifications) are both freely, but also exclusively, available in the Tomeraider format, and I'm a Danish medical student.

Tomeraider is a very good program for reference work, as the index searches are instantaneous, even in big files. I haven't tried the 103 MB Wikipedia, yet, as I'm still waiting on my 256 MB SD-card...

There are a lot of other free reference work and other free texts available in the TR format :D , but you're probably thinking what I would think if I didn't already have TR: 20 bucks for yet another reader :( ...


Thomas.

[Craig Horlacher]

I love having referances on my Pocket PC. They come in handy often. It's true, you need to pay $25.00 for TomeRaider (note, not Tomb, but Tome which is a word for a scholarly book I think) but it's well worth it. It is fast and the Wikipedia is great. I've been amazed at the detail that it has and the variety of topics. Besides that I also got (for free) Rogets Thesauras, a concise Websters encyclopedia and Websters abridged dictionary - in TomeRaider format. So, for the $25.00 I paid for TomeRaider I've got four additional referances that all seem to be good. I forget where I got them all. Maybe Project Guttenberg or something?

I actually bought the World Book one but had to return it when I found out it didn't support mips (still have an e125) as the compatibility list said. They have since corrected the compatibility list. It looks like it could be a good additional referance. It's especially nice because it's so small. I'm not too worried about space on my 1GB cf ($140.00 after rebate thanks to PPCT!) but I know a lot of people may be.

[thomas1973]

For Tomeraider files, check out www.memoware.com

Thomas.

[cyp]

wikipedia is one confusing website. where is the download link for ppc?

[Duncan]

where is the download link for ppc?

Follow the direct 'download' link given by Thomas1973 above and look for the name that he gives. The right downlaod has a file size of 103MB given on the right.

$25 just for tombraider??? Ouch!

Even if you just used it with Wikipedia - that is immediately a highly detailed and widespread encyclopaedia for the cost of the basic 'World Book' (is it just me or is it a bit misleading of them to put a picture of the full many volumed set on the 'cover' of a concise version?). As pointed out by others though - you can get a wealth of encyclopaedic works to add for free.

Of course if you don't mind only having 80% of any entries you can have Tomeraider and the Wikipedia completely free! I spent a couple of weeks unregistered and managed to get a real burning desire to keep my encylopaedia!

[Crystal Eitle]

Slightly OT (okay, maybe way OT), but we had a set of World Book encyclopedias when I was a kid. I spent many happy hours plonked on the floor in front of the bookcase, just browsing through the 'cyclopedias. Do kids do that anymore? I have to imagine that families just don't buy hardcover encyclopedia sets anymore. It's just not worth it, with everything available online and on CD-ROM for much cheaper. You PPCT readers with kids - would you ever consider buying a hardcover encyclopedia set, or are such things a dying breed?

(Reading over my post - wow, I was a really nerdy kid!)

[Kati Compton]

(Reading over my post - wow, I was a really nerdy kid!)
Don't worry - I did it too. Not that that makes you any less nerdy for it - you're just not alone. ;)

[Pony99CA]

You PPCT readers with kids - would you ever consider buying a hardcover encyclopedia set, or are such things a dying breed?

I got suckered into buying a set of Encyclopaedia Britannica back in 1984 or so (well before I had a child). It actually wasn't too bad a deal, because I got the Great Books of the Western World for free.

So there's at least one parent who owns a real encyclopedia. However, I also just bought the Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003 (on DVD).

Steve

[Certified Optimist]

For Tomeraider files, check out www.memoware.com

Thomas.

Thanks for the tip! ...just noticed that some of these files are not exclusive to Tomeraider... Works with PalmReader (e.g. CIA World Fact Book 2002). 4.5MB of free world facts.

[Skoobouy]

I grew up in a home with two sets of encyclopedias that always helped me with school projects, so in respect of tradition I would probably have a set of my own in my home. I just think it's a good thing to have around, for more than just pragmatic reasons.

[thomas1973]

wikipedia is one confusing website. where is the download link for ppc?
I know, that's why I added all the links in my first posting about Wikipedia! :twisted:

My first posting (the second post in this thread) has links to the info site for the PPC version, and the final download site.

Thomas.

[Jordan Rosenwald]

BTW - Jordan - I'm not sure I understand your meaning here:
the information is good (if not limited by its clarity)
Holy oversight! The word was supposed to be brevity. Sorry about that.

[Janak Parekh]

(Reading over my post - wow, I was a really nerdy kid!)
Don't worry - I did it too. Not that that makes you any less nerdy for it - you're just not alone. ;)
Me too... not only at home, but the worst thing in the school library was that I'd be doing some research, turn the page and then just start reading random articles. And I'd sit there for 20 minutes or so before I shook myself out of it. :D

It's just the joy of learning new things, I think. ;)

--janak

[Craig Horlacher]

Hello,

In my earlier post I made a note of the fact that TomeRaider is called "TomeRaider" and not "TombRaider". I pointed this out because I have seen it the wrong way a number of times in different posts from different people. I was not trying to pick on any individual. I didn't know what the real name was until I bought it and then I didn't know what a "tome" was until I looked it up.

Anyway, I'm sorry if my post came across hard...it should should not have been as short as it was I guess.

Have a great day!

[Kaber]

I spent many happy hours plonked on the floor in front of the bookcase, just browsing through the 'cyclopedias. Do kids do that anymore? I have to imagine that families just don't buy hardcover encyclopedia sets anymore. It's just not worth it, with everything available online and on CD-ROM for much cheaper. You PPCT readers with kids - would you ever consider buying a hardcover encyclopedia set, or are such things a dying breed?

My kids love reading. I don't feel the need to have a brand new set of encyclopedias in the house though because of almost the exact reasons you mention. We supplement the internet with many trips to the library however, and its often difficult to drag them out of there.

I use Tomeraider also, and with the amount of information available from Memoware, it is worth much more than the cost of buying it.

Oh man, people just hate when you pull out "that darn gadget again" to prove them wrong.

[PPCRules]

You PPCT readers with kids - would you ever consider buying a hardcover encyclopedia set, or are such things a dying breed?
We just about did a couple years ago, but decided to wait for our kids (then 3 to 5yrs old) to develop more care for books before we made the investment. Then the set would be that much more up to date, also. So we still intend to do so. But I've got to believe there will be an end to each brand's print versions (just like the venerable Sears catalog). I hope we get adequate warning.

I spent many happy hours plonked on the floor in front of the bookcase, just browsing through the 'cyclopedias. Do kids do that anymore?
Ours are doing that, like with the single volume "encyclopedias" we have. Not having television goes a long way in fostering that, I think.

[Mommabird]

:) Hi! I have been reading through your posts about the Tomeraider and Wikipedia. I am very interested in adding this to my unit, but their site is very confusing and not user friendly for us newbies. :oops:

Is there anyone here that could help me understand what it is I need to download for the encyclopedia? I do realise that I will have to get the Tomeraider. I have the World Book and like it o.k. It's good for quick info, but I would rather have another one with more detail.

I have a Jornada 568 with a 256mb cf card added to it.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. And I will remind you that I still consider myself a newbie to pocket pc's. In other words, easy instructions do well for me. :wink: Thanks again

Mommabird :roll:

[thomas1973]

:) Hi! I have been reading through your posts about the Tomeraider and Wikipedia. I am very interested in adding this to my unit, but their site is very confusing and not user friendly for us newbies. :oops:

Is there anyone here that could help me understand what it is I need to download for the encyclopedia? I do realise that I will have to get the Tomeraider. I have the World Book and like it o.k. It's good for quick info, but I would rather have another one with more detail.

I have a Jornada 568 with a 256mb cf card added to it.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. And I will remind you that I still consider myself a newbie to pocket pc's. In other words, easy instructions do well for me. :wink: Thanks again

Mommabird :roll:


Click this link to start the Wikipedia download:
http://pliny.wikipedia.org/tarballs/tomeraider/WP_EN_(P)PC.tr.bz2.
Save it to your desktop. Open it with an unzipping tool, and move the contained .tr file to the My Documents folder on your Memory Card. The Wikipedia file should now appear in the file list when you open Tomeraider. Ask again if there's any specifics.

HTH

Thomas.

[Mommabird]

Hi Thomas :)

Thanks for your help. I installed the reader and downloaded the Wikipedia. When I open the Tomeraider, the Wikipedia does not show up in the reader files. The file is listed for the Wiki on my documents folder on my cf card but it tells me there is no application... when I try to open from there. The reader seems to have allof it's files there.

I went through the install process on the desktop and moved the .tr file to the document folder on the card. I have plenty of memory on the card. I'm sure I'm doing something wrong, I just can't figure out what.

Thanks for any help you may offer.



::?

Just wanted to add to last post.

I was able to install another file to the Tomeraider and it shows up and opens. I went back to redo the Wikipedia and my device seems to be transferring documents, but suspends the active sync before the file is finished transfering. I even tried changing auto suspend from 5 mins to 15 mins and it does the same.

This may or may not have anything to do with it. It does appear when looking at the memory on the CF card that only part of the encyclopedia is getting there. (Also, there is plenty of battery power on the Jornada at the time.)

Thanks again for any help someone may offer. :)