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Jason Dunn
12-18-2003, 10:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://revolution.cx/enc/Pocket-PC-Encyclopedia.htm' target='_blank'>http://revolution.cx/enc/Pocket-PC-...ncyclopedia.htm</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/encss1.gif" /> <br /><br />"This edition of the Concise Columbia Encyclopedia has entries specifically written and selected for the short form nature of a quick reference guide. Not just the first paragraph of a longer entry but an edited and shortened version that gets the key points across as a pocket reference should. Conversely it also packs in the breadth and detail needed to form a reliable learning and reference source.<br /><br />With nearly 17000 entries containing over a million words, from the main events of World War I to the Department of Homeland Security to biographic entries of pivotal historical figures, this comprehensive reference won't be found lacking. $24.99 through December 22nd only. This is the lowest price we can offer and is a substantial discount off of the regular price of $29.99. There is not a demo version available, but the familiar and award winning Lextionary engine is used to search and navigate the encyclopedia."<br /><br />I'm an information junkie, so this seems like a very cool resource to me. :-)<br /><br /><b>UPDATE:</b> <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/subscribe.php">Subscribers</a> can get this program for $21.99 until Sunday the 21st. Check the discounts page for more details!

revolution.cx
12-18-2003, 10:19 PM
Yes, no demo is a bummer but we are contractually limited from issuing one at this time.

There are a lot of screenshots on our site to give you a good look at the product and we are more than happy to answer any questions, just ask here or email us at [email protected]

arebelspy
12-18-2003, 11:16 PM
I love having the whole wikipedia on my pocket pc: http://members.chello.nl/epzachte/Wikipedia/

It's about 180 MB or so (390 MB worth of text compressed into 180MB.. and there is a smaller version available as well released last July), but well worth it if you have a 512MB SD card. The reason why I like it: it has things a normal encyclopedia wouldn't have. For example I looked up The Goonies (1980s movie) and it told me a summary, gave links to all the actors, etc. (within the encyclopedia - not online links, although it has external links too). I learned "sam" from the LOTR movies was one of the kids, that for "chunk" (remember the truffle shuffle?) he never did any other acting, but he played football and lost some weight and now is a lawyer in LA, etc. etc. So much random info a real encyclopedia wouldn't have.

I looked up "anakin solo" (han's kid in "star wars").. they had it. It's got everything you could think of, I love it.

Go to www.wikipedia.com to see the real thing (the linked one above is just compressed into TomeRaider format for the PPC)

Sometimes I'll read it like a book, enter in random search terms (author "piers anthony" or something) and follow links around and just read it, it's fun. :D &lt;/dork>

-arebelspy

captgoodhope
12-19-2003, 12:02 AM
Just bought and installed this. Very nice! and fast.

jlong4
12-19-2003, 12:31 AM
How much space does this take up and can it be stored on a card...or does it have to go on main memory? It does look interesting, might have to try it out.

thanks...

Jason Dunn
12-19-2003, 12:32 AM
How much space does this take up and can it be stored on a card...or does it have to go on main memory? It does look interesting, might have to try it out.

thanks...

It can be stored on a card, and I think it takes up about 7 MB....?

shawnc
12-19-2003, 01:09 AM
The timing of this couldn't be better. I was about to purchase the World Encyclopedia 2003 for MS Reader. I'm not sure which one I'll try, but I'll do some digging and decide within the next couple of days.

Anyone have any experience with either of these products?

SirOops
12-19-2003, 01:34 AM
Wikipedia screenshots

http://members.chello.nl/epzachte/Wikipedia/Capt0001.gifhttp://members.chello.nl/epzachte/Wikipedia/Capt0006.gifhttp://members.chello.nl/epzachte/Wikipedia/Capt0111.pnghttp://members.chello.nl/epzachte/Wikipedia/Capt0103.png


TomeRaider needed ($25). Encyclopedia is free. 180,000 articles.
Version in English French German Esperanto and Dutch.

tsb_hcy
12-19-2003, 04:19 AM
I agree, Wikipedia is the only option. Everything else is too vague.

trapper
12-19-2003, 07:09 AM
Wikipedia screenshots


SirOops - Are math symbols and expressions better supported now? In previous versions many equations wouldn't display properly. The range and detail of the content in Wikipedia is amazing however.

jimski
12-19-2003, 08:30 AM
I love having the whole wikipedia on my pocket pc: http://members.chello.nl/epzachte/Wikipedia/

It's about 180 MB or so (390 MB worth of text compressed into 180MB.. &lt;/dork>

-arebelspy

It think that's why they call this one the Concise Columbia Encyclopedia. I downloaded it last night. It's sort of like Encyclopedia Cliff Notes, thorough but to the point. No wasted words. Well worth the $21.95 IMHO.

SirOops
12-19-2003, 03:09 PM
Are math symbols and expressions better supported now? In previous versions many equations wouldn't display properly. The range and detail of the content in Wikipedia is amazing however.

Yes, support for TeX math markup has been introduced in this version, so no more raw TeX but HTML rendered math, as you can see (applies to Wikipedia for PPC only, not to Palm/EPOC).

Also support for unicode fonts CODE2000 and Arial Unicode MS has been introduced, so all exotic math symbols and foreign characters can be displayed, see screenshot of Japansese names. CODE2000 is shareware ($5). Arial Unicode MS comes with several Microsoft packages. More about this on http://members.chello.nl/epzachte/Wikipedia/#Unicode

revolution.cx
12-20-2003, 01:56 AM
I love having the whole wikipedia on my pocket pc: http://members.chello.nl/epzachte/Wikipedia/

It's about 180 MB or so (390 MB worth of text compressed into 180MB.. &lt;/dork>

-arebelspy

It think that's why they call this one the Concise Columbia Encyclopedia. I downloaded it last night. It's sort of like Encyclopedia Cliff Notes, thorough but to the point. No wasted words. Well worth the $21.95 IMHO.

Hey, I thought this was a thread about Wikipedia :lol:

Thanks for the compliment, I'm glad our program is working out for you.

Wikipedia is impressive in many ways, but it's also huge and wordy. It has more breadth than the Concise Columbia but I think the Columbia is more direct and succinct. Certainly one difference is the entries have been vetted for accuracy by relevant experts, whereas mistakes in Wikipedia entries have to be discovered and corrected by the users.

Wikipedia has some unique strengths that we hope to integrate into our products at a future date.

dh
12-20-2003, 03:47 AM
The timing of this couldn't be better. I was about to purchase the World Encyclopedia 2003 for MS Reader. I'm not sure which one I'll try, but I'll do some digging and decide within the next couple of days. Anyone have any experience with either of these products?
I have the MS World Encyclopedia and it is not very impressive. The definitions are very short and lacking in detail. I would not recommend it. I'm going to check out wikipedia although the Concise Columbia looks interesting as well.

Update - I downloaded both Tome Raider (last thing I really need is another reader program) and Wikipedia to my SD card.

Problem is I can't open the file. Tome Raider does not see it and it I try to open directly, using Total Commander, I just get the Tome Raider help file which is not very helpful. Putting the app and the Wikipedia file in the same directory does not help at all. What can I do, put the 180MB file in the 64 MB RAM? I don't think so. Anyone else come across this??

Update: Got it sorted, TomeRaider is one of those programs that only seems to recognize files if they live in a "my docs" folder. I added one to my card, put the file in it and everything is fine.

shawnc
12-20-2003, 06:35 PM
dh,

Thanx for the info.