REDMOND, March 1997 — Microsoft® Encarta® 97 Encyclopedia Deluxe, the world’s leading multimedia encyclopedia, was honored this month with two prestigious awards, the PC Magazine Editors’ Choice Award and the FamilyPC Family Tested Software Recommended Seal.
“We are thrilled to receive the recognition of experts like PC Magazine and FamilyPC,” said Craig Bartholomew, general manager of the reference business unit at Microsoft Corp. “Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe was put to the test against the rest of its category and came out No. 1. We couldn’t ask for better results.”
Encarta Encyclopedia is entering its fifth year of encouraging learning through audio, video, animation and photographic encyclopedia content.
“Encarta 97 Encyclopedia brings information to life using the latest technology,” said Leland Rockoff, lead product manager for reference products at Microsoft. “We have made a tremendous investment in content and editorial quality. Encarta has the largest editorial staff of any multimedia encyclopedia producer – more than 70 editors, fact checkers and indexers, led by a dozen senior editors who each have an average of 15 years of publishing experience.”
Both awards are the result of stringent testing and top standards of assessment. The PC Magazine Editors’ Choice Award comes from a rigorous evaluation by expert staff. The round-up of multimedia encyclopedias compares products in areas including multimedia, editorial content and user interface. Encarta 97 Encyclopedia Deluxe earned top ratings and was noted for its innovative use of multimedia. The FamilyPC Family Tested software program grades products in three categories: satisfaction, ease of use and long-term value. More than 40 families evaluated multimedia encyclopedias and awarded Encarta 97 Encyclopedia Deluxe the highest overall score.
In addition to these honors, Encarta 97 Encyclopedia Deluxe will be recognized in May in the 1997 Awards Portfolio of Media & Methods, a leading childhood education publication designed to help teachers employ multimedia technologies in the classroom. The Awards Portfolio recommends superior software products and recognizes outstanding instructional materials and services that can make an impact in K-12 schools.
Encarta 97 Encyclopedia Deluxe is available at most computer stores for approximately $79.95. The School Edition of Encarta 97 Encyclopedia Deluxe can be obtained for approximately $69.95; it includes a Teacher’s Activity Guide that contains tips for using Encarta in the classroom and reproducible pages of activities built around nine major school subjects. The Microsoft Encarta multimedia reference line includes Encarta Encyclopedia, Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe and Encarta World Atlas, the best-selling multimedia atlas.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
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Microsoft Encarta Web site: http://www.encarta.com/
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