MICROSOFT ENCARTA Premium Suite 2003; RRP $199:
For the ultimate reference package it’s hard to look past Microsoft’s Encarta.
The Premium Suite 2003 is a student reference resource that takes current information and powerful homework tools and packs them into a CD suite that will just about replace a whole library.
Encarta’s updates are delivered via the internet and slot seamlessly into the encyclopaedia, keeping all the information fresh and up to date. There are also links to useful sites to provide extra information on the various articles included in the suite.
The fast-working, built-in search engine gives access to comprehensive and relevant information, bringing together both text articles and multi-media content.
Other features are Encarta Researcher, which helps students collect and organise text and pictures as resources from Encarta and the web and to construct exceptional reports and projects, and a Statistics Centre, giving students charts to compare international statistics on population, religion, temperature, language and more. Live Streaming Media allows access to live MSNBC news, weather information and radio broadcasts worldwide.