July 2005 Technology has changed the way we learn and acquire information. Nine out of 10 children between ages 5 and 17 use computers, and 85 percent of young children with computers use them for educational purposes.1 Access to trusted and reliable information is the critical first step in the learning process. For more than a decade, the Microsoft® Encarta® multimedia encyclopedia has consistently set the standard in introducing new ways for learners of all ages to explore their world and discover new ones. A team of thousands of Encarta experts in science, history, geography and math along with top educators, editors and designers are dedicated to creating a comprehensive, up-to-date resource on an array of subjects. ProductOverview: Microsoft Encarta Premium 2006, the No. 1 best-selling encyclopedia brand,2 provides more up-to-date content and more engaging multimedia than ever. Whether users are searching online or offline, it’s the trusted way for everyone in the family to easily find just about anything on just about any subject. Encarta Premium 2006 includes Encarta Kids, the reference tool designed with younger children in mind; Encarta Search Bar for fast, direct Encarta subject searches; Encarta Interactive World Atlas; informative and entertaining videos from the Discovery Channel; and Encarta World English Dictionary and Thesaurus and Translation Dictionaries. Features: | • | New! User interface makes it quick and easy to find content and resources and then sort information by relevancy or group results in a variety of ways such as by article or medium. | | • | New! Web Companion streamlines Web research by obtaining accurate, trusted results from almost any search engine without launching any additional applications. Encarta content is provided alongside the search engine results, so consumers can choose the information that best suits their needs. | | • | Encarta Search Bar makes it faster and easier to focus on pertinent information. The search bar appears in the Windows® Task Pane even when Encarta is closed, providing instant access to relevant Encarta content. | | • | Sixty-eight thousand editor-reviewed articles provide up-to-date, trusted and comprehensive information on an array of subjects. | | • | Update Encarta keeps content current as the world changes by downloading up-to-date information directly and seamlessly into Encarta articles. | | • | Thirty-two Discovery Channel videos bring learning to life. Topics include life on Mars, the evolution of birds, and how stars live and die in space. The Encarta multimedia collection also includes more than 25,000 photos and illustrations, 2,800 sound and audio clips, and 400 videos and animations. | | • | Encarta Kids is a special area designed to engage and educate the youngest generation of learners. It is packed with articles, multimedia content and interactive quizzes designed for children 12 and younger. | • | Pictures, large icons and a simple, colorful interface encourage exploration and discovery. | | • | More than 500 articles and extensive multimedia content are organized into 10 categories that include Animals, Everyday Life, Games and Fun Stuff!, History and Science. | | • | Links provide instant access to the full version of Encarta Premium 2006. |
| | • | Interactive World Atlas provides access to more than 1.8 million interactive map locations; 20 map styles enable users to view and learn about locations around the world. | | • | Encarta Africana details African history from 4 million B.C. to the present, as well as African-American history. | | • | Encarta Dictionary provides definitions and pronunciations while the Encarta Thesaurus, with more than 31,000 synonyms and antonyms, extends verbal knowledge. | | • | Encarta Translation Dictionaries easily translate words from English to French, German, Italian, Spanish, and back again. |
Format: CD-ROM and DVD-ROM for the Microsoft Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me), Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating system Top-Line SystemRequirements: To use Microsoft Encarta Premium 2006, consumers need the following: | • | Multimedia PC with a 500-MHz or faster processor recommended; 333-MHz required | | • | Microsoft Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me), Windows 2000 Professional with Service Pack 3, or Windows XP operating system | | • | 64 MB of RAM for Windows 98 and Windows Me (128 MB recommended); 128 MB for Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP | | • | 4 MB or more video memory | | • | 430 MB of available hard-disk space for minimal installation | | • | Quad-speed or faster CD-ROM drive | | • | Microsoft Mouse, Microsoft IntelliMouse® or compatible pointing device | | • | Super VGA 16-bit or higher monitor supporting 800x600 resolution | | • | Local bus video with 1 MB or more of video memory; 16-bit sound card with speakers or headphones optional |
Availability: Microsoft Encarta Premium 2006 is scheduled for availability in July for an estimated retail price of $49.99 (U.S.). Microsoft offers a $10 mail-in rebate to qualified customers.3 Volume discounts may apply for schools, colleges and libraries. 1 National Education Technology Plan, 2005 2 NPDTechworld, March 1993–2004, based on total U.S. retail sales 3 Actual retail prices may vary. Certain offer restrictions apply to $10 mail-in rebate offer. Microsoft, Encarta, the Encarta logo, Windows and IntelliMouse are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. | 
