RIP: Microsoft Encarta
Looks as though Microsoft is killing Encarta (both the Web site and disc series). Over the years, I can count on one hand how many times I used the service – despite having owned several editions (and, certainly, being online since its inception). Luckily, I think I received those DVDs as gifts, so I was never out anything. I’m sure Wikipedia marginalized Encarta, much like Google Maps marginalized Microsoft Streets & Trips (on my desktop, at least).
Does this come to any surprise to you? I asked on Twitter:
chrispirillo: Microsoft is killing Encarta. Despite owning several copies in the past, I never used it. You?
about an hour ago
musosdan: yeah i used to. want a set of brittanica tho :)
about an hour ago
Tad: I remember perusing it back in the day, but haven't even THOUGHT about it in years. *feeling sentimental now*
about an hour ago
allen099: Me? Nah, I wouldn't mind killing it either.
about an hour ago
evantravers: It had a jeopardy meets labyrinth puzzle maze game. That and the articles on weapons/airplanes.
about an hour ago
cinebo: never touched it but also had it way back when
about an hour ago
lucdupuy: I did for about 15 min. then found out wikipedia potential and other university ressources. then why pay?
about an hour ago
Christyxcore: I only used encarta when I was at school.
about an hour ago
Inundated: Fascinated with Encarta for about a day then it became shelfware. Then I'd buy the next version
about an hour ago
mnrmg: I plagiarized an article from them in like 6th or 7th grade. Feels good to get that off your chest! LOL
about an hour ago
gattaca: Funny you say that. I had a copy once. Never used it either.
about an hour ago
Bowler4Ever: Encarta was never useful. Good riddance.
about an hour ago
Nfan12: I still have Encarta 1999 and 2000 but i don't use it.
about an hour ago
weirdFishes: Haven't used Encarta since 1997 or so.
about an hour ago
blackysky: encarta was good back then but wikepedia kill it ….
about an hour ago
CobraRob: Ahh I remember convincing my parents to buy a CD rom drive using Encarta as the excuse to need it. Dont think I even used it.
about an hour ago
CPWestergaard: never, but I also refuse to use wikipedia either. Probably a case of ppl not being willing to pay for content.
about an hour ago
ChrisWiegman: I used it in the mid 90s, but I haven't in at least 10 years.
about an hour ago
Commodore256: Nah, I never liked that piece of junk.
about an hour ago
garrett_w: finally! i wondered how long it would take for them to realize that its day is past.
about an hour ago
onekopaka: I have used it but now Wikipedia will dominate.
about an hour ago
nerwin: I used it once On Windows 95 long long time ago. The first PC we ever owned. We use to own a Mac.
about an hour ago
cbrowne25: in 1994 on our 33Mhz IBM before we got the Internets.
about an hour ago
davidson2009: Used Encarta once, Its too general, but nice for kids and for school work.
about an hour ago
benjamingeiger: I used it until I got Internet access. I wish they'd have kept Flight Simulator though.
about an hour ago
mikebrowne: Encarta came with several PC's. Never used it. Microsoft doesn't need to kill something that was already dead.
about an hour ago
gsphotobeetle: I never used Encarta for six years. Never seem to know why.
about an hour ago
harrysaxon23: Used it in the early CD-ROM days, up to about ྙ, then the WWW happened. Lot of CD-ROM databases in the early 90s.
about an hour ago
NightRPStar: negatory, hardly ever did, i preferred the Britannica really
about an hour ago
flashdrive: never used it once. i did have it on my msn before lol
about an hour ago
jamedina88: wow I totally forgot about Encarta after Windows 95
about an hour ago
jnassi: I think I used Encarta once, in the mid-to-late 90s.
about an hour ago
thirddesign: used it for that weird puzzle/adventure/trivia game in the 2000 version (i think)
about an hour ago
dremin: It's a good resource where Wikipedia fails.
about an hour ago
ZenTigerpaw: I haven't used half of Microsoft's product line. Sept for Office, and even I stopped using that for free alternatives.
about an hour ago
craigalberino: not unless it came with a new machine
about an hour ago
DavidGranado: Encarta is still around?? I thought that died in the 90's with Pogs and Pauly Shore. I guess you learn something every day.
about an hour ago
spacks: I played the crap out of MindMaze in Encarta 97… http://bit.ly/15Cs totally worth it when it came /w my first PC.
about an hour ago
david_ing: Yep, more or less the same. The one good place is probably the kids computer, as it's off the net plus has that 'encarta kids'
about an hour ago
kooldudeben: love u bro… id rather shit on my hand than use mac or windows or anything lke that, but they are the only 1s out…
about an hour ago
garrett_w: the last version i used was 98, i think. that or 97 had an awesome educational game my sis & i loved (only thing we used btw).
about an hour ago
Ninesvnsicks: I haven't' used Encarta since elementary school on an old mac.
about an hour ago
egsa: Kind of remember Encarta as a demo that came with Multimedia PC a billion years ago. Didn't know it still existed.
about an hour ago
tomacintosh: Man I completely forgot about Encarta! What a blast from the past! I guess Wikipedia + faster Net connections have taken over!
about an hour ago
ianleon8: I only used Encarta when i got it, then i just forgot about it.
about an hour ago
mrmseawa: Used Encarta ages ago when it first came out & the www was smaller.The internet now serves as my primary research tool!
about an hour ago
morgan_johnson: I never used Encarta. I always used the copy of Britannica I had. I liked it better, ha.
about an hour ago
samuraigurl: I've used my Encarta a couple of times but not lately.
about an hour ago
willcormier: never … Not even in 1996 … When it always came free
about an hour ago
Cboardkid: you are slow !! @mobilephone2003 posted a tweet about this a while ago lol
about an hour ago
robby1051: once in 2000 to see what it was all about
about an hour ago
eliasisrael: The Internet killed Encarta. Microsoft is just getting around to holding the funeral.
about an hour ago
pure23: I remember Encarta coming bundled back in the day with pc's. I honestly didn't know it wasn't dead already.
about an hour ago
brknseals: The versions that I had on my earlier compaq's kept me entertained when I was younger. Might be kinda sad to see it go…
about an hour ago
ronnyfugmann: Funny, I didn't even know this MSN encarta thingy existed.
about an hour ago
TheDataDoc: Encarta was about as useful as screens on a submarine; like calling AOL the Internet, it just didn't cut it as an info source
about an hour ago
Mofobro: Thats funny you would say that. Me too.. Never used it! Isn't that strange, or maybe it says something?
about an hour ago
kevincastillo: bundled w/ computer in the mid 90s and a couple of upgrades after that. Not since. The included videos were cool then.
about an hour ago
mcuban: i have an encarta cd collection from every PC i bought the last what, 15 years ?
about an hour ago
michellegamboa: Used the client version a couple of times, but mostly used the web version.
about an hour ago
hzleyedgrl: -Encarta's still around? Nope never used it.
about an hour ago
jdhunter: I have used every version I have ever owned. Strung together they make a great mobile to keep the birds out of my plants!
about an hour ago
TheHenry: Instead of Encarta, just use google.com Works great! And is Free! Coming soon!
about an hour ago
darmerk: installed a few Encarta CDs waaay back in the 90s. Don't remember using them.
about an hour ago
Alvin_N: I think I still have Encarta 95 in its original box unopened LoLs…I remember using it at a friends house.
about an hour ago
trenchard: Encarta: Largest SW market penetration in history w/lowest usage rate in history
about an hour ago
PeterOA: Wow that's still around? I thought it was called Wikipedia now ;)
about an hour ago
pcasey44: – owned it – never used it – I heard high school kids used it for research papers, but I can't imagine why.
about 59 minutes ago
DarkHelmet46: Used it way back in highschool. Fairly useless as an encyclopedia. Better off hitting the library.
about 57 minutes ago
uberick: I would always install it, marvel at how cool it was, and then never use it again, after paying over $100 for it. :-O
about 57 minutes ago
BayouBengal56: I last used Encarta roughly around 1995 when I got my first PC with a CD-ROM drive.
about 56 minutes ago
mrtomahawk: I had no idea that thing was still around… I used like six years ago
about 33 minutes ago
kpslover007: i used to use it way back in ༿ till about ག. Now that Wikipedia is dominating research, Encarta is useless!
about 31 minutes ago
sbattan: in grade school i found it useful. (im talking 10 years ago)
about 13 minutes ago
PoopsTech: I have used in the past and I know of many that they do too, in conjunction with the Internet servers.
about 8 minutes ago
