Microsoft Encarta Updated – Essential

Host: "So, what happened? The internet happened. Wikipedia launched and offered unlimited updates for free. Microsoft tried to keep up, but you can't beat 'free' and 'instant.' In 2009, Encarta was officially shut down."

Encarta may be gone, but it holds a special place in the heart of a generation. It taught us that computers could be tools for education, not just work or gaming. It sparked curiosity in a way that a heavy leather-bound book never could. Today, we have the sum of human knowledge in our pockets, but for many of us, the magic of discovery first sparked to life inside that digital atlas on a Windows 95 desktop. microsoft encarta

Before Microsoft entered the scene, the was the undisputed king of knowledge. A full set of leather-bound Britannica volumes could cost over $1,500 and required several feet of shelf space. Microsoft's vision was to put that same breadth of knowledge onto a single CD-ROM that was affordable, portable, and—crucially—fun. Host: "So, what happened