The category of traditional encyclopedias and reference material has changed
How true that is.
Microsoft will stop selling the Encarta software in June and the site will disband on October 31st with Encarta: Japan going dark on Dec. 31st. If you have Encarta Premium, you may be eligible for a refund.Tech Support will still honor support calls until 2012. It is all outlined in this MSN Encarta Notice.
Encarta has been around since 1993. Microsoft purchased rights to and incorporated Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia to start the online Encyclopedia.
It’s strange that Microsoft would kill such a big program – especially one that promotes education. Yes, I agree that the way we gather information has changed, but taking out Encarta is almost like closing a City Library.
I wonder if Microsoft has something else up their sleeve. It’s not like them to discontinue something so big. I would think that Encarta could be sold for a good chunk of change or even turn Open Source.
I guess we’ll have to wait and see if Balmer has some other plan.