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408 of 419 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Oxford English Dictionary on CD-ROM, October 19, 2000
I was an English major during my undergraduate college years. And long after the other more practical professional pursuits had occupied my time and interest, I still remembered one important piece of wisdom from those years. The two best dictionaries of the English language are the Oxford English Dictionary and the Webster's Third New International Unabridged. For as much as two decades, I have owned the "Compact Edition" of the printed OED. And during that time, I passed into middle age, and my eyes followed. It becomes more and more of an inconvenience to pull the dictionary from its box, grab the magnifier and search for a word. I found myself reaching for the switch to a second reading light. That was one reason I purchased the CD-ROM version. Wanting to have the resources from at least one of these available on my computer, and given the very reasonable price for the Webster's 3rd, I purchased both. In the case of the OED CDROM version, there are some drawbacks of which the prospective purchaser should inform himself/herself. The data CD is both encrypted and watermarked. This means that you cannot make a backup copy of the data CD. Those honest users of computer hardware and software may nevertheless wince at this obstacle. If one plans to keep the data CD in the drive at all times, one worries just how long the original data CD will last under constant use. I assume that OUP provides replacement disks in the event that the data disk becomes damaged, yet the worry persists, especially given the price of the software (at least $230 even with discounts and rebates). The second irritation, related somewhat to the first, is that each time you wish to use the OED software, it must check the data disk and "verify" or "validate" it. This causes some delay in loading the software, and it occasionally fails, requiring the user to reiterate the verification sequence. It is understandable that the publishers wish to "guarantee the integrity" of the CDROM and prevent duplication of a work which has always been costly to develop and maintain. The obstacle to copyright violation for the printed edition -- time, effort and the inconvenience of using photocopied pages of a dictionary -- is so enormous and impractical that it could not be a major worry to any publisher. But the potential for piracy in a CDROM version is great, the costs are not insurmountable to the potential copyright violator, and there would be no inconvenience to the user of duplicates. Therefore and again, the justification for encryption and watermarking of the data disk can be easily understood. There are other shortcomings of the software. Despite the glitzy windows surfaces and nifty-looking pushbuttons, the authors did not enable the tab-key navigation from button to button, and one therefore needs to use the mouse in order to shift software focus from the text-entry (word-search) text-box to the "Search" button. Despite the sophisticated research tools built into the software, these are important considerations that determine whether or not a software package is "robust." I cannot, therefore, make that assertion about the OED -- it lacks "robustness" as a software application. One wonders how much better the program would work if the resources channeled toward encryption and watermarking of the disks were instead expended on software design. Those who feel the need for a reliable and respected unabridged CDROM dictionary should take a closer look at the Webster's 3rd New International implementation for CD-ROM. The price is less than a fifth of that for the OED. There are just as many entries; there is the equivalent use of quotations from our literary tradition (American and English) to demonstrate the use of words; the software, though simpler and less ornate, has the robustness one would certainly expect for something as costly as a CDROM OED. Once installed, the Webster's user can remove the CD from the computer and store it away for the duration. The Webster's places its data files directly on the user's hard disk. If literary research or some related need points you in the direction of the OED, just remember to keep current on OUP's contact information. You may need it. You may even need it if, upon delivery of the package, the mailman leaves it baking in the sun on your front doorstep. For that, the OED gets a 3-star rating from me. Computer dictionary enthusiasts should take a serious look at Merriam-Webster Publishing's $60 3rd New International Unabridged.
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182 of 186 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Is Version 3.0 all it's cracked up to be?????, July 29, 2003
This review is from: Oxford English Dictionary, Version 3.0: Single User Windows Version (CD-ROM)
I purchased the "Oxford English Dictionary Second Edition on CD-ROM Version 3.0" with a nervous heart. I am a lover of the English language and sometimes sit and read the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) for hours at a time (I have the 2 volume compact edition). However I am advancing in years and can no longer suffer the small type of said "Compact Edition." I really wanted something easier to read but do not have the room nor the money to purchase the 20 volume set, thus I jumped on the information super highway and zoomed over to [...]read through [...] "customers reviews" and was disappointed to learn that OED had a "C-dilla copy protection program" that reportedly ruined an otherwise beautiful product! I was crushed and appalled that OED would cripple such a wonderful work with an overbearing and abusive "protection program." Months went by and I eventually gathered up enough courage to buy the "OED Second Edition on CD-ROM Version 3.0" despite everything I had read. After receiving item in the mail, I quickly installed the entire 2 disks onto my hard drive so I would NOT have to dig up the CD-ROM every time I wanted to look up a ord. Installation was a breeze and I had no problems at all. When I clicked on the icon to use the program for the first time, it required me to install the "data CD" for verification. After doing so the program operated flawlessly. I have used the "OED 3.0" many times and it has never again asked for such verification, but I have been informed that it will ask for said disk once every 90 days (or 4 times a year). This to me is no big deal and a small price to pay for all 20 volumes plus the search capabilities allowed in version 3.0. While the computer is not as intimate as curling up with the book, it is much more efficient to simply type in a word and BAM the definition is before your eyes. Not to mention that many times while looking up a word, I often run into other words that I also need/want to look up. If I had the 20 volumes set I would be trekking back and forth digging out the correct book, then thumbing through thousands of pages to find a particular definition! With the "OED 3.0" all one needs to do is double click on any given word in the definition of interest and again BAM, you are at the new definition! This allows one to cover considerably more material in the same amount of time. Actually I find I read the OED more now than I did before because I don't get thumb weary turning the pages. All in all, do yourself a favor and buy a copy of the "OED 3.0," it seems to this consumer that they have worked out all the major issues giving us a fine product. UPDATE: I gave a positive review to this product on 7-29-2003 and at the time I was very happy with it. However since then it seems that the overbearing C-dilla program has reared its ugly head… This software that I took a chance on no longer works! I am very disappointed, and of course received no help from the vendor. Yes I was left out in the cold! My apologies to anyone (those 93 people who gave this review a favorable rating) if you were swayed, because of me, to buy this product. I am truly sorry. For those of you who have not yet wasted your money on it… DON’T!! It might work for a couple of years/months but in the end the C-dilla program will come back and bite you in the rear. I am VERY sorry I gave them a chance… and a positive review.
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93 of 97 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
The CD Version Stinks, March 9, 2001
It pains me to say it, but I hate the Oxford English Dictionary on CD, version 2. I have the OED2, v 1.4 and decided to upgrade. Only to discover that in their zeal to copy-protect the software, the publishers have rendered OED v2 useless. The installation process is tortuous, and the startup is absolutely the slowest of any software I'm running including Photoshop and kindred hardware-intesive applications. As with all copy-protected software, each time you run it, it grinds through the copy authentication process. Go get a cup of coffee. What's more, the CDs are watermarked, which means that you can't make a backup (or heaven forbid, another copy to use on your other computer at home). The glowing reviews are all right -- about OED2, v1 -- they just don't tell you that this OED v2 CD is a dawg. Ah, well, there are some improved functions, but looky here, is it too much to ask to be able to search a term by typing it in and hitting RETURN (instead of having to use a mouse click). I mean, chaps, some of us troglodytes still use the keyboard. Troglodyte 1. One of various races or tribes of men (chiefly ancient or prehistoric) inhabiting caves or dens (natural or artificial); a cave-dweller, cave-man. [from the snappy OED2,v 1.4, it's right there running much faster on my AMD 500 w/a slow CD/DVD than the OED2,v2 on my PIII 750 w/a 52X CD rom drive.] The OED2, v2 is sick, crippled software, presumably the wave of the future.
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