Oxford English Dictionary on CD-ROM (Windows) (CD-ROM)

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.

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.