System Requirements: Multimedia PC (includes 386SX or higher processor, 2MB RAM, 2MB available hard disk space, CD ROM drive, audio board, mouse and VGA display capable of 256 colors, DOS 3.1 or later, MS-DOS CD-ROM Extensions 2.2 or later, Windows 3.1 or later, headphones or speakers.
This is the CD to keep in your ROM drive. Microsoft has combined the most used, and useful into a top notch reference disk. You may even be able to justify a CD-ROM drive and multimedia to your boss using this package as an example.
Installation is slick and easy, except for the irritating addition to my startup folder. Why does every package I install seem to think it should be added to my startup folder? I would have been more pleased if I had been asked permission first. In Bookshelf's defense though, I will probably let this one stay in. I have already found myself reaching for the Quick Shelf quite often.
The first time you use Bookshelf it comes up with a demonstration of its' interface. After watching this demo, most folks should be ready to start playing with the product. The demo explains how to use the Contents and Find tabs. There is also a Backlist tab to return to previous items looked up, and a Gallery tab for those of us that want to skip right to the video and sound goodies. The item descriptions on the tabs are somewhat short, but when the mouse is on an item it expands to give you a more complete description.
The interface is simple and intuitive. You can play around with the window size any which way you wish and still not lose functionality. You are presented with an information area, the menu bar, the tabs, and a virtual shelf of book icons. The books of the bookshelf are displayed at the top under the menu bar. By clicking on a book icon the book opens to let you know which one you are using. The books have different covers, but if you can't tell which is which, just put the mouse pointer on it, and the books' title will appear as a small label.
The leftmost book is the entire library. By opening this book your searches and lists will reflect the contents of all volumes. The next book is the dictionary. The most noteworthy feature here is pronunciation. If you tell your kids to look up hors d'oeuvres, they can listen to the pronunciation and avoid an embarrassing moment the first time they use the word in public (we adults of course never have this problem...). The rest of the books incorporate the links into the other books let you adapt your words, see them in context, and learn how to pronounce your newly found word.
The reference set is by no means limited to the domain of the document creators. You can highlight a word in any Windows application, and use Microsoft Bookshelf '94 to learn more about the word, or subject in general. Be careful though, it's easy to forget why you went to the reference in the first place after you've delved into many different layers of information.
The most dangerous of the volumes could well be the Quotations. I can see over use of this volume being a problem. A single quotation now and then makes you look scholarly. Constant quotes in your documents and correspondence just lets people know you've got a copy of Microsoft Bookshelf '94 and haven't learned moderation. After all ...
Quotation
One must be a wise reader to quote wisely and well.
A. Bronson Alcott (1799-1888), U.S. educator, social reformer. Table Talk, bk. 1, "Quotation" (1877).
Sorry, I couldn't resist. It was too easy to do since the product includes a feature to directly paste information from Bookshelf to Microsoft Word. I enjoy the tie in to other Microsoft products. I would like to have seen a tie into Microsoft Encarta and maybe something like the MindMaze game included in Encarta. All in all Microsoft Bookshelf '94 is an excellent package, and not a budget buster. As I stated at the beginning, this is the CD to keep in the drive! --Tom Rockhold
Reviewed for NautilusCD July, 1994
The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations is licensed from Columbia University Press. Copyright ⌐ 1993 by Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
Caedmon recordings reproduced by arrangement with Harper Collins Publishers.
