Microsoft Encarta World Atlas 2000

While we haven't used the software to climb any nearby mountaintops, it's pretty clear that someone did in the course of researching this topnotch package. In fact, cartographers as well as a host of other specialists were involved, creating something that goes beyond mapmaking into a fleshed-out, real-world experience of what it's like to visit these spots on the globe. With the ability to zoom in and out, to understand the microcosms as well as the big picture, Encarta's atlas offers an astonishing desktop journey. --Jennifer Buckendorff

Amazon.com Product Description
Spin the globe, point to a place of interest, then zoom in for detailed views of city streets, waterways, or the local flora and fauna. Accurate, detailed maps come to life in dynamic 3-D imagery through Microsoft's Virtual Globe Mapping Technology. Find more than 1.7 million place names on the map--500,000 more place names than the 1999 version and eight times the detail of any printed atlas.

First, it isn't meant to be an atlas in the traditional sense with varying projections. The projection is simply Orthographic, as you appear to be looking down on the globe from space. no matter what zoom level you choose, this is always the case. I do agree that it would be nice for the product to explain to geography neophytes why distances taken from the edge of the globe vary so greatly from those taken from the center using such a projection.

Second, there is a lot of valuable, up-to-date information on the various nations and particularly the larger world cities that would otherwise require a full set of encyclopedias to obtain. There is a lot more in-depth, well executed features to the product than half-hearted rainfall maps and anthems.

There are a lot of features that are of gee-whiz value, but of questionable educational benefit (the videos, world flyovers, anthems etc.) but on the whole I think this remains a solid product and excellent value.


Microsoft Encarta 2000 Fails to live up to Expectations   February 2, 2000
andrew john roberts (columbia, Illinois)
27 out of 38 found this review helpful

Microsoft Encarta 2000 turns out to be nothing more than a child's toy. It lacks quality in several areas. First, no map indicates what projection is being used. This makes it hard to figure out the level and type of distortion in each map. Secondly, the climate and annual rainfall maps are poor. It is impossible to zoom in on one country for these types of maps. The closest view you can get is a much to far out to obtain any real data. The program would be a fun method to teach young children about political geography, but after that the software is almost useless. Overall i would have to say that no proffesional cartographer would be able to get useful information from Encarta, but the novice geographer might have two or three hours of fun listening to the national anthems of different countries.