Comments on: Encyclopedia Britannica: How the Mighty Have Fallen, Lessons For Market Incumbents http://www.bhatt.id.au/blog/encyclopedia-britannica-how-the-mighty-have-fallen-lessons-for-market-incumbents/ Technology Reviews, Movies and TV Shows, Personal Finance, Politics, Environment, Books... Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:12:50 +1000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: valerie http://www.bhatt.id.au/blog/encyclopedia-britannica-how-the-mighty-have-fallen-lessons-for-market-incumbents/#comment-22847 valerie Sun, 21 Mar 2010 13:17:43 +0000 http://www.bhatt.id.au/blog/encyclopedia-britannica-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/#comment-22847 A lesson to all new parents. Before investing in huge sums of money on items intended to benefit your childs educational development - do thorough research. If I had done so instead of listening to "sales talk" I no doubt would have saved our family a few thousand dollars, (back in 1984) had more space on my bookshelves without any detriment to our daughters education / knowledge bank. I will however keep my leather bound, full set plus science etc., updates for my potential grand / great grandchildren to look at in amazement. A lesson to all new parents. Before investing in huge sums of money on items intended to benefit your childs educational development – do thorough research. If I had done so instead of listening to “sales talk” I no doubt would have saved our family a few thousand dollars, (back in 1984) had more space on my bookshelves without any detriment to our daughters education / knowledge bank.
I will however keep my leather bound, full set plus science etc., updates for my potential grand / great grandchildren to look at in amazement.

]]> By: cosmicharade http://www.bhatt.id.au/blog/encyclopedia-britannica-how-the-mighty-have-fallen-lessons-for-market-incumbents/#comment-19796 cosmicharade Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:36:12 +0000 http://www.bhatt.id.au/blog/encyclopedia-britannica-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/#comment-19796 It wouldn't be so bad were it not for the poor quality of Britannica. Several years ago when I gave up on it some articles were inaccurate or woefully out of date. As an Australian I was just offended by the poor quality and inaccurate material with some major stuff ups such as inaccurate population figures out by over 50%. Titan article several years after the Huygens probe was still not updated, and multimedia in general was poor quality. Then I looked at freely information and thought that even the article of 'edited quality' no longer stood, it seemed EB was now targetted to nothing more than young students homework assignments, rather than as a serious resource. I have not bothered to look at EB since 2005, so maybe it's changed, but after watching it go down for 7 years before that, I don't think so. It wouldn’t be so bad were it not for the poor quality of Britannica. Several years ago when I gave up on it some articles were inaccurate or woefully out of date. As an Australian I was just offended by the poor quality and inaccurate material with some major stuff ups such as inaccurate population figures out by over 50%. Titan article several years after the Huygens probe was still not updated, and multimedia in general was poor quality. Then I looked at freely information and thought that even the article of ‘edited quality’ no longer stood, it seemed EB was now targetted to nothing more than young students homework assignments, rather than as a serious resource. I have not bothered to look at EB since 2005, so maybe it’s changed, but after watching it go down for 7 years before that, I don’t think so.

]]> By: Bill http://www.bhatt.id.au/blog/encyclopedia-britannica-how-the-mighty-have-fallen-lessons-for-market-incumbents/#comment-4318 Bill Thu, 14 May 2009 04:26:25 +0000 http://www.bhatt.id.au/blog/encyclopedia-britannica-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/#comment-4318 I am a big fan of Encylopedia and for years the only software I used on windows was Wikipedia. I am sure computer offline based readers and dedicated readers are the future. I do like buying books and arranging them in my shelf. But searchin them is trouble. So goona buy it. I am a big fan of Encylopedia and for years the only software I used on windows was Wikipedia. I am sure computer offline based readers and dedicated readers are the future. I do like buying books and arranging them in my shelf. But searchin them is trouble. So goona buy it.

]]> By: Swanie http://www.bhatt.id.au/blog/encyclopedia-britannica-how-the-mighty-have-fallen-lessons-for-market-incumbents/#comment-4317 Swanie Fri, 08 May 2009 13:52:28 +0000 http://www.bhatt.id.au/blog/encyclopedia-britannica-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/#comment-4317 It's a great summary of what happened to Britannica. Is that really true that "it has been demonstrated time after time that online readers are notoriously reluctant to pay for content hidden in private information silos regardless of it’s quality"? I personally didn't pay anything and don't want to pay for info as long as I've some other alternatives. How many of you are willing to pay for information? Would you spend money on Membership Sites? It’s a great summary of what happened to Britannica. Is that really true that “it has been demonstrated time after time that online readers are notoriously reluctant to pay for content hidden in private information silos regardless of it’s quality”? I personally didn’t pay anything and don’t want to pay for info as long as I’ve some other alternatives.

How many of you are willing to pay for information? Would you spend money on Membership Sites?

]]> By: inspiredworlds http://www.bhatt.id.au/blog/encyclopedia-britannica-how-the-mighty-have-fallen-lessons-for-market-incumbents/#comment-4316 inspiredworlds Mon, 04 May 2009 01:22:22 +0000 http://www.bhatt.id.au/blog/encyclopedia-britannica-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/#comment-4316 there was a good article about this issue on the weekend in <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/business/03digi.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss" rel="nofollow">NY Times - google search and wikipedia has killed off Microsoft Encarta</a> <blockquote>EDITOR: Yes I read that article on the train this morning. Good suggestion Matthew </blockquote> there was a good article about this issue on the weekend in NY Times – google search and wikipedia has killed off Microsoft Encarta

EDITOR: Yes I read that article on the train this morning. Good suggestion Matthew

]]> By: Lloyd http://www.bhatt.id.au/blog/encyclopedia-britannica-how-the-mighty-have-fallen-lessons-for-market-incumbents/#comment-4314 Lloyd Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:35:17 +0000 http://www.bhatt.id.au/blog/encyclopedia-britannica-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/#comment-4314 Oh, how the mighty has fallen. I remember years ago when the Encyclopedia Britannicas were the thing to have for any student. Even at garage sales, they were still pretty expensive. With all the vast information on the internet, it's become obsolete. Oh, how the mighty has fallen. I remember years ago when the Encyclopedia Britannicas were the thing to have for any student. Even at garage sales, they were still pretty expensive. With all the vast information on the internet, it’s become obsolete.

]]>