110
The History of Microsoft Encarta (www.abortretry.fail)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by Ninjazzon@infosec.pub to c/technology@lemmy.ml
22 comments fedilink hide all child comments

In 1985, shortly after the release of Windows 1.0, Bill Gates set Min Lee on a mission to find a partner for a digital encyclopedia product that would serve as a reference companion to Microsoft’s productivity applications. Lee then approached Britannica, the undisputed leader in the encyclopedia market, who’d recently released a new version of the fifteenth edition of their encyclopedia. Microsoft proposed a partnership to produce a multimedia CD-ROM version of the Encyclopædia Britannica. In exchange for non-exclusive rights to Britannica’s text, Microsoft would pay Britannica a royalty on each copy of the CD-ROM product sold. Britannica immediately declined Lee’s proposal.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] everett@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 year ago

I've got a dorkier story: I asked for speech dictation software.

[-] victron@programming.dev 4 points 1 year ago

Jfc I had forgotten those were the shit back then, with those dorky long microphones, plugged to a PC. Thank you for remind me how old I am.

[-] PhreakyByNature@feddit.uk 3 points 1 year ago

Probably Dragon Dictate?

[-] flambonkscious@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago

I remember when that was recommended to be used with a 2nd drive as the install root ('cos the primary IDE didn't have the headroom for all the I/O - man, we've come a long way!)

this post was submitted on 01 Nov 2023
110 points (95.8% liked)

Technology

34994 readers
141 users here now

This is the official technology community of Lemmy.ml for all news related to creation and use of technology, and to facilitate civil, meaningful discussion around it.

Ask in DM before posting product reviews or ads. All such posts otherwise are subject to removal.

Rules:

1: All Lemmy rules apply

2: Do not post low effort posts

3: NEVER post naziped*gore stuff

4: Always post article URLs or their archived version URLs as sources, NOT screenshots. Help the blind users.

5: personal rants of Big Tech CEOs like Elon Musk are unwelcome (does not include posts about their companies affecting wide range of people)

6: no advertisement posts unless verified as legitimate and non-exploitative/non-consumerist

7: crypto related posts, unless essential, are disallowed

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
MinutePhrase@lemmy.ml