Microsoft Encarta Access

Was Encarta always right? No. Was it biased toward a Western viewpoint? Absolutely. But for a kid without high-speed internet, that CD-ROM was a portal. It made research feel like exploration, not a chore.

For a generation of students, Encarta wasn't just a reference tool; it was the digital gateway to the world. Here’s why its sunset still stings. microsoft encarta

That was (1993–2009).