Exploring the Ancient World of CD-ROM Encyclopedias (Nostalgia Dive!)

A massive thanks to PCBway for sponsoring this video. PCBway do PCB prototyping and fabrication as well as offering a wealth of other services. Check them out at https://www.pcbway.com In this video, we’re diving into a forgotten era of digital knowledge: CD-ROM encyclopedias! Join me as I explore some of the most iconic encyclopedia programs that ruled the 90s and early 2000s, long before Wikipedia was a click away. First up is Microsoft Encarta, the beloved classic that came bundled with so many new PCs. I’ll talk about why Encarta became such a household name and what made it the go-to digital encyclopedia for a generation. Next, we take a look at Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, another popular CD-ROM staple with a unique history and its own cool features—I'll even give you a demo of how it worked! Finally, we’ll cover Encyclopaedia Britannica's CD-ROM version, which, despite its prestigious name, didn’t quite measure up to the others for me. Whether you’re here for a nostalgia trip or just curious about this forgotten tech, I hope you enjoy this deep dive into the world of pre-internet digital encyclopedias!