System requirements: IBM PC 386/25 or higher PC or compatible (486 recommended), Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows 3.1 and DOS 5.0, 8 MB RAM, 12 MB of free hard disk space required for Windows 95 22 MB of free hard disk space required for Windows 3.1, VGA graphics ‐ 256 color support, Double‐speed CD‐ROM, MPC‐compliant 8 bit sound card, Microsoft or compatible mouse.
The American Heritage Talking Dictionary (AHTD) provides several handy dictionary functions in a pleasant package which can be used simply or for complicated word study.
Installation instructions for the dictionary are given for both versions; and both are quite straightforward. The Windows 3.1 version needs several more decisions for loading video playback software. Each version gives a choice for the “typical” version, which uses several megabytes of hard disk space and a compact version, plus other versions; so the user can select, to a certain degree, how much disk space the program should use.
The AHTD CD‐ROM product includes the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition and The Dictionary of Cultural Heritage; so the packaging boasts nearly 200,000 words, with quite a few Judeo‐Christian terms included. Entries provide a pronunciation guide, definition, usage notes, and etymological notes comparable to the print version.
One of the advantages of the print American Heritage Dictionary, Third Edition, is the inclusion of a large number of illustrations. This version does not disappoint the user eager to see a picture. All pictures reviewed were adequate illustrations; and all were in color.
Sound is available so the savvy user can set the dictionary to pronounce each term with a recorded pronunciation. With fine tuning, the dictionary can be set to produce the pronunciation up to three times. Voices vary for words between male and female voices; and the sound quality is excellent.
Video clips are the most sparse media. It’s not easy to judge the comprehensiveness or over‐all quality of videos since the reviewer could not locate an index of videos but relied on stumbling on a few and then extrapolating that they seem to cluster around historical figures. The media available for each word is indicated on the toolbar; so it’s easy to tell if the word is accompanied by sound and illustrations.
The search engine provides an impressive array of features, including anagrams for words and words included within definitions, or full‐text searching of the whole dictionary. For each term not found, a browse list provides words closest in the dictionary to the word searched; so a user can select. Users may enter wild‐card searches indicating the number of characters, (e.g. b*) or may indicate that the number of characters isn’t a search need, (e.g. bit*).
The author used a Pentium for the review; and all results were speedily produced in both versions. Access to searching can be had in several ways if the dictionary is used in “quick view” mode. In this mode, a word can be entered from another window, such as a word processing application, by highlighting, then using different combinations of keys based on the system used. The quick view window stays “on top” of other applications so it is always easy to locate the dictionary application. The typical user interface required the reviewer to access the help feature. It then presented an attractive and clean toolbar and series of menus, once the basics and a few esoteric points were understood.
The package for the AHTD includes only the compact disc and a leaflet containing installation instructions and copyright information, along with technical support and product registration telephone numbers. All the application documentation is online, available through the good table of contents, and fully indexed. After browsing the menus, trying some searches and a review of the help sections concerning searching, the reviewer felt competent concerning all aspects of the dictionary.
After the reviewer wrestled a bit trying to enter words with point and click techniques from a word processing program with no success, the tech support folks quickly identified the problem and provided a solution. Going through the tech support telephone tree and getting no answer from the appropriate division was not amusing. A second call produced a live technician.
The product provides virtually all the advantages of the print product with the added advantages of speed and the extra features of anagram and The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. With some thought, this CD could be used to great advantage in an academic library. It seems as though it might work best as a product ubiquitously available; but a network version is not mentioned on any of the packaging. Recommended.
