Britannica, Another Death By Print

Have we all heard the news that the venerable old Encyclopaedia Britannica, after more than two centuries, will no longer publish its print edition?   This comes on the heels of other disappearances that I've lamented (the Schwann Catalog, for example). 

As I've also said before, the demise of printed encyclopedias per se is not necessarily bad.  They were expensive, bulky, and most important, out of date almost as soon as they were published, rapidly becoming as unused and unwanted as printed telephone books.  EB has undoubtedly made a good - and necessary - business decision.

Britannica has said it will continue publishing its online product, but this may be an uphill struggle for survival.   Wikipedia is free (but now requests donations from users), Britannica online will run you $70 a year.  How many users will find an EB subscription worth the cost?  I may - I'm thinking about it. 

Britannica can be considered authoritative and unbiased; Wikipedia will likely be more up-to-date, and could be authoritative depending on who has wikied it recently; but on many topics, it's informational quicksand, a constantly shifting amalgam of fact, objectivity, myth, and bias.  Again, as I noted just yesterday relative to a slightly different subject matter, the trend leads us toward slanted information.    

Comments

[Mark]

When I search for information, the Wikipedia is the first place I go. I've gotten used to using them. Britannica is late to the on-line game and many younger readers may not even be familiar with the brand. At $70, I don't think they will get many subscribers. Sic transit gloria mundi.

[JHawk23]

Me too. Wikipedia is quick, accessible, and up to date. Which is why I feel pretty sure that Britannica's online offerings may struggle along for a few years, but ultimately will fizzle out.

Thanks for your comment.

[Eduardo]

What does Wikipedia have to say about the Encyclopedia Britannica, after the no more in-print annoucement?" Some artilces in earlier editions have been criticised for inaccuracy, bias, or unqualified contributors. The accuracy in parts of the present edition has likewise been questioned, although criticisms have been challenged by Britannica's management."How does Wiki summarize the Britannica's competition?" Although the Britannica is now available both in multimedia form and over the Internet, its preeminence is being challenged by other online encyclopaedias, such as Wikipedia.[citation needed]"It's interesting that the last statment (submitted in July of 2011) needs a citation.The quotes I cited are a somewhat snarky in my opinion, but the is very interesting.I wonder if the Britannica has a write-up on Wikipedia and what it states?