From: Danny Wells <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Hello Kevin,
The OED on CD Second Edition is not usable with JFW in its present form. I
have been corresponding with Oxford University Press, and they are now
aware of the problems. Below is a reply sent to Rajib Shah concerning his
inquiry about the OED. I believe it summarizes things as they now stand.
Hope this helps!
Danny
Dear Mr Shah
Thank you for taking the trouble to write concerning the Oxford English
Dictionary.
As I explained to Mr Wells, the existing version of the OED on CD-ROM
was designed in 1991, when Windows was not a generally adopted operating
system. The CD was given a Windows interface (controversial at the
time!) because we felt that this was the best way of presenting this
highly complex data set. However, although extremely advanced for its
time, the OED on CD-ROM is now inevitably showing its age. The problems
that you have experienced in trying to use the OED arise from the fact
that the software you are using to interpret it is making assumptions
about Windows conventions that simply didn't exist back in 1991.
You refer to 'reports in the media' claiming that the next edition of
the OED will only be published on the web and in print. I would very
much like to know where you heard such reports as I don't know where
they originate. I can, however, set the record straight. The second
edition of the OED was published in print in 1989 and in its current
CD-ROM incarnation in 1992. The third edition is due for publication in
2010, and is currently in preparation here in Oxford. By 2010 it seems
quite conceiveable that the primary format will be on the web, and that
there will be only a limited edition print run; it is also difficult to
imagine CD-ROMs still being in general use at that time.
In the meantime, we are working towards a new *software application* for
the OED second edition, because we have been aware for some time that
the old version was coming to the end of its natural life. The current
hope is to publish the OED2 both on CD-ROM and on the web late in 1999,
although the schedule is not yet confirmed. It is this new software that
I have corresponded about with Mr Wells. I am unable to give you pricing
information yet, for the simple reason that it has not been decided.
I do hope that this has made the situation clearer for you. If you have
any further queries please do address them to me and I will do my best
to help.
Yours sincerely
Liz Greenlaw
Electronic Products Editor
Academic Reference
Oxford University Press
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: 15 December 1998 23:45
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: The Oxford English Dictionary on CD-Rom
Dear Ms. Greenlaw,
I received your name from Mr. Danny Wells, who has been corresponding
with
you regarding the Oxford English Dictionary. Like Mr. Wells, I too am
sight-impaired and use speech computer access to utilise the Oxford
English
Dictionary on CD-rom. I must, however, admit that I have found access
to
your excellent product very difficult, but I am simultaneously
grateful for
your efforts to remedy the situation.
From the information Mr. Wells has provided, it seems that you are
hard at
work to developing a more speech-friendly dictionary. These efforts
are
much appreciated. I, however, have several questions about the new
CD-rom:
-- Reports in the news media appear to indicate that the new version
of the
Oxford English Dictionary will solely be available in Web and print
formats. Does this mean that you are ceasing development on the
CD-rom?
Should this be the case, I may suggest the Websters Dictionary website
(http://www.m-w.com/netdict.htm) to aid you in this process.
-- My last question pertains to the issue of pricing: What will the
it cost be
for the new upgrade? (I must add here--not to generate sympathy, but
to be
truthful--that I saved $417.00 US to purchase the Oxford English
Dictionary, only to have realised that I could not use the product
after
installing it.
Once again, I appreciate your concerns and efforts to make the Oxford
English Dictionary available to all strata of society. I look forward
to
corresponding with you in the future.
With best regards,
Rajiv Shah
At 01:05 AM 2/12/99 -0600, you wrote:
>From: Kevin Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
>Has anyone tried the new Oxford English Dictionary since this is the
>probabal best or most authoritative English dictionary it would be nice if
>jfw worked well with it.
>
>
>
>
>Kevin Jones ICQ: 17990901
>1+1 = 3 (with large values of 1)
>
>-
>Visit the jfw ml web page: http://yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au/~nallan/jfw
>
Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3
-
Visit the jfw ml web page: http://yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au/~nallan/jfw
