Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I purchased the "Oxford English Dictionary Second Edition on CD-ROM Version 3.0" with a nervous heart. I am a lover of the English language and sometimes sit and read the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) for hours at a time (I have the 2 volume compact edition). However I am advancing in years and can no longer suffer the small type of said "Compact Edition." I really wanted something easier to read but do not have the room nor the money to purchase the 20 volume set, thus I jumped on the information super highway and zoomed over to [...]read through [...] "customers reviews" and was disappointed to learn that OED had a "C-dilla copy protection program" that reportedly ruined an otherwise beautiful product! I was crushed and appalled that OED would cripple such a wonderful work with an overbearing and abusive "protection program." Months went by and I eventually gathered up enough courage to buy the "OED Second Edition on CD-ROM Version 3.0" despite everything I had read. After receiving item in the mail, I quickly installed the entire 2 disks onto my hard drive so I would NOT have to dig up the CD-ROM every time I wanted to look up a ord. Installation was a breeze and I had no problems at all. When I clicked on the icon to use the program for the first time, it required me to install the "data CD" for verification. After doing so the program operated flawlessly. I have used the "OED 3.0" many times and it has never again asked for such verification, but I have been informed that it will ask for said disk once every 90 days (or 4 times a year). This to me is no big deal and a small price to pay for all 20 volumes plus the search capabilities allowed in version 3.0. While the computer is not as intimate as curling up with the book, it is much more efficient to simply type in a word and BAM the definition is before your eyes. Not to mention that many times while looking up a word, I often run into other words that I also need/want to look up. If I had the 20 volumes set I would be trekking back and forth digging out the correct book, then thumbing through thousands of pages to find a particular definition! With the "OED 3.0" all one needs to do is double click on any given word in the definition of interest and again BAM, you are at the new definition! This allows one to cover considerably more material in the same amount of time. Actually I find I read the OED more now than I did before because I don't get thumb weary turning the pages. All in all, do yourself a favor and buy a copy of the "OED 3.0," it seems to this consumer that they have worked out all the major issues giving us a fine product. UPDATE: I gave a positive review to this product on 7-29-2003 and at the time I was very happy with it. However since then it seems that the overbearing C-dilla program has reared its ugly head… This software that I took a chance on no longer works! I am very disappointed, and of course received no help from the vendor. Yes I was left out in the cold! My apologies to anyone (those 93 people who gave this review a favorable rating) if you were swayed, because of me, to buy this product. I am truly sorry. For those of you who have not yet wasted your money on it… DON’T!! It might work for a couple of years/months but in the end the C-dilla program will come back and bite you in the rear. I am VERY sorry I gave them a chance… and a positive review.