Search an encyclopedia! from a Windows Vista Sidebar Gadget
Jul 18th, 2007 by Vladimir Flemming
I am not a verry big fan of Wikipedia-type of Encyclopedia. Few of you know that the first type of database designed like Wikipedia(everybody can edit anything) was actually made by Howard G. “Ward” Cunningham back in 1994. Actually he invented the Wiki-thing and Wikipedia took his example and added encyclopedia-touch to it. The only problem about Wikipedia is that it’s not a reliable source of information. In life I learned that there are some types of people: the informed ones, the uninformed ones and the misinformed ones. And there’s nothing worst then the misinformed ones…
With everyone editing anything(this is the concept at least) and Wikipedia.com gaining trust it would be verry easily for someone to manipulate others trough Information.
Are you still wondering why I love Encarta more then Wikipedia then?! What’s the Difference? Well… it is a big one, or no difference at all… who knows?. The guys at Encarta are trying to be as exactly and neutral as possible doing lots of researches(that is why it costs money and it is not for free) but at some point they could just manipulate others as well(even doing that accidentally). But this theory has one advantage on Wikipedia… the fact that Encarta takes money away from you, so if they publish something wrong they will iritate their customers and they will not survive in the market…
We let you take care of your source of information, that’s why we give you all 2 sides of the story: Encarta Gadget and Wikipedia Gadget.