A Review of the New Millennium World Atlas
Dateline: 08/17/98Rand McNally has created some excellent maps and atlases but their New Millennium World Atlas on CD-ROM is a flop.
The New Millennium software comes with two CD-ROMs, one for installation and the other is the program disc. While a significant amount of data is loaded onto the hard drive, the program runs very, very slowly. In addition, the program runs only when monitor settings are adjusted to 800 x 600 and it will not work under other settings. This "change your monitor settings" function of the program is a real pain in the butt and is the primary reason that I never use the software.
The few positive aspects of the program include the very realistic topography in the physical maps, the easy-to-use search function, the longitude and latitude tool that shows coordinates for points as you move your cursor, and the comparison maps that allow you to see a political and physical map of the same area at the same time in a split screen.
I have found that the Microsoft Encarta Virtual Globe is more user-friendly and powerful. Despite the fact that the Millennium atlas speaks to the user and includes more place names than The Encarta Virtual Globe, it doesn't have the fine features I've come to rely upon from Encarta. Millennium's background data for places is sparse, the list of "world records" (geographic superlatives) only includes twenty categories, it crashed when I attempted to print maps, and the sluggish pace of this atlas require that I wholeheartedly refrain from recommending its purchase. Buy the Encarta Virtual Globe instead - you'll be much happier. Besides, the Microsoft product retails for $15 less ($44.95 versus $29.95).
