[rithdmc]

Today I learned Encarta was not free.

[tantalor]

It cost $100 in 1993, after they dropped the initial price. That is about $235 now.

[rithdmc]

Thanks. I'm Irish, no idea what the price (in Punt, it would have been!) should have been at. A family friend hooked us up with software that should have cost money (mostly Office software, but some games and Encarta included) via the usual means.

[LearnYouALisp]

What about like educational licenses? Esp late 90s

[bux93]

I have fond memories of the, I think 1995, Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia. I think it was given away with new computers, like Encarta and Grolier's. I think I did buy the Compton's CD, but at a huge discount, since I bought it grey market (not bundled with a PC, but from a PC retailer).

[teekert]

In a sense it was (set?) free. And that led to a lot of good things, imho.