MICROSOFT INTRODUCES BOOKSHELF 1996-97 EDITION: PROVIDES EVEN QUICKER
ACCESS TO EXPANDED WORLD OF INFORMATION

New Content Includes Internet Directory, Concise Encarta World Atlas

REDMOND, WASH. - APRIL 8, 1996 - Finding up-to-date information quickly
with the Microsoft Bookshelf CD-ROM reference library has been made even
easier with today's announcement of the 1996-97 Edition. With one click,
users of all ages have access to nine of the latest reference works,
including the new Microsoft Bookshelf Internet Directory 96 and the
Concise EncartaR 96 World Atlas.

"Since Microsoft introduced Bookshelf nearly 10 years ago, each edition has
incorporated valuable new innovations that have helped Bookshelf earn a
loyal following as one of the most trusted and recognized products in its
category," said Patty Stonesifer, senior vice president of the interactive
media division at Microsoft Corp. "The new features in Bookshelf 1996-97
Edition have been developed to meet the needs of today's users who want
quick access to timely and relevant information - including information on
the Internet."

NEW FEATURES MAKE FINDING AND USING INFORMATION EASIER THAN EVER

Bookshelf 1996-97 Edition includes the following new features:

BOOKSHELF INTERNET DIRECTORY 96. The new Bookshelf Internet Directory 96 is
a guide to nearly 5,000 useful and interesting sites on the Internet. The
Internet Directory contains overviews and visuals of resources such as the
World Wide Web, Gopher and FTP sites, mailing lists, and Usenet
newsgroups, as well as a glossary of common Internet terms. Whether a user
needs to find a specific fact or just wants a great starting point for
browsing, the Internet Directory aims to make it as easy as possible,
providing one-click access to the listed sites when used with an Internet
browser. With the addition of the Internet Directory in Bookshelf,
Internet resources can now be included in searches on any topic.

Monthly updates to the Internet Directory will be available online at no
charge. Bookshelf 1996-97 Edition also includes Microsoft Internet
Explorer version 2.0 and one month of no-charge access to MSN&#153;, The
Microsoft Network (for new subscribers in the United States or Canada
only; long-distance or toll charges may apply. The software to access MSN
is a feature of the WindowsR 95 operating system. Access to and use of MSN
requires payment of a separate fee).

CONCISE ENCARTA 96 WORLD ATLAS. Derived from the Encarta 96 World Atlas,
this resource helps users keep up-to-date with the latest facts about the
world by providing a quick way to locate the world's continents, most of
the countries, states and provinces, and many cities. The atlas also
features 54 easy-to-read maps with pop-up information, including
pronunciation of location names, audio national anthems, and information
about disputed borders. These maps can also be copied and pasted directly
into documents created in applications such as Microsoft Word and the
PowerPointR presentation graphics program.

UPDATED YEAR IN REVIEW. Bookshelf is more than a powerful reference tool
for work or education - it's also fun to use. The popular Year in Review
is one example of the creative side of Bookshelf - it makes for
entertaining browsing while keeping users up to date. Year in Review
offers a fun way to sample highlights of the past year's news. Users can
see and read about news events such as the rescue of American pilot Scott
O'Grady from Serb-held territory in the former Yugoslavia, or Baltimore
Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. breaking Lou Gehrig's record for most
consecutive games played in Major League Baseball.

A FRESH NEW LOOK. The new interface in Bookshelf 1996-97 Edition allows
users to search all nine reference sources more easily than ever before,
ensuring that the most thorough search is performed and the most relevant
answers are delivered. Customized searching across any combination of
books and media is also available. With its streamlined look and
convenient hints about which areas are interactive, the interface
encourages users to explore all the content available in Bookshelf.

MULTIMEDIA BRINGS THE WORLD OF INFORMATION TO LIFE

Bookshelf 1996-97 Edition brings information to life in a way no printed
book can by containing more sights and sounds than ever before, including
more than 200 new images of musical instruments, animals and well-known
paintings, for a total of nearly 2,000 images; 54 maps; audio clips
totaling five hours of sound, from famous quotations to musical scores;
more than 100 video clips and animation sequences on topics from news
events to dangerous animals; nearly 200 national anthems; and more than
80,000 pronunciations, 8,000 of which are new or have been re-recorded.

In addition to the new Internet Directory and Concise Encarta World Atlas,
updated versions of the following works are also included in Bookshelf
1996-97 Edition:

 The American HeritageR Dictionary, Third Edition
 The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia
 The Original Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases
 The World AlmanacR and Book of Facts 1996
 The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations
 The People's Chronology
 National Five-Digit ZIP CodeR and Post Office Directory

SCHOOL EDITION EXTENDS LEARNING

The school edition, available to schools, libraries and museums, includes a
free Teacher's Activity Guide to enhance and extend the learning
experiences in Bookshelf 1996-97 Edition. The handy three- hole-punched
guide features a hands-on introduction to Bookshelf 1996-97 Edition
resources and more than 20 student activities for exploring the weather,
creating multimedia presentations, learning about music and more - all
designed to help teachers integrate Bookshelf 1996-97 Edition into the
classroom curriculum.

PRODUCT AVAILABILITY AND SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Microsoft Bookshelf 1996-97 Edition is available now for the Windows 95 and
Windows version 3.x operating systems. The version for the MacintoshR is
scheduled to be available in late May and will include native support for
the Power MacintoshR. Each version of Bookshelf will retail for
approximately $54.95. Licensed users of previous versions of Bookshelf can
receive a $10 rebate from Microsoft on the new version. The school edition
includes the Teacher's Activity Guide at no additional cost.

To run Bookshelf 1996-97 Edition for Windows, users need a multimedia PC
with a 486SX/33 MHz or higher microprocessor; Windows 3.1 or later or
Windows 95; 4 MB of memory; at least 4.5 MB of available hard disk space;
a Super VGA 256-color monitor; and a double-speed or faster CD-ROM drive.
A sound card with speaker or headphones and a Microsoft Mouse or
compatible pointing device are strongly recommended. Internet access is
required for Bookshelf Internet Directory 96 updates and hot links. For
more information about Bookshelf, visit the Bookshelf World Wide Web site
at HTTP://WWW.MICROSOFT.COM/BOOKSHELF/.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of
products and services for business and personal use, each designed with
the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take
advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

The ZIP Code database contained in Microsoft Bookshelf 1996-97 Edition is
intended for reference purposes only and may not be used for the purposes
of qualifying for postal rate discounts.
 
 =========================================================
 From the 'New Product News' Electronic News Service on...
 AOL (Keyword = New Products) and Delphi (GO COMP PROD)
 =========================================================
 This information was processed from data provided by the
 company/author mentioned. For additional details, please
 contact them directly at the address/phone# indicated.
 Trademarks are the property of their respective owners!
 =========================================================
 All submissions for this service should be addressed to:
 BAKER ENTERPRISES,  20 Ferro Dr,  Sewell, NJ  08080  USA
 Email:   rbakerpc@aol.com   --or--   rbakerpc@delphi.com
 =========================================================
