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Encarta was abandoned in 2009 because everyone uses Wikipedia. But I need a software similar to Encarta or Britannica.

I'm installing some software on a Windows 7 laptop that belongs to a 10 years old girl. Her parents don't have Internet yet. They asked me to install some encyclopedia for her that would work offline until they get Internet working.

My requirements are:

  1. Free encyclopedia that works on Windows 7 32 bit, not necessarily open source.
  2. It has to work offline and updates itself when connected to the Internet.
  3. Maintained and updated.
  4. No adult content, suitable for kids.
  5. Big plus if it has features for kids. If I remember correctly, Encarta had a version for kids and there was a software that taught maths for kids too.
  6. Big plus if it supports many languages, the kid is a native Arabic speaker, she's taught English and French at school.
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  • Whats wrong with Britannica?
    – Mr. Alien
    Jun 20, 2014 at 17:19
  • @Mr.Alien as far as I know, there's no britanica software that would work offline anymore, I think it's gone too, the website remains
    – Lynob
    Jun 20, 2014 at 17:24
  • Britannica can work off-line store.britannica.com/collections/software/products/04211280jcas (Internet recommended though) but isn't free anyway. ($10, still cheaper than paper version…)
    – Franck Dernoncourt
    Jun 20, 2014 at 18:26
  • @FranckDernoncourt Britannica, I used to have it, the DVD says it's 2012, is it still updated or is 2012 the newest version available?
    – Lynob
    Jun 20, 2014 at 19:13
  • I'd say newest version available.
    – Franck Dernoncourt
    Jun 20, 2014 at 20:56

1 Answer 1

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You can use Kiwix:

  • free and open source
  • Windows, OSX, Android, Linux and most other OSes
  • offline reader for web content. It's software intended to make Wikipedia available without using the internet.
  • No kid filters though AFAIK, and no auto-update last time I tried

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FYI: Wikipedia:Database download.

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