Oxford Dictionary Considers Going Online Only 153
Kilrah_il writes "Oxford University Press has confirmed that they are considering offering their next version of the Oxford English Dictionary as an online version only, with no option for a hardcopy. The 20-volume set, whose last edition (2nd) was published in 1989, weighs 145 pounds (65kg) and costs about $1,165. It is considered the 'accepted authority on the meaning and history of words.' In 2000, the dictionary was offered online for $295 a year and has been getting 2 million hits a month from subscribers. The printed version, on the other hand, has sales of only 30,000. Work is now progressing on the 3rd edition, but it's still a decade or more away from completion. Oxford University Press is considering going online-only with the next edition of their flagship product, but not for other products such as their best-selling Advanced Learner's Dictionary. At least for now."
Re:Resist the urge! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Resist the urge! (Score:3, Funny)
I've been lusting after a full copy of the OED since I was introduced to it in my Freshman year of High School. However, as a poor college student majoring in Math,
So, the physics guys lust after a full set of Feynmans lectures, the CS guys lust after a full set of Knuth, most of the rest of the guys lust after the ladies, but you're trying to tell me the math majors lust after a dictionary?
A good fleecing (Score:3, Funny)
So instead of paying $1,165 for something you can touch and have access to whenever you want (and possibly resell) Oxford thinks consumers would rather pay $8,850 ($295/year * 30 years (rough average time between releases)) and get something that they cannot access whenever they want (servers go down, power outages, etc.) instead? Someone help me out here...I can't see the rational here.
You insensitive clod! It's supposed to give Oxford a better deal, not the consumer!!! Now immediately apologize by signing up for a few decades.
Re:Resist the urge! (Score:3, Funny)
but you're trying to tell me the math majors lust after a dictionary?
Maybe, or maybe he's trying to say that the maths majors lust after them. I'll have to check my dictionary.