Encyclopedia Britannica 97 CD-ROM was basically the moment when your family computer turned into a full-blown library without the 32-volume bookshelf. Dropping in 1996 as the Windows 95 era was popping off, it gave you over 44 million words, photos, maps, and even video clips all packed onto a single disc—no dial-up required. Britannica had been releasing CD versions since 1994, but the ’97 edition was faster, cleaner, and finally felt like it could compete with Microsoft’s Encarta, which was eating their lunch at the time. If you were a ’90s kid doing last-minute homework, Britannica 97 was that lifesaver—pop in the disc, type your topic, print it out, and call it a day.