I have Otzar Hachochma, and it includes the Encylop. To have it included in Bar Ilan, you have to pay a little extra (200 NIS) and to have it in OH you have to pay 400 (it is then visible in צורת הדף).
So the ET should not be much of an issue when deciding BI versus OH.
I got the Oz vHodor package, the Mechon Yerusholayim, the Mossad RK, and the ET.
If i had to choose, i’d go for OH, for a number of reasons, but I am eternally grateful to the fellow who encouraged me to get BI, that was already AFTER I already had OH. I use both all the time, ie, i simultaneously and alternate both about 10 hours a day – no exaggeration. I have both programs running, and for some things BI has advantages.
It’s far quicker to get to a particular mareh mokom in BI, type in a few characters, and it get you to the exact place instantly. Although OH’s OCR is very good, copying text is more accurate and quicker in BI. You can also search more accurately in BI (try searching in Rabbeinu Channanel in Perek Beis of a given masechta, in OH. Impossible. It will search all the text in the volume, and give the results for all the Gemoro, Rashi, Tosafos etc.
I could go on and on but am probably wasting my time. Does somebody here appreciate what i’m saying?
Bottom line – if you can afford it, go for OH. If you can’t, get BI. If you can get both, then grab them both. You’ll thank me one day!
BTW, these days both can be installed directly into your hard drive, so you dont need to lug it around, and you don’t have to worry about ruining your USB port.
Menu