IVP vs ISBE & the Tyndale Commentaries

I would go with IVP over ISBE for these reasons

• The Black Dictionaries are unique, approaching a topic from different vantage points (i.e. Gospel study, Pauline Study). There is nothing like them. What they lack in general info you can typically make up with one of the single volume dictionaries in the base packages or the New Bible Dictionary which is in the IVP collection.
• IVP is newer and more up-to-date (I'm not knocking ISBE it's helpful)
• Dictionary of Biblical Imagery - Excellent resource.

Ideally I would want both but the IVP Essentials collection is just a better deal. Also, Portfolio has ISBE in it so if you think there's a chance of getting that you'll get the best deal if you wait for the base package upgrade to get that resource.

CL Pearce said:

Are there any dictionaries in the Platinum upgrade that compare to any of the top favorite dictionaries such as, IVP, ISBE, AYBE, ZEB, etc?

There are a number of decent single-volume dictionaries, my favorite of the Platinum offerings is Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. However, I like the New Bible Dictionary in the IVP collection better. AYBD is not in any package, I picked it up a couple years ago on the 12 Days of Logos sale.

CL Pearce said:

The main reason I would go ahead and invest into the Platinum upgrade is to get a few solid commentary sets that would seem to far out weigh getting the Tyndale set. I see that Pillar, NAC, NIGTC, UBS Handbook, Charles Simeon, Early Church Fathers are offered. I saw it mentioned that the Baker Exegetical was also offered in the Platinum upgrade on a forum thread but when I checked i didn't see it in the listing. 

Platinum is great! It's what I have. It has excellent coverage in the New Testament but the Old Testament is a little spotty if you don't count the Public domain commentaries.

Unfortunately the Baker content is no longer in Platinum. Baker asked Logos to take their titles out of the base packages. For some people the removal of the Baker titles devalued Platinum too much. You'll have to make that judgment call whether you want Gold or Platinum based on the comparison page. Personally I would still go with Platinum but if you go with Gold you might have more funds to grab some individual titles that are more appealing to you.

The IVP dictionaries are quite different to ISBE:

• ISBE has medium-sized articles on pretty much every topic (the website says 9,000 articles). On the other hand, the IVP dictionaries have much longer articles on a smaller number of topics.
• ISBE deals with theology, but also with people, places and things. IVP only really deals with theological issues.
• ISBE deals with the whole Bible in an equal way. IVP deals with subjects from a particular slant (Paul, Background, Gospels, etc.).

If you're thinking about ISBE, I'd also consider Anchor (more expensive, but also more detailed). There are several threads comparing the two, particularly this one: http://community.logos.com/forums/p/22656/169214.aspx

That said, based on the other resources you mention, I think ISBE would be best for you (it would complement Tyndale and EBC very well).

Now, to compare Tyndale and EBC. I would say that Tyndale is generally of a higher quality than EBC (i.e. most Tyndale volumes would be better than most EBC volumes). But they're quite similar in intent and style. Attached is a screenshot open at random:

The dropping of Baker volumes was undoubtedly a renewal decision on the part of Baker.  Publishers are like any other business trying to hold up their income in a shrinking market--book biz today is difficult. Publishers are offering books costing $25 that end up being on Amazon for a penny inside of a year.

Every time people hesitate to make a purchase and find out they missed out on a deal, they complain. If I had a nickel for each one I have heard, I'd have gone with Portfolio by now. 

I went with Platinum just days before I heard that the package had changed. If you do the math, it's still a great deal. I would do it again now in a heartbeat. 

I have an idea: Why not let logos include Socio-Rhetorical Commentary Series (8 vols.) to replace BECNT 8 vols. and then just throw in whatever other volumes to make up for the lost baker content.  This would be good for those who did not get to upgrade to Platinum LE and now have to upgrade to Platinum KF.

Now logos could charge us LE owners a small fee to be able to have access to the "new content." Wouldn't this be such a great idea!!!??? OH YES IT WOULD! [:P]

Douglas

CL,  do not have the IVP but have heard good things about it. However, I do have the ISBE and find it to be one of my most valuable resources. I use it every single week as I prepare to preach/teach. You won't go wrong with it. I have the ZEB in print and it is very good - however I have not opened it once since getting the ISBE in Logos. 

As for dictionaries included in the Platinum upgrade, if you get up to Gold, you will have the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. It is a good, solid resource - certainly not up to the level of AYBE, ISBE, or even the ZEB - but a good resource nonetheless. It is superior to any of the one-volume dictionaries. So, be aware of that if you do choose to go for the upgrade.  The Baker might get you by for a while if you feel that the additonal commentaries will benefit you more. However, put the ISBE down as your next purchase to make.  The Baker is good enough that I tend to consult it along with the ISBE. If I have time for only one, then I got to ISBE, but Baker will have some good nuggets of information that make it worth my time to consult if I have time. Hope this helps!

CL Pearce said:

I had Scholar's already so the download is only 1.22GB. Does that sound about right to everyone else?

According to this page, it's exactly right: http://www.logos.com/support/techfaq#size