Ah, fractals. To some, fascinating mathematical phenomena. To others, pretty pictures. To still others, bizarre looking items that aren't really deserving of their own dedicated CD.
I'm somewhere between two and three, personally. But Uwe Kruger and Heinz Wolf are strong blends of one and two. They've compiled a CD-ROM full of 507 fractals from the Mandelbrot set, complete with the formula used for each. Every fractal is rendered in three resolutions (640x400, 1024x768, and 1140x890), all 256 color GIFs. In addition, 20 of their favorites are packaged as 24-bit TIFFs.
The CD comes with considerable background information on fractals, including the theory behind their existance and the method used to generate them, not to mention the triple-platform viewers on the disc.
So, you're certainly not left in the dark as to why they're there or what you should do with them-view them, silly! And I must admit, quite a few of them are neat.
Still, it's going to take a certain kind of person to WANT a disc full of 507 fractals. The price won't make you run in terror (29.8 DM or US$23) but...it's just going to be a matter of whether or not you think 507 fractals will look good in your CD rack.
An excellent investment and compilation, for the sort of people who's boats will be floated.