Customer Rating: 
Summary: Great
Comment: The best typing teacher I have had. The games are great and the drills are good too. The only complaint I have is the voice is a bit annoying after a while, but I have learned really quickly. Very good.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Excellent
Comment: Having bought several similar products over the years, I have to honestly say that this has been the best so far. In spite of uninspiring packaging and the usual mediocre musical accompaniments to exercises, the rest of the programme is really very good. Well organised and easy to set up and use (especially for those who are not so technically au fait) this package was everything I was looking for in a learning to type programme. I actually got this to help another member of my family who is the classic technophobic one-finger typist. He took to the programme straight away despite giving up with countless others and has branched out from one finger typing to using both hands. I would agree with other reviewers that there is a need for a specialist product for the UK market (US spelling is just never going to look right) but in the meantime I would recommend this to anyone who wants to improve their typing skills in an interactive, motivating and most of all, simple and straightforward way.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Simple and effective!
Comment: As a lifelong `two-index-finger-tapper' I thought it was about time I learnt how to type properly. I have in fact tried a similar CD touch typing course in the past but found it boring and quickly lost patience with it. Mavis Beacon's `Teaches Typing Platinum' is a considerable improvement on this and I was surprised to find how effective it was.
To begin with the disc loads up no problem. You are then presented with a colourful and graphically pleasing interface that simply guides you through the preliminaries and after a couple of tests the programme then assesses your current ability. You are then given increasingly difficult routines to copy and are tested at various intervals to gauge your progress. Depending on your progress further letter keys will be added (or taken away) and new exercises introduced. If you are not particularly happy with a certain routine you can repeat it as many times as you wish till you feel up to speed (and there is an indicator that shows your current words-per-minute-speed). After every few exercise the tutor invites you to play a simple videogame-style exercise that tests your familiarity with the newly learnt keys. The learning curve can, at times, be steep but the programme never leaves you behind and will suggest going over some of the previous exercises before moving on.
Anyway, what you really want to know is `does it work?' Well, having used it for an hour or so a day for the past few days I am pleased to find that it is indeed very effective. In fact even within the first couple of hours I was finding myself typing simple words and phrases without looking at the keyboard. I was then able to concentrate on increasing the speed. I have still a long way to go before I could claim to be a proficient touch-typer but, I genuinely believe if you are reasonably dedicated to following the programme, you should expect great results before too long. Sure, the syrupy, American over-the-top remarks of encouragement (Good Job! You're doing amazing - keep it up! etc) can get on your wick at times but that's a small quibble in what is otherwise a great little package.
Recommended.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Solid software, but nothing exciting
Comment: This is simple software on which to learn to type.
I initially learned on version 8. This version 20 is a step up, but not a big one.
Given the advances in computer power and game play in the last decade, it is a real shame they have not worked those changes into the software. It is painfully dull, even in the "games" sections.
However, if you want some simple software to learn touch-typing, then this is a safe bet.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Improve your typing and get more done!
Comment: I wish I'd invested in a program like this years ago.
Up until now, I've always used one finger (maybe two if I was feeling ambitious and didn't mind all the mistakes!) to type and it's incredibly slow. No wonder I hated writing letters and emails - because everything took way too long!
Learning to type with Mavis Beacon is fun! Ok, maybe not as much fun as playing on the Wii, XBox 360 or PS3 (let's be serious here!) but considering the nature of the software, it's certainly something that you don't mind doing every day. It's a wonderful way to learn to type.
My typing is progressing every day now and as I get faster and more accurate it means that I'm enjoying doing a lot more on the computer then I've ever done before. I also get way more done during the day just because it really is improving my typing skills.
I'm also pleased it installs on both Macs and PCs because we have both and it means that I can use it at home or when I'm out and about with my MacBook. Only confusing thing is of course that Mac and PC keyboard layouts are a bit different but that's just something you have to get used to if you have both.
Easy to install, easy to use and I like the fact I can see definite improvements in such a short time. Excellent software.
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