Customer Reviews

Garfield Typing Pal Deluxe

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I can tell you all about Garfields Typing Pal. It is an excellent software. It has exercises that help you learn how to locate keys with out looking at the keyboard. It also has a section on 10-keying, oral dictations and ergonomics. As well as written texts for practice and games. I first came across Garfield typing pal online after downloading the free demo off the internet.I knew after that I had to get the full version. However, I was unable to find the full version anywhere else in the U.S. besides amazon.com. It's great for adults who know how to type but want to improve their performance as well as those individuals who are just getting started. BUY IT YOU'LL LOVE IT.

Bought this product for my 8 year old granddaughter and it is proving very successful. At first she thought it was too hard but after completing two lessons she really got into it and I had trouble making her stop. Fun program but really teaches the basics.

My daughter loves Garfield and this is a perfect edition to our homeschooling program. She is having a lot of fun with it so far. I will say that the program did not come with a serial number which is important to installation (it's actually mandatory). I called amazon and they didn't have a clue, told me to call the company. I used the companies on line tech support and had an email back from them in about 12 hours with an accurate serial number. Here is the number they gave us:
RTR5-MB9N-E7TF-QRYZ
This may be helpful to someone else.

I have tried a couple of other programs (Mavis B, Jumpstart), and this is the one my daughter (7) likes the best.

All of them will teach you to type in a couple of weeks, it's just a matter of which interface you prefer. My daughter loves this program so much, we have to pull her off it every time, or she won't stop "playing".

Another great feature I found by accident, is that if you switch the keyboard to "Dvorak" (under Control Panel), the program automatically detects this and adapts the lesson for this setup (also works for "Dvorak for left hand only" or "...right hand only").

Do a search on "Dvorak keyboard" and you will see more about it.

Basically, it's an alternative keyboard setup, available on all Operating Systems, that is supposed to "increase speed and accuracy, as well as being more ergonomic". Rumor is, the "qwerty" setup was designed to slow people down so they wouldn't jam the old typewriters. I've found many sites that claim this, but further research shows it was just to get letter pairs to strike from opposite directions, so they wouldn't jam.

Most people, while not finding this method faster, do find it less stressful on the hands, decreasing RSIs

I don't know if other programs adjust for "Dvorak" as well, but either way, "Garfield Typing Pal" is a great program for kids and adults, and I highly recommend it.

I know it seems that there are some boxs missing the serial #. If you are one of these people, the serial # is: RTR5MB9NE7TFQRYZ. Just put this in, and it'll work for you. :)

The program is really fun even though I didn't have much experience and I have only passed a few levels so far. There are fun games (but only two). Lots of stories and jokes about Garfield. You get to chose who will be your assistant - Odie, Garfield, or Arleena, Garfield's friend. They also give clear instructions. There are funny animated pictures, for example: surfing, step-dancing on a wall in the alley, and working in a cup-cake factory. I recommend this program, it's worth it, it helps a lot, and it gives you something to do when you don't have anything to do.

My primary motivation for purchasing this particular product (vs. a competing product) was to have a typing-tutor program that would run under Windows XP with no problems, and I have indeed found this to be the case.

I had been concerned that the software might be too child-oriented and not appeal to my 18-year-old daughter or myself. Instead, we were pleasantly surprised and found the software to be both very educational and entertaining.

Accordingly, I strongly recommend this product.

I bought this for my 9 year old daughter. She enjoys it, along with me and her grandma. It is quite addictive. I did find the comments a little annoying. I am a fast typist and I would exceed the speed and have one or two errors - many less than allowed - and Garfield would tell me to just slow down and I'd make less errors.

But overall a fun way to learn the basics.

I purchased the program based on the other good reviews, knowing ahead of time that there was an issue with the serial number. I received the product with NO SERIAL NUMBER ANYWHERE. I searched high and low on the box it arrived in, on the jewel case (which had no paper on/in it), and the CD itself. I tried the serial number that the previous reviewer used and it worked. That number is: RTR5MB9NE7TFQRYZ. I have tried the program briefly for myself and it is fun. My son couldn't wait to give it a try. In fact, he didn't want to stop when I told him his time was up. The program is entertaining, but also educational.

My daughter is 10 years old and uses the program daily for 1/2 hour a day. Although she considers it a chore, once she gets started she gets into it. I would recommend this program to other young children who want to learn to touch-type.