Customer Reviews

Knot Tying: The Basic Knots

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My Boy Scout troop uses this software to train parents in tying knots. (If you are involved in the Boy Scouts, you can order it directly through your Council at a hefty discount.) I can't describe how easy this software is to use. It even comes with some rope, using two colors for contrast. All you do is put the CD-ROM into the CD-ROM tray of your PC (running Windows) computer and wait about 20 seconds. The software runs automatically without the installation of any file on my computer. So, there is nothing to install or fiddle with: it just runs.

I really like the high quality video instruction by "Captain Dave", an Alaskan tug boat operator who knows how to keep your interest while tying all of the basic Boy Scout knots. There is a VCR-like control panel, allowing you to pause, restart, and play the excellent quality video instruction. While the video plays, text and images appear to emphasize each step. It is so much easier and clearer than any book. In fact, this software saved me hours of frustration.

In all, this software will keep you busy for hours. About a dozen boys aged 8 to 10 in my pack were able to tie every knot on the CD-ROM without any help. They really liked it.

If you are involved in scouting, boating, hiking, or related outdoor interests, you will want to get this CD-ROM. It makes learning much, much easier than figuring out what complex (and confusing!) diagrams in knot tying books mean. I consider this CD-ROM as a reference for my family. Within a minute, I can start the software and view or review any of the knots. My kids love it. My wife (who is computer-phobic) had absolutely no problem using this software! It is that easy to use.

I also got another title on splicing, made by the same company. It has the same type of instructional format. It is much more challenging and highly recommended for boaters. If you want to learn how to tie some really advanced knots, there is another CD-ROM in the series on tying advanced knots, suitable for even scouting experts. I'll probably have to get that one, too, when the boys are older...

I think this is the easiest software I have ever used - and I have tried many, many kinds of software. Anyone, and I mean anyone, can learn how to tie these knots in front of a computer.

I own a number of very good books on knot tying. Having seen this software first hand, I must say that this is the very easiest way to learn how to tie a knot.

Combining all of the video lessons, there's about an hour of very clear video to view, at your own pace. You can pause and continue whenever you like. The CD includes every detail and step for tying many very basic knots. I am pretty sure that these are the same knots taught and used in scouting.

It's incredibly simple to use this software. There's nothing on my computer hard disk because the CD just plays when you put it in. I really like that. This is the way all software should be designed. Microsoft, are you listening?

The software is very easy to use and well organized. Narration is clear and the pace is excellent. None of my children had any problems using it. If you want to learn how to tie basic knots, in front of a computer, you could "learn it all" in the same time you'd see a movie. Really.

It's possible to review and tie any knot that's on the CD within 5 minutes -- from start to finish. The CD starts in about 30 seconds and after you click the selected video for a particular knot, it just takes several seconds for the video to start. So, you are done in a very short time.

My kids use the software to show other kids in the neighborhood how to tie knots. As far as I can tell, every kid could follow the video lessons without problem.

Much better than any knots book I have ever seen, I give this product 5 stars.

I am extremely impressed with this CD-ROM. I am impressed with the effort and forthought that went into the design and layout of this program. It is easy to repeat a lesson that you didn't quite grasp the first time around and VERY user friendly. This CD-ROM scores an A+ in my opinion!!!

My 11-year-old son desperately wanted to learn to tie knots. Many of the knot instructions in books are complex. Watching knots tied on video was very useful. The included rope should have been two colors for ease of learning.

This CD-ROM is just great to sit alone in front of your computer with and watch and repeat exactly how to tie these 21 knots. For that it works well. However, to get a group of knot-tyers to do so is impossible, because they all learn at different paces and some need to turn the knot this way and that to really learn it. To learn how to tie the knot before you need it takes so much effort with this CD-ROM, that I personally prefer a book that I can sit with in my lap wherever I need to learn to tie it. If you can afford to buy multiple copies of the CD-ROM for individual home instruction for your group, I have a bridge I want to sell you. A very worthwhile but highly impractical product.