Customer Reviews

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 12

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I'm a long time Mavis fan - from version 5 on. I am a fairly fast and accurate typist, and much of the credit should go to the authors of Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. However, it could be better.

Pro:
If you are an inexperienced typist, you will learn where to place your hands on the keyboard, which fingers do what, and how they work together. You will learn all of the symbols, numbers, and accessory keys. The diagnostic capabilities of the software will target lessons to your specific deficiencies.
The lessons are geared to either children, teens, or adults. Different users have different needs, and Mavis is at least sensitive to differences.

Con:
Little has changed for many versions, and some of the changes that have been made have not been for the better. For example, in earlier versions, you could see very detailed diagnostic info about your typing. Now, this info is watered down a bit.
The on screen font is ambiguous. "i" looks like "l" and "1" - a problem that is annoying when your typing accuracy is being evaluated.
The interface isn't clear for navigation. Menu options that should always be accessible require you to be in the correct mode.
When the software is installed, it does not give you the chance for a custom or advanced installation. You will find that Mavis is running in the background, and that a shortcut for AOL is on your desktop.
Although there are custom options in the program, they sometimes affect the lessons themselves. For example, if you do not want Mavis to read the instructions out loud, you can turn off the sound. However, when a dictation lesson is offered, you hear nothing.
No Dvorak training is available. This would be neat.

So, should you get this software if you are a "hunter/pecker?" Absolutely. Will you always be satisfied? Possibly not. Is there anything better? I don't think so.

I found this program to be very helpful in helping me to type, but I must warn that it has a bug in which if you don't pass the final quiz at the beginner level it freezes up.
When I checked out the bug at the customer service site(support.learningco.com) the exact issue is adressed by telling you to do a ctrl + alt delete reboot your computer and try again if you fail the test.
As good as the concept may be, I don't appreciate throwing my hard earned money away on unsupported software. I think that if you are going to make something available for sale to the public then it should be free of bugs. If it isn't bug free, the least you should do is offer a patch!

As I said in my review of the no-longer-available Version 10, Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing "is a Godsend for those who employ the `hunt & peck' method of typing - or some modified version thereof ;-) For many of you it may be unimaginable, but when I was in high school, Bill Gates and his contemporaries had yet to create the now ubiquitous PC revolution. Although we weren't quite toting stone tablets and chisels, it was still the relative `Dark Ages.' We had IBM Selectric typewriters sans `word wrap,' spell check, and all the other niceties of modern civilization. If one made an error ¾ of the way down the page, one ripped that page out of the machine and started it all over. It was very frustrating. My `business education' typing teacher was complete in her prim uptight bunned hair and equipped with a ruler to smack those students who - gasp! - dared look at the keys whilst typing. I dropped out of the class before she could ruin by otherwise sterling GPA - and have `fended for myself' since."

I got Version 10 of Mavis Beacon from our fine hosts here at Amazon.com because it was on sale (in preparation for the newest edition) and I figured "what the heck - it can't hurt!" I was "ecstatically pleased to report that I am typing this review at, for me, Indianapolis 500 speed, without looking at the keys! The online lessons show where finger placement should be. The drills and arcade games (so far the Penquins are my favorite) reinforce learning. I encourage anyone who would like to improve typing skills to get one of the editions of this series!"

Now I add: If you have never tried Mavis Beacon, Try it, you'll love it!

BUT, if you already have a previous version, this UPDATE may not be worth it. I was languishing in the 60's [wpm - not the decade.] I thought maybe if I updated the version, I would at least "graduate" to new paragraphs to practice on. The text for the typing lessons and the games have not changed. The colours have changed - for the worse. Version 12 promised a "Mavis Beacon Personal Coach," including "The Speed Gauge allows you to view your typing speed regardless of what program you are using. When typing an email or using a word processing program, the Personal Coach will track your progress. Each time you type a key, that key will be measured, allowing an immediate view of your typing speed." Nice selling point, but here I am, typing away in "Word," and that gauge over there is flatter than Bob Dole before Viagra®! The gauge registers if one simply lays on the space bar or backspace key, but otherwise is totally useless.

Problems of the prior version remain in this one. One I find particularly irksome is punctuation. She consistently does things like ")." My word processing needs to be right! That means that sentence punctuation goes first, then the close parenthesis! The sentence punctuation goes first, and then the close quote! Mavis does it wrong and marks the student off for doing it the correct way. This either leads to demerits for "mistakes" - which they are not - or inculcates incorrect punctuation in the typing student.

So, my recommendations are:
If you have not experienced Mavis Beacon, buy this, you'll love it!
If you are thinking about this for an upgrade, don't bother!

Dear Broderbund:

I am in a computer training program and we just installed Mavis Beacon 12 in our computers (7 in our lab). My first complaint is the fact that we have to leave the computer disk in the disk reader in order to be able to use Mavis Beacon. If you take the disk out of the tower, even though you have downloaded the disk,
Mavis is not there to call up and use.

Another complaint is the rule about 2 spaces between sentences is not followed. Mavis consistently has only 1 space between sentences. This is a little irritating to say the least.

Also, it takes a lot of time for a game to come up. You spend a lot of time looking at a black screen and you lose your momentum.

I do enjoy using Mavis Beacon to improve my typing skills and speed but feel these problems should be addressed.

Thank you for your time.

We never had any of the problems (bugs) mentioned here. For people who don't own previous versions (this version may not be a huge improvement), this is the typing program to buy. It might not be worth the investment for people with earlier versions, but it is great for newcomers. It has impressive feedback and customization. The lessons adapt according to your skills, for example. When you type, you just want to keep improving simply because you are constantly getting your latest word per minute and kpm scores. There are a couple of things to get used to, but this adjustment (small) does not take away from the fact that this is a fantastic program.

This was an outstandin program. It was great because its interacting with people from any age of 6-100. The games also make it a great way to learn and enjoy the act of typing at the same time.

Like the Denver reviewer, I found the fixes for the many bugs absurd. The program refers you to the readme file on the CD, but there isn't one. I had every problem listed on their website. The fixes would have made my computer run as if it were 10 years old (turn off the "read ahead" on the CD player?!?) Now it freezes up right away and I can't use it at all (2 days old). I downloaded a freeware program to use for now. At least it works!

Let this serve as a warning to all potential buyers...stay away! First of all, Mavis Beacon Standard Version 12 does NOT come with the Media Center, a very large and useful part of the program, so the above review is incorrect and misleading. Secondly, if you ever have a problem, and you will, the tech support for Mavis Beacon leaves a lot to be desired. When I purchased version 11, which kept freezing, a known problem to Broderbund even with this newer version, and when certain components were missing, they refused to replace the software. The only option they presented me with was to buy another version, only to find out that this one did not have the Media Center I found so useful in the past. So, buyers beware!

This program is a waste of time because of a bug which causes it to crash at the last beginner quiz before advancing to the intermediate level. The company admits the problem exists but the work-around they suggest is a pain and I've waited a month for them to provide a downloadable patch. I'm tired of waiting so I'm requesting a refund.

Before purchasing this, I read the reviews and I read the software description. Unfortunately, the content wasn't 'adult' enough. This is good for kids to teenagers. The games are like video games. The music drove me nuts & I turned it off, but then when the lesson went to a game, I had no music. One of the games is to type with rhythm - couldn't hear the music. Turned sound back on; couldn't figure out rhythm & I'm not musically challenged. Also, we have a large monitor & I found the system's onscreen font difficult to read; it was not all that clear. I was "bleeped" for typing a 'one' when the 'l' looked the same. Drove me crazy. But, like I said, this would be a good program for the younger set & the beginning typist. My goal is to maintain my 65wpm and possibly increase.