Customer Reviews

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Deluxe 20

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

I'm a Sys Admin. I have XP w/more than the minimum requirements. My PC boots in < 45 seconds. It's clean. I tried EVERYTHING I could per Mavis Beacon's KB / Support site. THEY HAVE NO SOFTWARE SUPPORT to even write to, let along call!!! Per their support site, I tried various run-as modes (as Admin) on my PC; I tried various Compatibility Modes; I even DISABLED everything (except AV software) at start-up via 'MSConfig' utility, where the product installed but I kept getting an error w/either Data1.cab file or video. I searched for just 'data1' and 'data1.cab' errors and found nothing. Again, my PC is new (not X64.) The pkg says the software is for XP too. I'm never buying software from any company that doesn't have, at least, email support. Their position on customer support is rediculuous! Wanna see what I mean - Call 1-800-395-0277, then Press 2, and just listen how many times they tell you to use their website for support. Then, you're told to 'have a great day' and they disconnect you. Oh, yea, and try to write to them. Pathetic!!!

UPDATE (06/23/09): I returned this software. The "bug" eventually outsmarted me! 0 stars!
OLD REVIEW: I am a beginner adult typist desiring to learn keyboarding using a straight forward, step-by-step approach. This software does it for me. After reading the reviews regarding the "BUG", I was hesitant but decided to purchase the product based on the positive reviews and the fact that the Mavis Beacon method has been around a very, very long time. There really is no "BUG". Simply select TAKE A LESSON, then select LESSON HISTORY, next select any LESSON (drill, practice, quiz or game) for any letter or lesson you wish to review. Select START to review the lesson. After completing the review you must select BACK to return to LESSON HISTORY to select the same lesson again or a new one. This software does not have the best design and the presentaion is fairly outdated but the approach to learning is sound. Hope this helps.

As others have written this product has major bugs. You will learn up to the letters i and e and then the lessons jump way ahead. Broderbund will not even talk to you unless you have purchased the product directly from them. I have tried on Windows XP and Vista. I even tried the previous version (17) and it has the same bug but you get a level or two further before it shows up. The worst experience I have ever had with software/support. Now to search for an alternative.

I have to agree with "Silkie" on this. I was also looking forward to using the program and was very satisfied UNTIL after 3 lessons (and on my first day of using MB) it advanced me from one level to another far ahead, omitting many lessons in between that I needed. I could not get back to the missed lessons, and customer sevice seems nonexistent.

Very disapointed with this product. Just after using it for half hour, I discovered a bug in it. The lessons run fine and are quite fun right up to letters "e" and "i". It seems like the lessons are out of order, very advanced lessons mixed up with beginner ones. This is very frustrating, especially to beginners. There are no patches available, no downloadable fixes on the manufacturer's website; in fact, it seems like they don't acknowledge the problem at all. I exchanged this product for Mavis Beacon Version 18, but encountered the same problem.

I would not recomend any of Mavis Beacon typing products at all.

I use Mavis with my adult keyboarding students. The step-by-step approach really works to give them confidence, and the rewards make them feel like they're getting somewhere.

I was disappointed in this product. I'd tried a free download of an earlier version and liked it...but this version seemed to have a bug that I couldn't avoid. At a certain point, it advanced me from one level to another far ahead, omitting many lessons that I needed. I tried many ways around this, but it always behaved the same way.

I'm extremely disappointed with this product. Customer support is a joke...no patches or downloads to iron out the glitches in the program. If you want to learn the basics of typing, this is ok, but for dictation, it's aweful! Sometimes there will be absolutely nothing but a blank dictation screen, (this affects your score, as well) OR you will get errors when you are correct, which also affects your score. It's a good program for learning the basics, going back on past lessons for key practice, but that's about it. I have even logged "additional users" in hopes it would work, but it doesn't. I'm keeping it for accuracy, but I'm searching for a really good dictation software program.

This software loaded perfectly and works flawlessly for my kids (middle school-age). They follow the lessons easily. The practice games are a little young for them, but they don't object to them. The games do reinforce the lessons and provide a bit of a fun break.

Fifteen minutes, three times/week seems to be a good routine; and they are progressing.

As a home school parent teaching 4 children I am very happy with this program that has lessons that lead to games which help motivate the children.