Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 8.0 (Jewel Case)

This is a great learning tool for the whole family. I love the setup and graphics, they're simple yet neat. They are also appealing. This program can teach you how to type even if you never ever typed before.

I am a fast typer (not bragging, 65 wpm on average) and I still use this program. My mom, who got it, is about 4 words a minute.
Mavis is very encouraging. She tells you to keep practicing. She gives you compliments and advice. There are fun games that enforce what you learn. These games include Penguin Crossing (where you type the words as they appear on floating icebergs), Chameleon (where you type words as the Chameleon eats them), and even Race (where your speed moves the car). I find these games fun. I don't know how to play the piano game , ragtime, correctly though. It has to do with a metronome.

Even if you're a fast typer this program will find out your level. It game me a typing test, and cleverly found out my weaknesses. My weaknesses are numbers and symbols (e.g. 1243689()!@#$#$%^][{]}). It gives you tests like dictation and transcription (I don't know how to work that).

If you want to practice your own lessons, you can do that too. All you do is create a text file in notepad, import it onto the program, and then type it. I think I can try that with funny text to make it a more enjoyable experience.

In conclusion, this software is a great value. I don't think there is a better value out there. It can be used by multiple people, and is a very fun tool for learning. It's a keyboarding class in itself.


spacing after periods (reply to Bertha)   January 26, 2003
webmaster (at) www.MAZES.com
8 out of 11 found this review helpful

...I, too, was taught typing in the days of manual typewriters when everything was the same width. In those days, it did make sense for two spaces to follow every period.

However, the rules have changed. Typing Teachers who were trained in the last few years have learned that one space after periods are okay. As Brenda said, in the days of typesetting with variable spaced text, one space after a period looks great. Just look at any article in your newspaper, and I bet you'll see just one space after each period. It still looks good, though.

In any case, we use Mavis Beacon at our Literacy Council ...and we think it's great. I do wish, however, that Mavis Beacon's programmers would ignore two spaces when someone like you types it. That would make the program even better. (I also think they should ignore errors like hitting return when the program expects a space).

I'd give the program Six Stars if I could.

John


THE VERY BEST   March 29, 2002
15 out of 27 found this review helpful

Hi! Are you confused whether or not you want to buy this? Well I am in 7th grade! This is the best thing next to SHOPPING!...! I'm just begging my mom to but this game! It can help you type really fast! i can type 120 WPM! After 3 days in Mavis Beacons Class I could type 60 WPM! Now thats what I call improvement! Anywayz Mavis gives you a fake computar......now after you've down what you need to do for the day you get a grade and if you do this very fast she rewards you by giving you a typeing game to play! You can play whenever you want to! I cant wait to get my copy! It's not boring and I just want to get it out of enjoyment! Mavis is just a great program!


THE VERY BEST   March 29, 2002
0 out of 2 found this review helpful

Hi! Are you confused whether or not you want to buy this? Well I am in 7th grade! This is the best thing next to SHOPPING!... I'm just begging my mom to but this game! It can help you type really fast! i can type 120 WPM! After 3 days in Mavis Beacons Class I could type 60 WPM! Now thats what I call improvement! Anywayz Mavis gives you a fake computar......now after you've down what you need to do for the day you get a grade and if you do this very fast she rewards you by giving you a typeing game to play! You can play whenever you want to! I cant wait to get my copy! It's not boring and I just want to get it out of enjoyment! Mavis is just a great program!


Tihs is hte bets book i ever bought   July 9, 2002
Cassius Beck (Seattle, USA)
20 out of 55 found this review helpful

aftre buying this, my tpying skiils have tunred arund one hundred and 80 degrers, i can now tipe amlust 150 wurds per minut, adn hvae onyl spent a fwe hours a day using it. ITS!! fanTasiC!!! evryboddy shud by thsi, its' truely grate...if you Buy this, you coud one dya typ as go od as i Can (wiht a lot of practiss obviuslee)...Bye thIs, Its the Gratest thing oF i'ts kimd no hte marcet twoday.