Typing Pal 3.0 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have been using many typing software over the past years, either with kids or adults; I work in a library. This one has really impressed me with its powerful options and features and its fun, original and easy approach. The Spy feature is *very* original. The Dictations module is practical. One of the games is very creative (the Boss), the other could have been better. I would really recommend this product to anyone who wants to learn typing while having fun, no matter your age. I recently ordered the Junior version for the library. I will keep you posted.

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Learn keyboard typing with Typing Pal 3.0. The software offers a fully customized learning scenario that suits beginners along with people who have more keyboard experience. The user decides which sections of the keyboard to learn and sets his or her own speed and precision objectives. The program contains 80 exercises in all, in addition to 20 oral dictations and two games, to help make learning more fun.
Typing Pal 3.0 also features an accelerated course so users can become a keyboard pro in no time. Take advantage of specialized courses that will help you navigate on the Internet with ease and become more efficient with e-mail and chat lines. And if you need to use Spanish at work, Typing Pal offers a variety of practice material in Spanish.
The lessons are accompanied by cartoon sequences to help keep your attention on the screen, rather than on the keyboard. For those who want to keep track of their progress, Typing Pal offers to evaluate user performance with simple and detailed statistics. The software applies these statistics to come up with specially designed exercises that will help users improve on weak points.

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TypeRightNow for Windows Includes Patented, Peek-Proof PC/Desktop* Keyboard Cover Review

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(More customer reviews)FIVE STARS for SPEED SKIN!!!
SINCE WRITING THIS REVIEW, DEE AT SPEED SKIN HAS CONTACTED ME!!! :) We all know the frustration we feel when a company's product doesn't meet our needs and when the company doesn't respond to our requests for a replacement or refund. That's what I THOUGHT had happened here after I realized the speed skin I bought didn't fit my laptop keys and I could get no response from Amazon or Speed Skin. Apparently, though, there was a hiccup in the phone line when I contacted Speed Skin regarding the skin that didn't fit my laptop, and they couldn't hear my message clearly, nor could they understand what I said my telephone number was. It took them some time to find my telephone number (I didn't order this program from them directly, but from Amazon) but they DID contact me and were VERY apologetic and accomodating. They are sending me a free Speed Skin cover for my particular laptop. Dee was EXCEPTIONALLY desirous to make sure I was happy and that I did not feel her delay in reaching me was due to a disregard for my satisfaction. Quite frankly, after speaking to her, I must say I cannot remember EVER having been treated with such sincere COURTESY by any company in the past! My confidence in this company has been restored!!
The original review is below, minus the mix-up regarding the Speed Skin.

This CD-ROM has been helpful to me as an adult boning up on my touch typing skills. It has been years since I actually used all my fingers to type, years since I typed without looking down at the keyboard at all--and I DO type faster doing it the "wrong" way at this point, but only at 45 WPM. I know if I can learn to touch type well, I can be a much faster typist and type from copy a LOT more accurately and quickly because I will know where the keys are without peeking at them and losing my place on the copy I'm trying to type. I can see how this CD has been helpful to me in touch typing faster and more accurately. I went from 13 words a minute touch typing with the program to 30 WPM in three quick lessons. I am now on lesson five and it has been very enjoyable. I like how the program not only times my typing and gives me an accuracy reading, I can also make it "satellite" into other programs on my laptop (like email and Microsoft Works/Word) to get readings from my typing there too...the program itself, in my experience, has been helpful and is pleasant to use.

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Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Platinum 20 Review

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(More customer reviews)This program is MUCH IMPROVED! If you'll see my review of Mavis Beacon 17 I believe it was, you can see where I pointed out this programs flaws. However, these have all been resolved and this program has become satisfactory in every way in my opinion.
Mavis Beacon 20 (I have only tried the platinum edition) also has a new practice feature which I haven't found anywhere else, where you can choose from a huge selection of articles where you just type right along with the text while the text you type appears in the lines in between the text to type (no looking halfway down the screen to see mistakes), errors appear in red and make a little noise to let you know that they have occurred. This is a great practicing tool for after you learn all the keys and want to stay sharp. I should also add that these articles are legitimate or legitimate style articles that are actually interesting and fun to type (such as outtakes from Ben Franklin's biography, to scientific articles, many topics) unlike those boring, fake ones that usually are in place on typing programs (which make you feel like you're back in elementary school) and you can even import your own text.
This has really been turned into a very fine program and out of all the programs out there (I've tried alot of them) this one without question gets the highest recommendation. All features have become very practical and user friendly. There's also a ten key learning portion of the program (as with the older versions as well) The interface also has been spiffed up very nicely with pleasing graphics a whole array of new and actually fun games. Bravo to Broderbund for setting the bar to new heights in this program.
---------------UPDATE------------------
I've got to admit, I learned all of the keys typing on mavis beacon 17, but I doubt that it's any harder on MB 20. The main thing that was really lacking on MB 17 (besides being a junky program) was that you couldn't repeat lessons, which you can now do on MB 20. If you're looking for a program with no small glitches but is much more boring and with less features, then you should look into TypingMaster Pro which you can demo, which is a fine program by the way and If MB is too difficult for you then TypingMaster teaches two keys at a time, however I can't remember how many MB would jump up at a time, however you could always just repeat lessons until you get it. Overall if I was having to spend money on something that I was planning to use for a long time, I would pick Mavis Beacon any day simply because of the practice feature, which I use EVERYDAY. On any other program, after you've learned all the keys, the only thing you can do to practice is to take the final tests over and over again. Unless you go right into a daily regimine of heavy typing, then you will get rusty real fast and this feature makes for an easy and interesting way to stay sharp. You can try a flash demo of MB 20 from their web site. Also, There's an annoying feature on mavis beacon where a hand is displayed on the screen typing the keys as you type, this can be turned off in the options. If you look, there's actually not a whole lot out there to choose from when it comes to typing programs, but I've tried about every one I could find, and this would easily be my choice. If people who don't like it find a more useful program, then they should list it in the comments for this review. I'll finish by saying that TypingMaster might be a little easier to learn on, but I own both of them and still use MB everyday and deleted TypingMaster off of my computer a long time ago. It may all depend on how you want to use it.
---------------UPDATE------------------
The lessons plan showing how many new keys per lesson can be viewed in the screenshots shown above on this page.

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Maximize productivity with the #1 typing authority - Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. Improve keyboarding speed and accuracy with detailed assessments, customized lessons and games in 2 weeks guaranteed!

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Manga Studio Debut 4 (Win/Mac) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you want a toy, then get this version, but if you'd like a really great tool for drawing manga, then get the EX version. The EX version may be much more expensive, but if you're a serious artist, then you might as well throw away your money if you're going to buy this version. To give you an example of how many features that this version is missing: it doesn't have vectoring, an eyedropper tool, or even a gradiation tool! Check the website's manual for a list of features it doesn't have.
Skip this version, buy the EX version.

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Manga Studio Debut 4.0 is your all-in-one solution for stunning, ready-to-publish manga and comics. Invigorate your artwork using color, express motion using speed lines, apply dimension with screen tones and add dialog through built-in word balloons. Manga Studio helps you create professional manga and comics from start to finish!

Complete artistic control Sketch original art with a mouse or tablet, scan in existing art, or import artwork or graphics to get started. It's easy with Manga Studio Debut!
Design with attention to detail Choose from over 2,300 professional-grade screen tones to add dimension, depth and character to your art.
Invigorate your drawings Easily color and fill your manga or comic using the integrated color set, advanced shading tools, and pattern brushes.
Bring your Characters to Life Pre-designed word balloons allow you to quickly add dialog to your creations.
Apply special effects Add focus and speed line effects in seconds to express moods or motion.
Publish your work Output professional quality manga for print or web in various file formats. Manga Studio Debut exports JPG, BMP, PSD, TGA*, PNG*, TIFF* and PICT* files.
*Mac-only publishing format.
Get fast results Perform complicated tasks with a single mouse click. Double your productivity by reusing design elements in a flash!
New and Updated Features Manga Studio Debut 4.0 provides a fun, straightforward way for you to start creating your own comics today.
New--Beginner's Assistant and dynamic help With Manga Studio's built-in Beginner's Assistant interface, commonly used tool palettes are grouped together. Dynamic help offers instant access to information about tool palettes and menu options. Getting started has never been easier.
New--Color Palette Color your artwork using the integrated color set. Choose from preset colors or create your own and add custom effects to your artwork.
New--Built-in Word balloons Add word balloons with ease by dragging and dropping any of almost one hundred preset editable word balloons. Freely adjust the font, size, style and spacing of the text and add a curved or straight tail.
New--Advanced Text Input Manga Studio Debut now allows you to enter text directly on your page using a standard text tool. You can also quickly add special characters and with support for many characters such as Katakana and Hiragana, Manga Studio Debut is better than ever!
Updated--More Screen Tones and Patterns Choose from over 2,300 screen tones, a variety of special effects and comprehensive pen and brush tools, including over 80 customizable pattern brushes. Create and customize virtually unlimited combinations of patterns to create unique effects.
Updated--Additional preset page templates Choose from over 160 built-in page templates for your page or story, or add your own customized pages and save them as templates.
Note: Register your product within 30 days of purchase and receive the Manga Studio Debut Content pack valued at $19.99 for free. This package includes over 100 background templates and over 100 Power templates. Information regarding registration and how to redeem your content pack are included with your purchase.

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