Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Platinum 20
from: Encore Software
List Price: $29.99
Prices subject to change.
Your Price: $24.99
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Average Rating: 
Sales Rank: 438
Sales Rank: 438
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Software : Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Platinum 20 |
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 In addition to Mavis Beacon's personal typing instruction, detailed reports illustrate overall progress and assist in identifying specific strengths and weaknesses. |
 16 Arcade-style typing games, including multi-level games. |
 430 Personalized lessons, exercises and tests. |
 Offers typists of all skill levels and ages a brand new learning experience with greater benefits and increased efficiency. |
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Rating:  - * Excellent but for the dated grapics ... I have been typing for many years, and have know the basics of touch typing, although I have not been able to apply them; so I have been unable to type without looking at the keyboard. One obvious problem with this being that I would not notice mistakes until long after they were made. So I finally decided to do something about it; Mavis Beacon to the rescue! Once loaded the programmes is very easy to use; and it starts with some quite basic lessons using just a few keys. As the lessons progress so more keys are introduced. Every so often the routine of exercises is broken with a typing "game" of one form or another. There are also tests which assess whether or not you are ready to pass on the next level. The lessons are tailored to the user's ability based on an initial typing test. The programme also allows the user to dictate to a certain extent, with the choice of taking a lesson, going to the practice area, playing a game, or customising the lessons. There are also various charts which show, for example, ones progress, or which keys one knows well and which ones need more practice. While one is typing an on-screen keyboard shows the correct finger to use for the key required. How does it work in practice? With spending only about 15 minutes a day and without too much effort, after a week I noticed a marked improvement in my typing. After two weeks I had more that doubled my speed and considerably improved my accuracy. Obviously giving more time daily would mean even faster progress, but one of the attractions of such a programme is that one can dictate for oneself how much time is devoted to it. While the lessons are not exactly all fun, they are not tedious either and offer plenty of variety. My biggest criticism is the graphics; they are very dated and rather basic, and it's not a familiar Windows format. The on screen font used could have been better chosen; I had difficulty distinguishing between a capital and lower-case "L". So on these points as far as I am concerned it looses one star; but otherwise it is an excellent way to improve ones typing skills. Rating: - * touch type made enjoyable ... This version of Ms. Beacon's software makes typing even more enjoyable to learn. It is really adaptive to how well you can type - it picked up that I was an intermediate typist after a few lessons - you can't con Ms. Beacon it seems. A few points are 1)It would be preferable if you could customize this software to eliminate some types of lessons - for example I want to touch type letters and numbers but not the minor punctuation keys like brackets - 2)The import facility is great up to a point but when you add the text from internet sources it tends to add weird hypertext characters which are annoying as you want just to type text. 3)The games are basic and not very challenging - I enjoyed a game called typing of the dead which pushes my touch typing to the limit - I wish Ms. Beacon would incorporate something like this or typer shark deluxe. Overall however apart from these few minor points the software does what it says on the box teach you to type which is what it is intended to do. There are not many typing programs of this quality on the market and she is still the standard bearer. Rating:  - * Avoid This If Don't Already Touch Type ... As a previous review stated, the product stops teaching one keys after E and I. Apparently it was never tested by anyone at the beginner level. There is no easy way to report this to the publisher as well. Very disappointing. Rating: - * Disappointing... ... I purchased this about two weeks ago, planning to finally learn to touchtype. Perhaps this is the best package out there, but I am quite disappointed with it. The lessons start off comfortably, with a introdution to the resting position keys, followed by drills using those keys. But on my copy of the program, after introducing the first two keys that are not directly under the resting position (the "e" and "i"), the lessons and drills jump to a much more advanced level - requiring the use of many letters not introduced yet. Perhaps my package is uniquely buggy, but since there's no customer service at Broderbund's website, I'll never know. For a package that's at version 20, I'm very disappointed. Rating: - * Careless and flawed. ... This program offers the basic features that you'd expect from most any typing training program within the last 5-10 years, but offers little else that's impressive. It has a heavy list of glaring flaws, however, as there are very obvious format flaws in some of the lessons (no spaces after the end of some sentences, etc). The options you choose such as double-spacing after the end of sentences sometimes don't carry over, and never do with games. There are also graphical bugs with the strike-through style option of typing that cause words in later lessons to be offset, replaced, or disappear. [..] |
The story is pointedly set in the late 1980s, years before the establishment of the WNBA, so Monica's prospects for pro ball lie exclusively in Europe, while Quincy steps into the pros at home. It's a pleasure to see a character as passionate and fully developed as Monica, and Lathan gives a fiery portrayal (she had never played ball before the film, but you'd never tell from her performance). Prince-Bythewood favors her struggle over Quincy's and opens our eyes to her unique challenges with a sharp, savvy contrast. Alfre Woodard costars as Monica's harping mom (always trying to get her to be more ladylike) and Dennis Haysbert is Quincy's philandering father. Hoops fan Spike Lee produced. --Sean Axmaker
 A large, easy-to-read display helps you keep tabs on your workout. View larger. |
The device's large, easy-to-read LCD display can separately display aerobic steps and minutes walked more than 10 minutes continuously, so you always have the information you need right in front of you. Meanwhile, a seven day history lets you review a full week of exercise. The device also resets at midnight automatically so it's ready to go every morning. Of course, the device can also function as a handy and highly accurate clock. It also comes with a detachable belt holder and security strap so it's always close at hand.
The HJ-112 is powered by a replaceable lithium battery (CR2032) that will last six months when used for walking 10,000 steps a day. The device measures approximately 2.8 x 2.1 x .6 inches (H x W x D) and weighs 1.1 ounces (not including battery).
What's in the Box
Pedometer, battery (CR2032), screwdriver, strap, clip for strap, holder, and instructional manual.
| Compare Omron Pedometers | ||||
 |  HJ-150 |  HJ-151 |  HJ-112 |  HJ-720ITC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measurement |
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|
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| Product Placement | Clip to belt | Clip to belt | Pocket, bag or clip to belt | Pocket, bag or clip to belt |
| History | 7 days | 7 days | 7 days | 7 days (displayed) 42 days (in memory) |
| Warranty | 1 Year | 1 Year | 1 Year | 1 Year |
| Batteries | 3 VDC (1 lithium battery CR2032) | 3 VDC (1 lithium battery CR2032) | 3 VDC (1 lithium battery CR2032) | 3 VDC (1 lithium battery CR2032) |
| Estimated Battery Life | Approx. 1 year (when used for walking 10,000 steps a day) | Approx. 1 year (when used for walking 10,000 steps a day) | Approx. 6 months (when used for walking 10,000 steps a day) | Approx. 6 months (when used for walking 10,000 steps a day) |
| Time of Day Display |  | | | |
| Omron Health Management Software |  | | | |
Does it matter where the pedometer is placed or attached?
The HJ-150 and 151 Pedometer must be positioned correctly. Attach the unit to your belt or to the top of your waistband. The unit must be horizontal to the ground in order for the unit to function correctly. The HJ-112 and HJ-720ITC Pocket Pedometer can also be placed in your pocket or purse.
What's the accuracy rate of Omron pedometers?
The precision of the step counting is within +/- 5%.
What are moderate steps?
At least 30 minutes of moderate exercise is recommended each day. The HJ-151 Pedometer separately displays the steps and minutes walked at a moderate pace.
What are aerobic steps?
The HJ-112 and HJ-720ITC Pocket Pedometer separately displays aerobic steps and minutes that start counting after 10 minutes of continuous walking with more than 60 steps a minute.
How does the PC software work?
The HJ-720ITC Pocket Pedometer includes PC software for Windows 2000 or XP. It keeps track of daily, weekly, monthly and yearly progress.
The device's large, easy-to-read LCD display can separately display aerobic steps and minutes walked more than 10 minutes continuously, so you always have the information you need right in front of you. Meanwhile, a seven day history lets you review a full week of exercise, and there's also a 42-day memory for uploading past workouts to your PC. The device resets at midnight automatically so it's ready to go every morning. Of course, the device can also function as a handy and highly accurate clock. It also comes with a detachable belt holder and security strap so it's always close at hand.
The HJ-720ITC is powered by a replaceable lithium battery (CR2032) that will last six months when used for walking 10,000 steps a day. The pedometer also includes PC software for Windows 2000 or XP, which keeps track of daily, weekly, monthly and yearly progress.
 The included Omron Health Management Software provides a steps graph that lets you see how your values are trending over time. View larger. |  View pedometer and blood pressure data together (via a split screen) on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis. View larger. |
| Compare Omron Pedometers | ||||
| HJ-150 | HJ-151 | HJ-112 | HJ-720ITC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measurement |
|
|
|
|
| Product Placement | Clip to belt | Clip to belt | Pocket, bag or clip to belt | Pocket, bag or clip to belt |
| History | 7 days | 7 days | 7 days | 7 days (displayed) 42 days (in memory) |
| Warranty | 1 Year | 1 Year | 1 Year | 1 Year |
| Batteries | 3 VDC (1 lithium battery CR2032) | 3 VDC (1 lithium battery CR2032) | 3 VDC (1 lithium battery CR2032) | 3 VDC (1 lithium battery CR2032) |
| Estimated Battery Life | Approx. 1 year (when used for walking 10,000 steps a day) | Approx. 1 year (when used for walking 10,000 steps a day) | Approx. 6 months (when used for walking 10,000 steps a day) | Approx. 6 months (when used for walking 10,000 steps a day) |
| Time of Day Display | | | | |
| Omron Health Management Software | | | | |
Does it matter where the pedometer is placed or attached?
The HJ-150 and 151 Pedometer must be positioned correctly. Attach the unit to your belt or to the top of your waistband. The unit must be horizontal to the ground in order for the unit to function correctly. The HJ-112 and HJ-720ITC Pocket Pedometer can also be placed in your pocket or purse.
What's the accuracy rate of Omron Pedometers?
The precision of the step counting is within +/- 5%.
What are moderate steps?
At least 30 minutes of moderate exercise is recommended each day. The HJ-151 Pedometer separately displays the steps and minutes walked at a moderate pace.
What are aerobic steps?
The HJ-112 and HJ-720ITC Pocket Pedometer separately displays aerobic steps and minutes that start counting after 10 minutes of continuous walking with more than 60 steps a minute.
How does the PC software work?
The HJ-720ITC Pocket Pedometer includes PC software for Windows 2000 or XP. It keeps track of daily, weekly, monthly and yearly progress.
