With the latest release of Mavis Beacon, Mac users finally get to see what all the fuss is about. Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 16 supports Mac OS X, as well as some earlier versions of the Mac OS.

Learning to type isn't at the top of most people's lists of fun activities, but if you use a computer at work or at home, improving your typing skills can boost your productivity, helping you get more done in less time. Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing is a highly customizable program that combines typing lessons and drills with arcade-style typing games, adding a little fun to what's normally a chore.

The program begins with a brief question-and-answer session that helps customize the lessons based on your age, the type of keyboard you use, your preferred lesson content (entire keyboard or numeric keypad only), and your typing goal in words per minute. You can also take an optional typing test to determine your current skill level and any areas of weakness that need extra work, such as accuracy, speed, or fingering. Or you can skip the test and go straight to the first lesson.

When you need a break from typing drills, the Games Hallway offers additional typing lessons cleverly disguised as arcade-style games.

The Media Center features an ergonomic workstation assessment, a custom lesson designer, instructional videos, and typing lessons that use content from folklore, poetry, fiction, science, and history.

Other features include a personal coach, personal productivity templates, bilingual instruction (English and Spanish), an on-screen manual and lessons for one-handed typists, and dictation practice. Help and a Progress Record are accessible from every screen.

If you have a Palm OS-based PDA, you can download the program to your PDA so you'll have no excuse for not practicing when you have some spare time.

Mavis Bacon Teaches Typing 16 Deluxe includes 20 new custom lessons, 20 new practice lessons, two new typing games, and a bonus training CD of tips and hints.

Pro: Highly customizable lessons, so you can focus on your particular strengths and weakness. Improved graphics and audio.
Con: If you already own an earlier version of Mavis Beacon, there's not much new to convince you to upgrade, although the improved graphics alone might be worth the cost.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Broderbund
500 Redwood Blvd.
Novato, CA 94947
415-382-4400
http://www.broderbund.com

Ratings:
Overall value: 9
Performance: 8
Ease of use: 8
Documentation: 7