"

The UK's Best-Selling All-In-One Driving Test Software developed by driving experts at Learner Driver Centres (LDC), the UK's 3rd largest driving school.

We're so confident that using this product will significantly increase your chances of passing the Theory Test, we're offering £50 worth of Avanquest software to anyone who fails the Theory Test, having thoroughly used the product+

November 2007. Awarded Best Buy 2007. The only 5 star product out of the top 10 UK products reviewed. Auto Express Magazine

THEORY TEST
Includes the entire NEW OFFICIAL DSA Theory Test Question Bank for cars and motorcycles with 3 unique ways to learn: Grouped under the 17 DSA categories, in Highway Code order, or in conjunction with your driving lessons. No other product offers this flexibility and ease of learning!

Pre-study illustrated learning notes for each of the above learning programmes with relevant extracts from the new Highway Code, our own unique supplementary notes (covers the theory needed that is not in the Highway Code) and the Motorcycle Riders the Essential Skills publication.

Interactive Theory Test tutorial so you know what to expect on the day.
Highly REALISTIC Theory Test simulations with 6 pre-designed tests based on the most commonly occurring questions.

UNLIMITED random tests, all with a balanced set of questions.
Unique traffic light progress monitoring detailing which of the Official questions have been answered correctly, incorrectly or not at all. The only product to make it easy to know when all the Official questions have been learnt or what's outstanding.

Printable exam papers of randomly generated Theory Test simulations to allow you to test yourself away from the computer.

Automatically sends feedback from the mock tests to the learning section, for tailored revision.

Print, view or search the Highway Code workbook (worth £6.99)

NEW LEARN ON THE MOVE - Practise OFFICIAL DSA questions and answers PLUS the HIGHWAY CODE on your mobile phone, iPod, PDA or other portable device that supports MP3 and Podcast files

HAZARD PERCEPTION
With over 400 high-quality hazard perception clips, including the 10 official DSA practice clips and the test introduction video, this program will test your ability to spot potential hazards on the road. All the clips accurately represent those you will face in the real test so you can be confident you're properly prepared on the day!

Includes OVER 400 high-quality hazard perception clips.

Video is shot from outside the car in full PAL resolution just as on the real test not from behind the windscreen of the car in a lower, grainer resolution as on most other products.

Interactive tutorials with animations and videos cover the test, hazard perception skills and defensive driving.

28 pre-set test simulations, each incorporating 14 clips, one for each hazard type.

Exceptionally accurate anti-cheat mechanism to help you determine what type of clicking is and is not allowed.

UNLIMITED mock hazard perception tests with the random test facility.

'Hazard Type' mock test facility lets you take a test on a specific hazard Review feature shows you exactly where you clicked and where points are scored.

Review and retest your 10 weakest clips to identify problem areas and ensure test success!

PRACTICAL TEST
With 20 interactive driving lessons, 19 Show Me, Tell Me questions and a fully interactive mock driving test, you'll have everything you need to know and do, to pass your driving test - first time!

Follow the highly acclaimed LDC Learn-2-Drive programme of 20 lessons for you to follow with mum or dad or indeed your driving instructor. The computer lessons are composed of over 50 interactive animated presentations with exercises, video tutorials and quizzes to help you prepare for each in-car lesson in the LDC programme. Covers:

Moving off
Gears
Steering
Co-ordination
The emergency stop
Junctions and hazard drill
Crossroads
Emerging from busier junctions
Roundabouts
Pedestrian crossings and traffic signals
Hazard perception and defensive driving
Dual carriageways
Town and city centre driving
Progressive driving
Mock driving test
Straight line reverse
Reversing to the left
Reversing to the right
Turn in the road
Reverse and bay parking

An Interactive tutorial tells you all about the practical test with illustrations, animations and video.

Interactive Examiners Marking Sheet with 25 pop up tutorials explaining what the examiner is looking for and what constitutes a driving fault.

Interactive training notes to help you correct any faults you may have identified.

NEW SHOW ME, TELL ME OFFICIAL QUESTIONS
Full Show Me, Tell Me driving lesson video with an expert instructor

19 Interactive mock test video clips showing examples of the 7 Show Me and 12 Tell Me Official possible questions

Illustrated training notes about the marking process

NEW - Show Me, Tell Me game to teach you the car's features - inside & out

MOCK DRIVING TEST
Watch and interact with a full driving test as if you were the examiner - a great insight into what to expect on the day!

NEW HIGHWAY CODE
Interactive version of the latest edition of the Highway Code with professional voiceover and extra training notes

LEARN-2-DRIVE SYSTEM
20 Interactive driving lessons using over 50 animations, videos and quizzes to help you to prepare for each driving lesson

SIGNS AND SIGNALS
Learn the signs, road markings and signals via pre-study lessons
Interactive game to help learn traffics signs with ease!

PRINTABLE E-BOOKS
Includes a Theory Test Workbook (worth £6.99) and a Highway Code Workbook (worth £1.95)

PASS GUARANTEE & FREE DRIVING LESSON OFFER*

*Terms and Conditions apply
+ Pass Guarantee only applies to the Theory Test"

Great!, 01 Oct 2008
I'm not quite 17 yet, but I bought this disk a few months ago in the hope that it would help - and it has! It has made me confident for when I start to learn to drive and for my theory test... would recommend it for anyone learning to drive!

Get your children up to speed with typing for computer use. The most boring (to adults), but addictive (to kids) software we have come across. This gets the "best value for summer holidays" award! Never have children been so determined to finish the exercises and become proficient keyboard operators.

Great!, 01 Oct 2008
I'm not quite 17 yet, but I bought this disk a few months ago in the hope that it would help - and it has! It has made me confident for when I start to learn to drive and for my theory test... would recommend it for anyone learning to drive!

Not much improved over older versions, 31 May 2008
I used Version 8 on Windows 95 to teach myself to type in the late 90s.
Then I thought it was great. It was a big help.

This version I expected to be more polished. Perhaps more scientific in it's approach; though really it hasn't changed much. Still good.

Purchased for my neice, installation hung on her XP machine during install/registration. Ctrl+Alt+Delete showed registration and installation to behave as two seperate applications. Killed registration and the installation proceeded.

The first thing I noticed was that the interface didn't scale well to a widescreen resolution of 1680 x 1050 some jumbled text in the options dialogue.

Installation problem + resolution irritation = minus one star.

Secondly: Even my niece (11) is irritated by the lack of keyboard navigation. The use of the enter key to start the next lesson would be a help. You have to reach for the mouse for every task.
This coupled with the fact that it runs full-screen (not in a window) is definitely minus another star.

The program occasionally gives / displays the wrong instructions for a UK keyboard but does register the correct key-presses - irritating.

The program doesn't appear to have changed in format much since version 8 which is a little disappointing. There is much more material but it's all much the same. I really thought teaching methods might have changed a bit though admittedly typing is still a muscle-memory skill.

This is generally useful and helpful software and could generally be recomended. It includes a Learn Word XP title as well which may be useful to some. While the actual training available from the software is of quite good quality the application as a whole is distinctly average.









I have bought more than one version, I like it so much!, 30 Mar 2008
I was already a very speedy typist when I bought Mavis Beacon for my husband, and for fun I tried the programme too: well, it immediately spotted my weak point: symbols and numbers (I rarely have to use them!), and earnestly presented me a lesson on those. I was mortified and I laughed, so started using it myself. This is one of the wonderful features: the programme sees where your weaknesses are, and in the next lessons concentrates on those. Then my son grew up, and started using it, then my daughter was born, and now she's almost 11 and has also started using it... of course it's a different version now, the third I own. I find it as brilliant as it was, although I must say that the changes from v.9 to v.16 are not that many. But then, if a thing is good as it is, why change it?
You have to be humble and patient, and Mavis will be very patient and very encouraging, even if you make a hundred mistakes: she will just say "OK, you need some more work on these keys. Let's begin a lesson with new combinations, and you will soon learn them".
An advice. If you want to see results, follow the programmes guidelines, don't rush to do the games (as my son does), just go through the lessons. You can easily repeat a lesson whenever you want, if you succeed at a test but still you don't feel confident (or if you succeeded by cheating, i.e. looking at the keyboard).
The interface is pleasant and relaxing, the music too, and gives you rhythm (but you can turn it off if it gets on your nerves, and put your own music or no music at all - or a metronome, if you so wish!).
A very nice feature is the keyboard with the moving fingers at the bottom of the screen (the key to be used is highlighted every time to help you see where it is). So you can start by not looking at your own keyboard and hands, just looking at the one on the screen, and then as you learn the keys don't look at anything but the text.
Who cares about the differences in spelling? You just have to copy what you see! If what you write beneath the examples is correct, it will be blue, errors are in red. You don't have to press "enter", it automatically goes to the next line. After completing the text, your WPM (word per minute)speed is measured, and then adjusted according to your mistake percentage, so that you are not tempted to type quickly but carelessly like a reviewer here who almost gave me a headache. Accuracy is far more important, and you are also encouraged to type rhythmically, with a steady rhythm. I had learned this in typing school, decades ago (in 1973, if you must know!), and I know how important is for developing speed.
The games in Mavis Beacon are great fun, although some can be stressful as you have to avoid sharks or crashing your iceberg etc... My children love creature creation, where by typing you can create fantastic creatures.
A useful video tutorial on how to sit correctly and align your arms and hands on the table for ergonomic work is also included.
OK, now on the funny note: Mavis Beacon's face gets whiter with each new version. Does this make for better sales?
I live in Greece and I had a font problem some years ago, which made use of the programme impossible (my font didn't align with their font, and everything I typed was marked as error). I e-mailed customer service. They were very quick to reply and helpful, although what they said didn't solve the problem - it was due to something else, I found out.
I recommend this programme to anybody. Yes, having British or French or Italian keyboard makes it useless, I agree. (I didn't have this problem because in Greece we use American/Greek keyboard).

Speedy typer thanks to Mavis Beacon, 10 Mar 2008
I have really learned form Mavis Beacon!!
I had a query if it was compatible with my computer so I contacted GSP customer suppert online and they got back to me really quickly and sufficiently. The product is Americanised but its not teaching you HOW to spell but HOW to type.(You should be able to figure the spelling bit out for yourself.) I would recommend this product to anyone wanting to learn how to type accurately and with speed.

Be careful with this one, 17 Feb 2008
Just bought this version and tried to install it on our brand new PC which is running XP...no GO, doesn't want to know yet, it simply will not respond/download. When I get more feedback I will leave another note here. But be careful. Our PC is brand new. However, my other Compaq PC which also runs windows XP has loaded "Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 9" without any problems.

It's okay but could be better-designed, 31 Jul 2007
(Okayh, I've been practisign hard for a number oif weeks now so I'm going to test myself out by doing this as 'live' run to see how I'm doingso fqar.)

This is a pretty resasonabel prgoramme, with a decent range of optkons. NOt logn ago my tuyping skillls were prety non=existant and writing an onlone review could be an extremely slow process- taking uip ti hapf an hour *per setencne that is!). tHEse dyas I can type quite accjrately wihtout having to spend all of my tome lopking dowmn at my hands adn I can tyep at arounds80 worsd=per=minute. aS OTHER REVIEWRS HAVE POUNTED OUT, THE aMERICNA KEYBOARDS GHAVE DSIFFERENY PUNCTUATIOAN TO brITISG MODELS SO THE MOTRE ADVANCED EXERCXISES ARE PRETY USFELESS. aLSO, i FELT PPRESSSURED BYU SOME OF THE TIME-LIMITDS SO SOMETIMSE i TEDN TO RUSH TOOO MUCH. OH BUGGEWR THE CAPS LOCLK IS ONM¬

Okay, I've slowed down a little now, but my computer tells me that I averaged about 90 words-per-minute there- a new personal best! Perhaps I need to work on my accuracy a little more, but I'm definitely getting faster. As my piano teacher used to tell me- concentrate on achieving speed before accuracy. Or was it the other way round? Anyway, it was something to do with speed and accuracy...

Great!, 01 Oct 2008
I'm not quite 17 yet, but I bought this disk a few months ago in the hope that it would help - and it has! It has made me confident for when I start to learn to drive and for my theory test... would recommend it for anyone learning to drive!

Not much improved over older versions, 31 May 2008
I used Version 8 on Windows 95 to teach myself to type in the late 90s.
Then I thought it was great. It was a big help.

This version I expected to be more polished. Perhaps more scientific in it's approach; though really it hasn't changed much. Still good.

Purchased for my neice, installation hung on her XP machine during install/registration. Ctrl+Alt+Delete showed registration and installation to behave as two seperate applications. Killed registration and the installation proceeded.

The first thing I noticed was that the interface didn't scale well to a widescreen resolution of 1680 x 1050 some jumbled text in the options dialogue.

Installation problem + resolution irritation = minus one star.

Secondly: Even my niece (11) is irritated by the lack of keyboard navigation. The use of the enter key to start the next lesson would be a help. You have to reach for the mouse for every task.
This coupled with the fact that it runs full-screen (not in a window) is definitely minus another star.

The program occasionally gives / displays the wrong instructions for a UK keyboard but does register the correct key-presses - irritating.

The program doesn't appear to have changed in format much since version 8 which is a little disappointing. There is much more material but it's all much the same. I really thought teaching methods might have changed a bit though admittedly typing is still a muscle-memory skill.

This is generally useful and helpful software and could generally be recomended. It includes a Learn Word XP title as well which may be useful to some. While the actual training available from the software is of quite good quality the application as a whole is distinctly average.









I have bought more than one version, I like it so much!, 30 Mar 2008
I was already a very speedy typist when I bought Mavis Beacon for my husband, and for fun I tried the programme too: well, it immediately spotted my weak point: symbols and numbers (I rarely have to use them!), and earnestly presented me a lesson on those. I was mortified and I laughed, so started using it myself. This is one of the wonderful features: the programme sees where your weaknesses are, and in the next lessons concentrates on those. Then my son grew up, and started using it, then my daughter was born, and now she's almost 11 and has also started using it... of course it's a different version now, the third I own. I find it as brilliant as it was, although I must say that the changes from v.9 to v.16 are not that many. But then, if a thing is good as it is, why change it?
You have to be humble and patient, and Mavis will be very patient and very encouraging, even if you make a hundred mistakes: she will just say "OK, you need some more work on these keys. Let's begin a lesson with new combinations, and you will soon learn them".
An advice. If you want to see results, follow the programmes guidelines, don't rush to do the games (as my son does), just go through the lessons. You can easily repeat a lesson whenever you want, if you succeed at a test but still you don't feel confident (or if you succeeded by cheating, i.e. looking at the keyboard).
The interface is pleasant and relaxing, the music too, and gives you rhythm (but you can turn it off if it gets on your nerves, and put your own music or no music at all - or a metronome, if you so wish!).
A very nice feature is the keyboard with the moving fingers at the bottom of the screen (the key to be used is highlighted every time to help you see where it is). So you can start by not looking at your own keyboard and hands, just looking at the one on the screen, and then as you learn the keys don't look at anything but the text.
Who cares about the differences in spelling? You just have to copy what you see! If what you write beneath the examples is correct, it will be blue, errors are in red. You don't have to press "enter", it automatically goes to the next line. After completing the text, your WPM (word per minute)speed is measured, and then adjusted according to your mistake percentage, so that you are not tempted to type quickly but carelessly like a reviewer here who almost gave me a headache. Accuracy is far more important, and you are also encouraged to type rhythmically, with a steady rhythm. I had learned this in typing school, decades ago (in 1973, if you must know!), and I know how important is for developing speed.
The games in Mavis Beacon are great fun, although some can be stressful as you have to avoid sharks or crashing your iceberg etc... My children love creature creation, where by typing you can create fantastic creatures.
A useful video tutorial on how to sit correctly and align your arms and hands on the table for ergonomic work is also included.
OK, now on the funny note: Mavis Beacon's face gets whiter with each new version. Does this make for better sales?
I live in Greece and I had a font problem some years ago, which made use of the programme impossible (my font didn't align with their font, and everything I typed was marked as error). I e-mailed customer service. They were very quick to reply and helpful, although what they said didn't solve the problem - it was due to something else, I found out.
I recommend this programme to anybody. Yes, having British or French or Italian keyboard makes it useless, I agree. (I didn't have this problem because in Greece we use American/Greek keyboard).

Speedy typer thanks to Mavis Beacon, 10 Mar 2008
I have really learned form Mavis Beacon!!
I had a query if it was compatible with my computer so I contacted GSP customer suppert online and they got back to me really quickly and sufficiently. The product is Americanised but its not teaching you HOW to spell but HOW to type.(You should be able to figure the spelling bit out for yourself.) I would recommend this product to anyone wanting to learn how to type accurately and with speed.

Be careful with this one, 17 Feb 2008
Just bought this version and tried to install it on our brand new PC which is running XP...no GO, doesn't want to know yet, it simply will not respond/download. When I get more feedback I will leave another note here. But be careful. Our PC is brand new. However, my other Compaq PC which also runs windows XP has loaded "Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 9" without any problems.

It's okay but could be better-designed, 31 Jul 2007
(Okayh, I've been practisign hard for a number oif weeks now so I'm going to test myself out by doing this as 'live' run to see how I'm doingso fqar.)

This is a pretty resasonabel prgoramme, with a decent range of optkons. NOt logn ago my tuyping skillls were prety non=existant and writing an onlone review could be an extremely slow process- taking uip ti hapf an hour *per setencne that is!). tHEse dyas I can type quite accjrately wihtout having to spend all of my tome lopking dowmn at my hands adn I can tyep at arounds80 worsd=per=minute. aS OTHER REVIEWRS HAVE POUNTED OUT, THE aMERICNA KEYBOARDS GHAVE DSIFFERENY PUNCTUATIOAN TO brITISG MODELS SO THE MOTRE ADVANCED EXERCXISES ARE PRETY USFELESS. aLSO, i FELT PPRESSSURED BYU SOME OF THE TIME-LIMITDS SO SOMETIMSE i TEDN TO RUSH TOOO MUCH. OH BUGGEWR THE CAPS LOCLK IS ONM¬

Okay, I've slowed down a little now, but my computer tells me that I averaged about 90 words-per-minute there- a new personal best! Perhaps I need to work on my accuracy a little more, but I'm definitely getting faster. As my piano teacher used to tell me- concentrate on achieving speed before accuracy. Or was it the other way round? Anyway, it was something to do with speed and accuracy...

It's Family Tree Maker 2006, 01 Sep 2008
I have just installed this version which is Family Tree Maker 2006 (v13.0.285) and has loaded in our family tree from the 2005 version. As such, it represents excellent value for money, especially if you want to upgrade but not to the entirely new 2008 version. The carton says it will run under Vista with a download from the GSP site.
It comes with two discs, one with the program and the other with video clips and family trees of celebrities featured in the first three series.

Who do you think you are???, 10 Mar 2008
I have recently written a review on Who do you think you are deluxe. I previously had this product before the deluxe and definatly recommend this, and the deluxe to anyone interested in Family Trees.
I have even found some new family members. This product is so easy to use and get to grips with, I have brought my mum the Deluxe version (Its that easy to use.) I will continue to buy the upgrades when they get released.

Just a big advert!, 14 Jan 2008
I had high hopes to assist with the tracking of relations - however as good as the tree maker may be (excel can do the same) you need to spend more money if you want to register product and take advantages of the internet registry searches - and i dont have much faith in them to be honest.

If you are happy spending another ten pound here and there, then this is for you, but as a stocking filler for my wife - not the best - unless your surname is Snexergytimson, or you have time to search through the 4 million hits for the surname Smith....

Easy to use, 11 Jun 2007
Fantastic software that does what it say's on the box and is easy to use!

Well worth buying, thouroughly recommended.

Great for family trees, 06 Jan 2007
This is an excellent package for putting your tree together. Logical, user friendly and capable of turning out some excellent trees.

This can easily export trees to websites.

I wouldn't be without it!

Are you up to the challenge? These titles feature the crime busting kids with real skills at problem solving but they need your children to help! The 'Clue Finders' titles include maths, english, science, geography and language skills as well as spellbinding adventure. PC Windows 95/98/2000/ME/XP.

Great!, 01 Oct 2008
I'm not quite 17 yet, but I bought this disk a few months ago in the hope that it would help - and it has! It has made me confident for when I start to learn to drive and for my theory test... would recommend it for anyone learning to drive!

Not much improved over older versions, 31 May 2008
I used Version 8 on Windows 95 to teach myself to type in the late 90s.
Then I thought it was great. It was a big help.

This version I expected to be more polished. Perhaps more scientific in it's approach; though really it hasn't changed much. Still good.

Purchased for my neice, installation hung on her XP machine during install/registration. Ctrl+Alt+Delete showed registration and installation to behave as two seperate applications. Killed registration and the installation proceeded.

The first thing I noticed was that the interface didn't scale well to a widescreen resolution of 1680 x 1050 some jumbled text in the options dialogue.

Installation problem + resolution irritation = minus one star.

Secondly: Even my niece (11) is irritated by the lack of keyboard navigation. The use of the enter key to start the next lesson would be a help. You have to reach for the mouse for every task.
This coupled with the fact that it runs full-screen (not in a window) is definitely minus another star.

The program occasionally gives / displays the wrong instructions for a UK keyboard but does register the correct key-presses - irritating.

The program doesn't appear to have changed in format much since version 8 which is a little disappointing. There is much more material but it's all much the same. I really thought teaching methods might have changed a bit though admittedly typing is still a muscle-memory skill.

This is generally useful and helpful software and could generally be recomended. It includes a Learn Word XP title as well which may be useful to some. While the actual training available from the software is of quite good quality the application as a whole is distinctly average.









I have bought more than one version, I like it so much!, 30 Mar 2008
I was already a very speedy typist when I bought Mavis Beacon for my husband, and for fun I tried the programme too: well, it immediately spotted my weak point: symbols and numbers (I rarely have to use them!), and earnestly presented me a lesson on those. I was mortified and I laughed, so started using it myself. This is one of the wonderful features: the programme sees where your weaknesses are, and in the next lessons concentrates on those. Then my son grew up, and started using it, then my daughter was born, and now she's almost 11 and has also started using it... of course it's a different version now, the third I own. I find it as brilliant as it was, although I must say that the changes from v.9 to v.16 are not that many. But then, if a thing is good as it is, why change it?
You have to be humble and patient, and Mavis will be very patient and very encouraging, even if you make a hundred mistakes: she will just say "OK, you need some more work on these keys. Let's begin a lesson with new combinations, and you will soon learn them".
An advice. If you want to see results, follow the programmes guidelines, don't rush to do the games (as my son does), just go through the lessons. You can easily repeat a lesson whenever you want, if you succeed at a test but still you don't feel confident (or if you succeeded by cheating, i.e. looking at the keyboard).
The interface is pleasant and relaxing, the music too, and gives you rhythm (but you can turn it off if it gets on your nerves, and put your own music or no music at all - or a metronome, if you so wish!).
A very nice feature is the keyboard with the moving fingers at the bottom of the screen (the key to be used is highlighted every time to help you see where it is). So you can start by not looking at your own keyboard and hands, just looking at the one on the screen, and then as you learn the keys don't look at anything but the text.
Who cares about the differences in spelling? You just have to copy what you see! If what you write beneath the examples is correct, it will be blue, errors are in red. You don't have to press "enter", it automatically goes to the next line. After completing the text, your WPM (word per minute)speed is measured, and then adjusted according to your mistake percentage, so that you are not tempted to type quickly but carelessly like a reviewer here who almost gave me a headache. Accuracy is far more important, and you are also encouraged to type rhythmically, with a steady rhythm. I had learned this in typing school, decades ago (in 1973, if you must know!), and I know how important is for developing speed.
The games in Mavis Beacon are great fun, although some can be stressful as you have to avoid sharks or crashing your iceberg etc... My children love creature creation, where by typing you can create fantastic creatures.
A useful video tutorial on how to sit correctly and align your arms and hands on the table for ergonomic work is also included.
OK, now on the funny note: Mavis Beacon's face gets whiter with each new version. Does this make for better sales?
I live in Greece and I had a font problem some years ago, which made use of the programme impossible (my font didn't align with their font, and everything I typed was marked as error). I e-mailed customer service. They were very quick to reply and helpful, although what they said didn't solve the problem - it was due to something else, I found out.
I recommend this programme to anybody. Yes, having British or French or Italian keyboard makes it useless, I agree. (I didn't have this problem because in Greece we use American/Greek keyboard).

Speedy typer thanks to Mavis Beacon, 10 Mar 2008
I have really learned form Mavis Beacon!!
I had a query if it was compatible with my computer so I contacted GSP customer suppert online and they got back to me really quickly and sufficiently. The product is Americanised but its not teaching you HOW to spell but HOW to type.(You should be able to figure the spelling bit out for yourself.) I would recommend this product to anyone wanting to learn how to type accurately and with speed.

Be careful with this one, 17 Feb 2008
Just bought this version and tried to install it on our brand new PC which is running XP...no GO, doesn't want to know yet, it simply will not respond/download. When I get more feedback I will leave another note here. But be careful. Our PC is brand new. However, my other Compaq PC which also runs windows XP has loaded "Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 9" without any problems.

It's okay but could be better-designed, 31 Jul 2007
(Okayh, I've been practisign hard for a number oif weeks now so I'm going to test myself out by doing this as 'live' run to see how I'm doingso fqar.)

This is a pretty resasonabel prgoramme, with a decent range of optkons. NOt logn ago my tuyping skillls were prety non=existant and writing an onlone review could be an extremely slow process- taking uip ti hapf an hour *per setencne that is!). tHEse dyas I can type quite accjrately wihtout having to spend all of my tome lopking dowmn at my hands adn I can tyep at arounds80 worsd=per=minute. aS OTHER REVIEWRS HAVE POUNTED OUT, THE aMERICNA KEYBOARDS GHAVE DSIFFERENY PUNCTUATIOAN TO brITISG MODELS SO THE MOTRE ADVANCED EXERCXISES ARE PRETY USFELESS. aLSO, i FELT PPRESSSURED BYU SOME OF THE TIME-LIMITDS SO SOMETIMSE i TEDN TO RUSH TOOO MUCH. OH BUGGEWR THE CAPS LOCLK IS ONM¬

Okay, I've slowed down a little now, but my computer tells me that I averaged about 90 words-per-minute there- a new personal best! Perhaps I need to work on my accuracy a little more, but I'm definitely getting faster. As my piano teacher used to tell me- concentrate on achieving speed before accuracy. Or was it the other way round? Anyway, it was something to do with speed and accuracy...

It's Family Tree Maker 2006, 01 Sep 2008
I have just installed this version which is Family Tree Maker 2006 (v13.0.285) and has loaded in our family tree from the 2005 version. As such, it represents excellent value for money, especially if you want to upgrade but not to the entirely new 2008 version. The carton says it will run under Vista with a download from the GSP site.
It comes with two discs, one with the program and the other with video clips and family trees of celebrities featured in the first three series.

Who do you think you are???, 10 Mar 2008
I have recently written a review on Who do you think you are deluxe. I previously had this product before the deluxe and definatly recommend this, and the deluxe to anyone interested in Family Trees.
I have even found some new family members. This product is so easy to use and get to grips with, I have brought my mum the Deluxe version (Its that easy to use.) I will continue to buy the upgrades when they get released.

Just a big advert!, 14 Jan 2008
I had high hopes to assist with the tracking of relations - however as good as the tree maker may be (excel can do the same) you need to spend more money if you want to register product and take advantages of the internet registry searches - and i dont have much faith in them to be honest.

If you are happy spending another ten pound here and there, then this is for you, but as a stocking filler for my wife - not the best - unless your surname is Snexergytimson, or you have time to search through the 4 million hits for the surname Smith....

Easy to use, 11 Jun 2007
Fantastic software that does what it say's on the box and is easy to use!

Well worth buying, thouroughly recommended.

Great for family trees, 06 Jan 2007
This is an excellent package for putting your tree together. Logical, user friendly and capable of turning out some excellent trees.

This can easily export trees to websites.

I wouldn't be without it!

The game that I love , 14 Aug 2008
I bought this for my 8 year old niece - apparently now we have to call it "the game that I love " . She has played with it every day for over an hour - its not easy but that just makes it even more fun ! I am now the "best Aunty in the world " for buying this for her ! She also told me I had to leave a review ! Highly recommended by Haannah (aged 8 ) !

Finally - Education Software That Is WORTH THE MONEY!!, 20 Mar 2006
I bought this software a couple of weeks ago, and this is the first chance I have had to get on the computer and rave about how good this product is - my daughter has been hogging the computer playing this game!

The software is very 'playable' and the children find it very easy to navigate around the various screens. It is very supportive of their exploration, without being seen as patronising or babyish by them.

The educational element is so cunningly disguised in the games and puzzles that the children are unaware how much they are learning. The games and challenges can be set at differing levels according to ability, so the difficulty can be increased as the children become more familiar with the game, and learn new skills. My 7 year old coped well with the level one, and will be moving onto the second level soon, (there are 4 levels in total).

The software is excellent for developing logic, pattern recognition, sequencing, geometry, and a whole host of other mathematical 'must haves' for children, (the puzzles really do test them - they are a lot harder than they sound and really encourage lateral thinking).

In addition to the enjoyment they have, and the learning support it provides, after introducing the software and navigation, and playing the first few games, I have been able to get the ironing mountain conquered as they are so wrapped up in the game - BUY IT NOW!!

Wow - i remember this!!, 18 Feb 2006
I am now 14, but i had this game when i was seven and i LOVED it!! We didnt even realise it was educational to be honest because we had so much fun playing it! Just randomly today, my sister and i began singing the "goo, goo what happened to you?" song, having not heard it in several years! After becoming too old for this game, we proceeded to get year 5 adventures and year 6, and we loved them all - they were great!! I'll have to dig them out sometime and show them to my little cousins!!

clue finders year 3 and 4, 12 Jan 2006
my kids loved this pc game. they spent hours going through the forest, finding clues by doing sume etc as they went along. educational without them realising.

Fantastically fun guide to the body Seemore Skinless, your mischievous 3D host, turns himself inside out, taking you on an interactive journey of wacky games, body quizzes and experiments. Supports Key Stages 1-2 Nat.Curriculum. Windows 95/98/NT4/2000Become a Human Body Explorer is an interesting CD-ROM full of information about the human body. It's aimed at children aged 6-10 years old, but would be best suited to older end of this age range.

Seemore Skinless, the helpful skeleton, guides the children through a wide range of games, quizzes and experiments. Children can play four fun interactive games, which involve, for example, collecting body parts by answering questions and learning about the body and choosing how Seemore should spend his day. There is an excellent search feature so that children can access information screens on a very wide range of topics. (Parents of younger children may want to supervise children's use of this, as there is information about reproduction and how our bodies change.) Children also have the opportunity to create their own Secret File, which contains information about themselves and can become a scrapbook of facts.

So once children have visited the information screens, played the games, answered brainteaser questions and found out amazing facts, they will have discovered all they need to know about the human body.

Become a Human Body Explorer would be a good buy for parents or teachers of children aged 8-11 years old. It encourages children to explore and find out about the human body in a fun and interesting way. --Amanda York

Great!, 01 Oct 2008
I'm not quite 17 yet, but I bought this disk a few months ago in the hope that it would help - and it has! It has made me confident for when I start to learn to drive and for my theory test... would recommend it for anyone learning to drive!

Not much improved over older versions, 31 May 2008
I used Version 8 on Windows 95 to teach myself to type in the late 90s.
Then I thought it was great. It was a big help.

This version I expected to be more polished. Perhaps more scientific in it's approach; though really it hasn't changed much. Still good.

Purchased for my neice, installation hung on her XP machine during install/registration. Ctrl+Alt+Delete showed registration and installation to behave as two seperate applications. Killed registration and the installation proceeded.

The first thing I noticed was that the interface didn't scale well to a widescreen resolution of 1680 x 1050 some jumbled text in the options dialogue.

Installation problem + resolution irritation = minus one star.

Secondly: Even my niece (11) is irritated by the lack of keyboard navigation. The use of the enter key to start the next lesson would be a help. You have to reach for the mouse for every task.
This coupled with the fact that it runs full-screen (not in a window) is definitely minus another star.

The program occasionally gives / displays the wrong instructions for a UK keyboard but does register the correct key-presses - irritating.

The program doesn't appear to have changed in format much since version 8 which is a little disappointing. There is much more material but it's all much the same. I really thought teaching methods might have changed a bit though admittedly typing is still a muscle-memory skill.

This is generally useful and helpful software and could generally be recomended. It includes a Learn Word XP title as well which may be useful to some. While the actual training available from the software is of quite good quality the application as a whole is distinctly average.









I have bought more than one version, I like it so much!, 30 Mar 2008
I was already a very speedy typist when I bought Mavis Beacon for my husband, and for fun I tried the programme too: well, it immediately spotted my weak point: symbols and numbers (I rarely have to use them!), and earnestly presented me a lesson on those. I was mortified and I laughed, so started using it myself. This is one of the wonderful features: the programme sees where your weaknesses are, and in the next lessons concentrates on those. Then my son grew up, and started using it, then my daughter was born, and now she's almost 11 and has also started using it... of course it's a different version now, the third I own. I find it as brilliant as it was, although I must say that the changes from v.9 to v.16 are not that many. But then, if a thing is good as it is, why change it?
You have to be humble and patient, and Mavis will be very patient and very encouraging, even if you make a hundred mistakes: she will just say "OK, you need some more work on these keys. Let's begin a lesson with new combinations, and you will soon learn them".
An advice. If you want to see results, follow the programmes guidelines, don't rush to do the games (as my son does), just go through the lessons. You can easily repeat a lesson whenever you want, if you succeed at a test but still you don't feel confident (or if you succeeded by cheating, i.e. looking at the keyboard).
The interface is pleasant and relaxing, the music too, and gives you rhythm (but you can turn it off if it gets on your nerves, and put your own music or no music at all - or a metronome, if you so wish!).
A very nice feature is the keyboard with the moving fingers at the bottom of the screen (the key to be used is highlighted every time to help you see where it is). So you can start by not looking at your own keyboard and hands, just looking at the one on the screen, and then as you learn the keys don't look at anything but the text.
Who cares about the differences in spelling? You just have to copy what you see! If what you write beneath the examples is correct, it will be blue, errors are in red. You don't have to press "enter", it automatically goes to the next line. After completing the text, your WPM (word per minute)speed is measured, and then adjusted according to your mistake percentage, so that you are not tempted to type quickly but carelessly like a reviewer here who almost gave me a headache. Accuracy is far more important, and you are also encouraged to type rhythmically, with a steady rhythm. I had learned this in typing school, decades ago (in 1973, if you must know!), and I know how important is for developing speed.
The games in Mavis Beacon are great fun, although some can be stressful as you have to avoid sharks or crashing your iceberg etc... My children love creature creation, where by typing you can create fantastic creatures.
A useful video tutorial on how to sit correctly and align your arms and hands on the table for ergonomic work is also included.
OK, now on the funny note: Mavis Beacon's face gets whiter with each new version. Does this make for better sales?
I live in Greece and I had a font problem some years ago, which made use of the programme impossible (my font didn't align with their font, and everything I typed was marked as error). I e-mailed customer service. They were very quick to reply and helpful, although what they said didn't solve the problem - it was due to something else, I found out.
I recommend this programme to anybody. Yes, having British or French or Italian keyboard makes it useless, I agree. (I didn't have this problem because in Greece we use American/Greek keyboard).

Speedy typer thanks to Mavis Beacon, 10 Mar 2008
I have really learned form Mavis Beacon!!
I had a query if it was compatible with my computer so I contacted GSP customer suppert online and they got back to me really quickly and sufficiently. The product is Americanised but its not teaching you HOW to spell but HOW to type.(You should be able to figure the spelling bit out for yourself.) I would recommend this product to anyone wanting to learn how to type accurately and with speed.

Be careful with this one, 17 Feb 2008
Just bought this version and tried to install it on our brand new PC which is running XP...no GO, doesn't want to know yet, it simply will not respond/download. When I get more feedback I will leave another note here. But be careful. Our PC is brand new. However, my other Compaq PC which also runs windows XP has loaded "Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 9" without any problems.

It's okay but could be better-designed, 31 Jul 2007
(Okayh, I've been practisign hard for a number oif weeks now so I'm going to test myself out by doing this as 'live' run to see how I'm doingso fqar.)

This is a pretty resasonabel prgoramme, with a decent range of optkons. NOt logn ago my tuyping skillls were prety non=existant and writing an onlone review could be an extremely slow process- taking uip ti hapf an hour *per setencne that is!). tHEse dyas I can type quite accjrately wihtout having to spend all of my tome lopking dowmn at my hands adn I can tyep at arounds80 worsd=per=minute. aS OTHER REVIEWRS HAVE POUNTED OUT, THE aMERICNA KEYBOARDS GHAVE DSIFFERENY PUNCTUATIOAN TO brITISG MODELS SO THE MOTRE ADVANCED EXERCXISES ARE PRETY USFELESS. aLSO, i FELT PPRESSSURED BYU SOME OF THE TIME-LIMITDS SO SOMETIMSE i TEDN TO RUSH TOOO MUCH. OH BUGGEWR THE CAPS LOCLK IS ONM¬

Okay, I've slowed down a little now, but my computer tells me that I averaged about 90 words-per-minute there- a new personal best! Perhaps I need to work on my accuracy a little more, but I'm definitely getting faster. As my piano teacher used to tell me- concentrate on achieving speed before accuracy. Or was it the other way round? Anyway, it was something to do with speed and accuracy...

It's Family Tree Maker 2006, 01 Sep 2008
I have just installed this version which is Family Tree Maker 2006 (v13.0.285) and has loaded in our family tree from the 2005 version. As such, it represents excellent value for money, especially if you want to upgrade but not to the entirely new 2008 version. The carton says it will run under Vista with a download from the GSP site.
It comes with two discs, one with the program and the other with video clips and family trees of celebrities featured in the first three series.

Who do you think you are???, 10 Mar 2008
I have recently written a review on Who do you think you are deluxe. I previously had this product before the deluxe and definatly recommend this, and the deluxe to anyone interested in Family Trees.
I have even found some new family members. This product is so easy to use and get to grips with, I have brought my mum the Deluxe version (Its that easy to use.) I will continue to buy the upgrades when they get released.

Just a big advert!, 14 Jan 2008
I had high hopes to assist with the tracking of relations - however as good as the tree maker may be (excel can do the same) you need to spend more money if you want to register product and take advantages of the internet registry searches - and i dont have much faith in them to be honest.

If you are happy spending another ten pound here and there, then this is for you, but as a stocking filler for my wife - not the best - unless your surname is Snexergytimson, or you have time to search through the 4 million hits for the surname Smith....

Easy to use, 11 Jun 2007
Fantastic software that does what it say's on the box and is easy to use!

Well worth buying, thouroughly recommended.

Great for family trees, 06 Jan 2007
This is an excellent package for putting your tree together. Logical, user friendly and capable of turning out some excellent trees.

This can easily export trees to websites.

I wouldn't be without it!

The game that I love , 14 Aug 2008
I bought this for my 8 year old niece - apparently now we have to call it "the game that I love " . She has played with it every day for over an hour - its not easy but that just makes it even more fun ! I am now the "best Aunty in the world " for buying this for her ! She also told me I had to leave a review ! Highly recommended by Haannah (aged 8 ) !

Finally - Education Software That Is WORTH THE MONEY!!, 20 Mar 2006
I bought this software a couple of weeks ago, and this is the first chance I have had to get on the computer and rave about how good this product is - my daughter has been hogging the computer playing this game!

The software is very 'playable' and the children find it very easy to navigate around the various screens. It is very supportive of their exploration, without being seen as patronising or babyish by them.

The educational element is so cunningly disguised in the games and puzzles that the children are unaware how much they are learning. The games and challenges can be set at differing levels according to ability, so the difficulty can be increased as the children become more familiar with the game, and learn new skills. My 7 year old coped well with the level one, and will be moving onto the second level soon, (there are 4 levels in total).

The software is excellent for developing logic, pattern recognition, sequencing, geometry, and a whole host of other mathematical 'must haves' for children, (the puzzles really do test them - they are a lot harder than they sound and really encourage lateral thinking).

In addition to the enjoyment they have, and the learning support it provides, after introducing the software and navigation, and playing the first few games, I have been able to get the ironing mountain conquered as they are so wrapped up in the game - BUY IT NOW!!

Wow - i remember this!!, 18 Feb 2006
I am now 14, but i had this game when i was seven and i LOVED it!! We didnt even realise it was educational to be honest because we had so much fun playing it! Just randomly today, my sister and i began singing the "goo, goo what happened to you?" song, having not heard it in several years! After becoming too old for this game, we proceeded to get year 5 adventures and year 6, and we loved them all - they were great!! I'll have to dig them out sometime and show them to my little cousins!!

clue finders year 3 and 4, 12 Jan 2006
my kids loved this pc game. they spent hours going through the forest, finding clues by doing sume etc as they went along. educational without them realising.

would not recomend, 25 Jul 2007
I bort it for my little girl and it is not worth buying. It keeps on freezing

Kids Love This, 09 Jan 2006
My two kids (5 and 8) love this game. I admit that the 5 year old mainly likes just moving the body parts around and dressing up Seemore Skinless, but it is all good educational fun.

The 8 year old is more interested in rotating / pushing / x-raying the body parts, clicking help to find out more and answering the brain-teasers.

It is nice to let either of them just get on with this one for long periods of time, with very little requests of help, even from the 5-year old.

Highly remmend this one.

this is funny, 22 May 2003
I went on this when I was in hospital and I really enjoyed it.I think the quiz bit where you collect the body parts and the bit where you can jumble up the body are really funny.I recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable way to learn about the body.

Fun and brilliant!, 16 Dec 2002
My two girls (aged 5 and 7) love this. They have learned all the organs in the body, where they are situated and what they do. But most importantly they have learned all this in such a fun way. Every screen allows them to work forwards or backwards and each screen offers a great choice of things to do. DK make use of levers and buttons and arrows and lots of other mediums to get the idea across. The sound attached is relevant, and not at all annoying.
Any child who can use a mouse will sus out how to use the package very quickly and consequently mum and dad will have peace!.
I cannot recommend it highly enough.

truly brilliant, 12 Oct 2002
I have three children ranging from seven to eleven and I can honestly say we have never had so much fun exploring the human body. I am a health professional and have studied human biology etc, but I still managed to learn. My kids absolutely loved it, they were inviting friends around to explore with them, the laughter and giggles was amazing. Yet another brilliant 'explorer' title.

Great!, 01 Oct 2008
I'm not quite 17 yet, but I bought this disk a few months ago in the hope that it would help - and it has! It has made me confident for when I start to learn to drive and for my theory test... would recommend it for anyone learning to drive!

Not much improved over older versions, 31 May 2008
I used Version 8 on Windows 95 to teach myself to type in the late 90s.
Then I thought it was great. It was a big help.

This version I expected to be more polished. Perhaps more scientific in it's approach; though really it hasn't changed much. Still good.

Purchased for my neice, installation hung on her XP machine during install/registration. Ctrl+Alt+Delete showed registration and installation to behave as two seperate applications. Killed registration and the installation proceeded.

The first thing I noticed was that the interface didn't scale well to a widescreen resolution of 1680 x 1050 some jumbled text in the options dialogue.

Installation problem + resolution irritation = minus one star.

Secondly: Even my niece (11) is irritated by the lack of keyboard navigation. The use of the enter key to start the next lesson would be a help. You have to reach for the mouse for every task.
This coupled with the fact that it runs full-screen (not in a window) is definitely minus another star.

The program occasionally gives / displays the wrong instructions for a UK keyboard but does register the correct key-presses - irritating.

The program doesn't appear to have changed in format much since version 8 which is a little disappointing. There is much more material but it's all much the same. I really thought teaching methods might have changed a bit though admittedly typing is still a muscle-memory skill.

This is generally useful and helpful software and could generally be recomended. It includes a Learn Word XP title as well which may be useful to some. While the actual training available from the software is of quite good quality the application as a whole is distinctly average.









I have bought more than one version, I like it so much!, 30 Mar 2008
I was already a very speedy typist when I bought Mavis Beacon for my husband, and for fun I tried the programme too: well, it immediately spotted my weak point: symbols and numbers (I rarely have to use them!), and earnestly presented me a lesson on those. I was mortified and I laughed, so started using it myself. This is one of the wonderful features: the programme sees where your weaknesses are, and in the next lessons concentrates on those. Then my son grew up, and started using it, then my daughter was born, and now she's almost 11 and has also started using it... of course it's a different version now, the third I own. I find it as brilliant as it was, although I must say that the changes from v.9 to v.16 are not that many. But then, if a thing is good as it is, why change it?
You have to be humble and patient, and Mavis will be very patient and very encouraging, even if you make a hundred mistakes: she will just say "OK, you need some more work on these keys. Let's begin a lesson with new combinations, and you will soon learn them".
An advice. If you want to see results, follow the programmes guidelines, don't rush to do the games (as my son does), just go through the lessons. You can easily repeat a lesson whenever you want, if you succeed at a test but still you don't feel confident (or if you succeeded by cheating, i.e. looking at the keyboard).
The interface is pleasant and relaxing, the music too, and gives you rhythm (but you can turn it off if it gets on your nerves, and put your own music or no music at all - or a metronome, if you so wish!).
A very nice feature is the keyboard with the moving fingers at the bottom of the screen (the key to be used is highlighted every time to help you see where it is). So you can start by not looking at your own keyboard and hands, just looking at the one on the screen, and then as you learn the keys don't look at anything but the text.
Who cares about the differences in spelling? You just have to copy what you see! If what you write beneath the examples is correct, it will be blue, errors are in red. You don't have to press "enter", it automatically goes to the next line. After completing the text, your WPM (word per minute)speed is measured, and then adjusted according to your mistake percentage, so that you are not tempted to type quickly but carelessly like a reviewer here who almost gave me a headache. Accuracy is far more important, and you are also encouraged to type rhythmically, with a steady rhythm. I had learned this in typing school, decades ago (in 1973, if you must know!), and I know how important is for developing speed.
The games in Mavis Beacon are great fun, although some can be stressful as you have to avoid sharks or crashing your iceberg etc... My children love creature creation, where by typing you can create fantastic creatures.
A useful video tutorial on how to sit correctly and align your arms and hands on the table for ergonomic work is also included.
OK, now on the funny note: Mavis Beacon's face gets whiter with each new version. Does this make for better sales?
I live in Greece and I had a font problem some years ago, which made use of the programme impossible (my font didn't align with their font, and everything I typed was marked as error). I e-mailed customer service. They were very quick to reply and helpful, although what they said didn't solve the problem - it was due to something else, I found out.
I recommend this programme to anybody. Yes, having British or French or Italian keyboard makes it useless, I agree. (I didn't have this problem because in Greece we use American/Greek keyboard).

Speedy typer thanks to Mavis Beacon, 10 Mar 2008
I have really learned form Mavis Beacon!!
I had a query if it was compatible with my computer so I contacted GSP customer suppert online and they got back to me really quickly and sufficiently. The product is Americanised but its not teaching you HOW to spell but HOW to type.(You should be able to figure the spelling bit out for yourself.) I would recommend this product to anyone wanting to learn how to type accurately and with speed.

Be careful with this one, 17 Feb 2008
Just bought this version and tried to install it on our brand new PC which is running XP...no GO, doesn't want to know yet, it simply will not respond/download. When I get more feedback I will leave another note here. But be careful. Our PC is brand new. However, my other Compaq PC which also runs windows XP has loaded "Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 9" without any problems.

It's okay but could be better-designed, 31 Jul 2007
(Okayh, I've been practisign hard for a number oif weeks now so I'm going to test myself out by doing this as 'live' run to see how I'm doingso fqar.)

This is a pretty resasonabel prgoramme, with a decent range of optkons. NOt logn ago my tuyping skillls were prety non=existant and writing an onlone review could be an extremely slow process- taking uip ti hapf an hour *per setencne that is!). tHEse dyas I can type quite accjrately wihtout having to spend all of my tome lopking dowmn at my hands adn I can tyep at arounds80 worsd=per=minute. aS OTHER REVIEWRS HAVE POUNTED OUT, THE aMERICNA KEYBOARDS GHAVE DSIFFERENY PUNCTUATIOAN TO brITISG MODELS SO THE MOTRE ADVANCED EXERCXISES ARE PRETY USFELESS. aLSO, i FELT PPRESSSURED BYU SOME OF THE TIME-LIMITDS SO SOMETIMSE i TEDN TO RUSH TOOO MUCH. OH BUGGEWR THE CAPS LOCLK IS ONM¬

Okay, I've slowed down a little now, but my computer tells me that I averaged about 90 words-per-minute there- a new personal best! Perhaps I need to work on my accuracy a little more, but I'm definitely getting faster. As my piano teacher used to tell me- concentrate on achieving speed before accuracy. Or was it the other way round? Anyway, it was something to do with speed and accuracy...

It's Family Tree Maker 2006, 01 Sep 2008
I have just installed this version which is Family Tree Maker 2006 (v13.0.285) and has loaded in our family tree from the 2005 version. As such, it represents excellent value for money, especially if you want to upgrade but not to the entirely new 2008 version. The carton says it will run under Vista with a download from the GSP site.
It comes with two discs, one with the program and the other with video clips and family trees of celebrities featured in the first three series.

Who do you think you are???, 10 Mar 2008
I have recently written a review on Who do you think you are deluxe. I previously had this product before the deluxe and definatly recommend this, and the deluxe to anyone interested in Family Trees.
I have even found some new family members. This product is so easy to use and get to grips with, I have brought my mum the Deluxe version (Its that easy to use.) I will continue to buy the upgrades when they get released.

Just a big advert!, 14 Jan 2008
I had high hopes to assist with the tracking of relations - however as good as the tree maker may be (excel can do the same) you need to spend more money if you want to register product and take advantages of the internet registry searches - and i dont have much faith in them to be honest.

If you are happy spending another ten pound here and there, then this is for you, but as a stocking filler for my wife - not the best - unless your surname is Snexergytimson, or you have time to search through the 4 million hits for the surname Smith....

Easy to use, 11 Jun 2007
Fantastic software that does what it say's on the box and is easy to use!

Well worth buying, thouroughly recommended.

Great for family trees, 06 Jan 2007
This is an excellent package for putting your tree together. Logical, user friendly and capable of turning out some excellent trees.

This can easily export trees to websites.

I wouldn't be without it!

The game that I love , 14 Aug 2008
I bought this for my 8 year old niece - apparently now we have to call it "the game that I love " . She has played with it every day for over an hour - its not easy but that just makes it even more fun ! I am now the "best Aunty in the world " for buying this for her ! She also told me I had to leave a review ! Highly recommended by Haannah (aged 8 ) !

Finally - Education Software That Is WORTH THE MONEY!!, 20 Mar 2006
I bought this software a couple of weeks ago, and this is the first chance I have had to get on the computer and rave about how good this product is - my daughter has been hogging the computer playing this game!

The software is very 'playable' and the children find it very easy to navigate around the various screens. It is very supportive of their exploration, without being seen as patronising or babyish by them.

The educational element is so cunningly disguised in the games and puzzles that the children are unaware how much they are learning. The games and challenges can be set at differing levels according to ability, so the difficulty can be increased as the children become more familiar with the game, and learn new skills. My 7 year old coped well with the level one, and will be moving onto the second level soon, (there are 4 levels in total).

The software is excellent for developing logic, pattern recognition, sequencing, geometry, and a whole host of other mathematical 'must haves' for children, (the puzzles really do test them - they are a lot harder than they sound and really encourage lateral thinking).

In addition to the enjoyment they have, and the learning support it provides, after introducing the software and navigation, and playing the first few games, I have been able to get the ironing mountain conquered as they are so wrapped up in the game - BUY IT NOW!!

Wow - i remember this!!, 18 Feb 2006
I am now 14, but i had this game when i was seven and i LOVED it!! We didnt even realise it was educational to be honest because we had so much fun playing it! Just randomly today, my sister and i began singing the "goo, goo what happened to you?" song, having not heard it in several years! After becoming too old for this game, we proceeded to get year 5 adventures and year 6, and we loved them all - they were great!! I'll have to dig them out sometime and show them to my little cousins!!

clue finders year 3 and 4, 12 Jan 2006
my kids loved this pc game. they spent hours going through the forest, finding clues by doing sume etc as they went along. educational without them realising.

would not recomend, 25 Jul 2007
I bort it for my little girl and it is not worth buying. It keeps on freezing

Kids Love This, 09 Jan 2006
My two kids (5 and 8) love this game. I admit that the 5 year old mainly likes just moving the body parts around and dressing up Seemore Skinless, but it is all good educational fun.

The 8 year old is more interested in rotating / pushing / x-raying the body parts, clicking help to find out more and answering the brain-teasers.

It is nice to let either of them just get on with this one for long periods of time, with very little requests of help, even from the 5-year old.

Highly remmend this one.

this is funny, 22 May 2003
I went on this when I was in hospital and I really enjoyed it.I think the quiz bit where you collect the body parts and the bit where you can jumble up the body are really funny.I recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable way to learn about the body.

Fun and brilliant!, 16 Dec 2002
My two girls (aged 5 and 7) love this. They have learned all the organs in the body, where they are situated and what they do. But most importantly they have learned all this in such a fun way. Every screen allows them to work forwards or backwards and each screen offers a great choice of things to do. DK make use of levers and buttons and arrows and lots of other mediums to get the idea across. The sound attached is relevant, and not at all annoying.
Any child who can use a mouse will sus out how to use the package very quickly and consequently mum and dad will have peace!.
I cannot recommend it highly enough.

truly brilliant, 12 Oct 2002
I have three children ranging from seven to eleven and I can honestly say we have never had so much fun exploring the human body. I am a health professional and have studied human biology etc, but I still managed to learn. My kids absolutely loved it, they were inviting friends around to explore with them, the laughter and giggles was amazing. Yet another brilliant 'explorer' title.

Who do you think you are????, 10 Mar 2008
I really enjoy making my Family tree!
There is now so many new members of my family I have found just by using this. Ive had no problem at all loading known members or unknown members on to my tree.
Its so easy to use and simple to learn, I have even brought the product for my mum to do as a past time.

ABSOLUTE RUBBISH, 19 Feb 2008
I bought this deluxe version of the Family tree maker recently,only to find I cannot add my own brother to it ! nor my own childrens wife/partners or grandchildren what is the point of any family tree,if you cannot even add you own brother? as he is part of my family tree.
I am disgusted with this tree maker. do not buy it you are wasting your money.

Vista compatibility, 11 Jun 2007
Most features on 'Who Do You Think You Are? Family Tree Maker Deluxe' are unaffected by the new version of Microsoft Windows, Windows Vista. However, certain aspects (like exporting a view, book, or tree to PDF) will not function without an important update for Family Tree Maker. This update is completely free, and steps for updating your program can be found on the developers website, this can be reached via the Technical Support area of the GSP website.

Not good for Vista, 22 May 2007
Basic software is fine for information addition and collation but for some reason it will not access pdf reader from the program or save as pdf in "books". Unfortunatly the help access is a waste of space and no contact info with software outside the US. If you run Vista pick another FTM software package.

Great software, 04 Apr 2007
Watched the first and second series and decided to research my own family history.

Having looked around at the various products available I opted for this version of the Family Tree Maker but obviously branded as per the show, I reasoned that for the BBC to allow the use of their programe branding on a product they must have thoroughly checked it through .

I have not been disappointed.

I really need to do more research before I can fully use it, but having entered some basic info i've managed to create various charts and trees.

As someone who is relatively new to the hobby, I'm hooked!

I'd definitely recommend it!

Great!, 01 Oct 2008
I'm not quite 17 yet, but I bought this disk a few months ago in the hope that it would help - and it has! It has made me confident for when I start to learn to drive and for my theory test... would recommend it for anyone learning to drive!

Not much improved over older versions, 31 May 2008
I used Version 8 on Windows 95 to teach myself to type in the late 90s.
Then I thought it was great. It was a big help.

This version I expected to be more polished. Perhaps more scientific in it's approach; though really it hasn't changed much. Still good.

Purchased for my neice, installation hung on her XP machine during install/registration. Ctrl+Alt+Delete showed registration and installation to behave as two seperate applications. Killed registration and the installation proceeded.

The first thing I noticed was that the interface didn't scale well to a widescreen resolution of 1680 x 1050 some jumbled text in the options dialogue.

Installation problem + resolution irritation = minus one star.

Secondly: Even my niece (11) is irritated by the lack of keyboard navigation. The use of the enter key to start the next lesson would be a help. You have to reach for the mouse for every task.
This coupled with the fact that it runs full-screen (not in a window) is definitely minus another star.

The program occasionally gives / displays the wrong instructions for a UK keyboard but does register the correct key-presses - irritating.

The program doesn't appear to have changed in format much since version 8 which is a little disappointing. There is much more material but it's all much the same. I really thought teaching methods might have changed a bit though admittedly typing is still a muscle-memory skill.

This is generally useful and helpful software and could generally be recomended. It includes a Learn Word XP title as well which may be useful to some. While the actual training available from the software is of quite good quality the application as a whole is distinctly average.









I have bought more than one version, I like it so much!, 30 Mar 2008
I was already a very speedy typist when I bought Mavis Beacon for my husband, and for fun I tried the programme too: well, it immediately spotted my weak point: symbols and numbers (I rarely have to use them!), and earnestly presented me a lesson on those. I was mortified and I laughed, so started using it myself. This is one of the wonderful features: the programme sees where your weaknesses are, and in the next lessons concentrates on those. Then my son grew up, and started using it, then my daughter was born, and now she's almost 11 and has also started using it... of course it's a different version now, the third I own. I find it as brilliant as it was, although I must say that the changes from v.9 to v.16 are not that many. But then, if a thing is good as it is, why change it?
You have to be humble and patient, and Mavis will be very patient and very encouraging, even if you make a hundred mistakes: she will just say "OK, you need some more work on these keys. Let's begin a lesson with new combinations, and you will soon learn them".
An advice. If you want to see results, follow the programmes guidelines, don't rush to do the games (as my son does), just go through the lessons. You can easily repeat a lesson whenever you want, if you succeed at a test but still you don't feel confident (or if you succeeded by cheating, i.e. looking at the keyboard).
The interface is pleasant and relaxing, the music too, and gives you rhythm (but you can turn it off if it gets on your nerves, and put your own music or no music at all - or a metronome, if you so wish!).
A very nice feature is the keyboard with the moving fingers at the bottom of the screen (the key to be used is highlighted every time to help you see where it is). So you can start by not looking at your own keyboard and hands, just looking at the one on the screen, and then as you learn the keys don't look at anything but the text.
Who cares about the differences in spelling? You just have to copy what you see! If what you write beneath the examples is correct, it will be blue, errors are in red. You don't have to press "enter", it automatically goes to the next line. After completing the text, your WPM (word per minute)speed is measured, and then adjusted according to your mistake percentage, so that you are not tempted to type quickly but carelessly like a reviewer here who almost gave me a headache. Accuracy is far more important, and you are also encouraged to type rhythmically, with a steady rhythm. I had learned this in typing school, decades ago (in 1973, if you must know!), and I know how important is for developing speed.
The games in Mavis Beacon are great fun, although some can be stressful as you have to avoid sharks or crashing your iceberg etc... My children love creature creation, where by typing you can create fantastic creatures.
A useful video tutorial on how to sit correctly and align your arms and hands on the table for ergonomic work is also included.
OK, now on the funny note: Mavis Beacon's face gets whiter with each new version. Does this make for better sales?
I live in Greece and I had a font problem some years ago, which made use of the programme impossible (my font didn't align with their font, and everything I typed was marked as error). I e-mailed customer service. They were very quick to reply and helpful, although what they said didn't solve the problem - it was due to something else, I found out.
I recommend this programme to anybody. Yes, having British or French or Italian keyboard makes it useless, I agree. (I didn't have this problem because in Greece we use American/Greek keyboard).

Speedy typer thanks to Mavis Beacon, 10 Mar 2008
I have really learned form Mavis Beacon!!
I had a query if it was compatible with my computer so I contacted GSP customer suppert online and they got back to me really quickly and sufficiently. The product is Americanised but its not teaching you HOW to spell but HOW to type.(You should be able to figure the spelling bit out for yourself.) I would recommend this product to anyone wanting to learn how to type accurately and with speed.

Be careful with this one, 17 Feb 2008
Just bought this version and tried to install it on our brand new PC which is running XP...no GO, doesn't want to know yet, it simply will not respond/download. When I get more feedback I will leave another note here. But be careful. Our PC is brand new. However, my other Compaq PC which also runs windows XP has loaded "Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 9" without any problems.

It's okay but could be better-designed, 31 Jul 2007
(Okayh, I've been practisign hard for a number oif weeks now so I'm going to test myself out by doing this as 'live' run to see how I'm doingso fqar.)

This is a pretty resasonabel prgoramme, with a decent range of optkons. NOt logn ago my tuyping skillls were prety non=existant and writing an onlone review could be an extremely slow process- taking uip ti hapf an hour *per setencne that is!). tHEse dyas I can type quite accjrately wihtout having to spend all of my tome lopking dowmn at my hands adn I can tyep at arounds80 worsd=per=minute. aS OTHER REVIEWRS HAVE POUNTED OUT, THE aMERICNA KEYBOARDS GHAVE DSIFFERENY PUNCTUATIOAN TO brITISG MODELS SO THE MOTRE ADVANCED EXERCXISES ARE PRETY USFELESS. aLSO, i FELT PPRESSSURED BYU SOME OF THE TIME-LIMITDS SO SOMETIMSE i TEDN TO RUSH TOOO MUCH. OH BUGGEWR THE CAPS LOCLK IS ONM¬

Okay, I've slowed down a little now, but my computer tells me that I averaged about 90 words-per-minute there- a new personal best! Perhaps I need to work on my accuracy a little more, but I'm definitely getting faster. As my piano teacher used to tell me- concentrate on achieving speed before accuracy. Or was it the other way round? Anyway, it was something to do with speed and accuracy...

It's Family Tree Maker 2006, 01 Sep 2008
I have just installed this version which is Family Tree Maker 2006 (v13.0.285) and has loaded in our family tree from the 2005 version. As such, it represents excellent value for money, especially if you want to upgrade but not to the entirely new 2008 version. The carton says it will run under Vista with a download from the GSP site.
It comes with two discs, one with the program and the other with video clips and family trees of celebrities featured in the first three series.

Who do you think you are???, 10 Mar 2008
I have recently written a review on Who do you think you are deluxe. I previously had this product before the deluxe and definatly recommend this, and the deluxe to anyone interested in Family Trees.
I have even found some new family members. This product is so easy to use and get to grips with, I have brought my mum the Deluxe version (Its that easy to use.) I will continue to buy the upgrades when they get released.

Just a big advert!, 14 Jan 2008
I had high hopes to assist with the tracking of relations - however as good as the tree maker may be (excel can do the same) you need to spend more money if you want to register product and take advantages of the internet registry searches - and i dont have much faith in them to be honest.

If you are happy spending another ten pound here and there, then this is for you, but as a stocking filler for my wife - not the best - unless your surname is Snexergytimson, or you have time to search through the 4 million hits for the surname Smith....

Easy to use, 11 Jun 2007
Fantastic software that does what it say's on the box and is easy to use!

Well worth buying, thouroughly recommended.

Great for family trees, 06 Jan 2007
This is an excellent package for putting your tree together. Logical, user friendly and capable of turning out some excellent trees.

This can easily export trees to websites.

I wouldn't be without it!

The game that I love , 14 Aug 2008
I bought this for my 8 year old niece - apparently now we have to call it "the game that I love " . She has played with it every day for over an hour - its not easy but that just makes it even more fun ! I am now the "best Aunty in the world " for buying this for her ! She also told me I had to leave a review ! Highly recommended by Haannah (aged 8 ) !

Finally - Education Software That Is WORTH THE MONEY!!, 20 Mar 2006
I bought this software a couple of weeks ago, and this is the first chance I have had to get on the computer and rave about how good this product is - my daughter has been hogging the computer playing this game!

The software is very 'playable' and the children find it very easy to navigate around the various screens. It is very supportive of their exploration, without being seen as patronising or babyish by them.

The educational element is so cunningly disguised in the games and puzzles that the children are unaware how much they are learning. The games and challenges can be set at differing levels according to ability, so the difficulty can be increased as the children become more familiar with the game, and learn new skills. My 7 year old coped well with the level one, and will be moving onto the second level soon, (there are 4 levels in total).

The software is excellent for developing logic, pattern recognition, sequencing, geometry, and a whole host of other mathematical 'must haves' for children, (the puzzles really do test them - they are a lot harder than they sound and really encourage lateral thinking).

In addition to the enjoyment they have, and the learning support it provides, after introducing the software and navigation, and playing the first few games, I have been able to get the ironing mountain conquered as they are so wrapped up in the game - BUY IT NOW!!

Wow - i remember this!!, 18 Feb 2006
I am now 14, but i had this game when i was seven and i LOVED it!! We didnt even realise it was educational to be honest because we had so much fun playing it! Just randomly today, my sister and i began singing the "goo, goo what happened to you?" song, having not heard it in several years! After becoming too old for this game, we proceeded to get year 5 adventures and year 6, and we loved them all - they were great!! I'll have to dig them out sometime and show them to my little cousins!!

clue finders year 3 and 4, 12 Jan 2006
my kids loved this pc game. they spent hours going through the forest, finding clues by doing sume etc as they went along. educational without them realising.

would not recomend, 25 Jul 2007
I bort it for my little girl and it is not worth buying. It keeps on freezing

Kids Love This, 09 Jan 2006
My two kids (5 and 8) love this game. I admit that the 5 year old mainly likes just moving the body parts around and dressing up Seemore Skinless, but it is all good educational fun.

The 8 year old is more interested in rotating / pushing / x-raying the body parts, clicking help to find out more and answering the brain-teasers.

It is nice to let either of them just get on with this one for long periods of time, with very little requests of help, even from the 5-year old.

Highly remmend this one.

this is funny, 22 May 2003
I went on this when I was in hospital and I really enjoyed it.I think the quiz bit where you collect the body parts and the bit where you can jumble up the body are really funny.I recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable way to learn about the body.

Fun and brilliant!, 16 Dec 2002
My two girls (aged 5 and 7) love this. They have learned all the organs in the body, where they are situated and what they do. But most importantly they have learned all this in such a fun way. Every screen allows them to work forwards or backwards and each screen offers a great choice of things to do. DK make use of levers and buttons and arrows and lots of other mediums to get the idea across. The sound attached is relevant, and not at all annoying.
Any child who can use a mouse will sus out how to use the package very quickly and consequently mum and dad will have peace!.
I cannot recommend it highly enough.

truly brilliant, 12 Oct 2002
I have three children ranging from seven to eleven and I can honestly say we have never had so much fun exploring the human body. I am a health professional and have studied human biology etc, but I still managed to learn. My kids absolutely loved it, they were inviting friends around to explore with them, the laughter and giggles was amazing. Yet another brilliant 'explorer' title.

Who do you think you are????, 10 Mar 2008
I really enjoy making my Family tree!
There is now so many new members of my family I have found just by using this. Ive had no problem at all loading known members or unknown members on to my tree.
Its so easy to use and simple to learn, I have even brought the product for my mum to do as a past time.

ABSOLUTE RUBBISH, 19 Feb 2008
I bought this deluxe version of the Family tree maker recently,only to find I cannot add my own brother to it ! nor my own childrens wife/partners or grandchildren what is the point of any family tree,if you cannot even add you own brother? as he is part of my family tree.
I am disgusted with this tree maker. do not buy it you are wasting your money.

Vista compatibility, 11 Jun 2007
Most features on 'Who Do You Think You Are? Family Tree Maker Deluxe' are unaffected by the new version of Microsoft Windows, Windows Vista. However, certain aspects (like exporting a view, book, or tree to PDF) will not function without an important update for Family Tree Maker. This update is completely free, and steps for updating your program can be found on the developers website, this can be reached via the Technical Support area of the GSP website.

Not good for Vista, 22 May 2007
Basic software is fine for information addition and collation but for some reason it will not access pdf reader from the program or save as pdf in "books". Unfortunatly the help access is a waste of space and no contact info with software outside the US. If you run Vista pick another FTM software package.

Great software, 04 Apr 2007
Watched the first and second series and decided to research my own family history.

Having looked around at the various products available I opted for this version of the Family Tree Maker but obviously branded as per the show, I reasoned that for the BBC to allow the use of their programe branding on a product they must have thoroughly checked it through .

I have not been disappointed.

I really need to do more research before I can fully use it, but having entered some basic info i've managed to create various charts and trees.

As someone who is relatively new to the hobby, I'm hooked!

I'd definitely recommend it!



Hooked, 18 Jul 2007
Bought this for my 8 yr old to build her confidence. Just finished real school yr 3 so the first CD Yr3 is a really good refresher. She sat there for ages with her friend working through the questions, then still was eager to continue until bedtime. The storyline & graphics were very good having to collect items going round the map to finally get the keys. The pleasure from the kids when they acheive each of the answers and stages was great to hear. Not sure they realised how much homework they did. Good for me to pick up on a lot of school work areas that she had obviously covered that I never knew she had learnt. Great !!
She can't wait to get onto the next levels & CD's.

A big hit with the kids, 02 Apr 2006
My little boy (6) loves Cluefinders and is always striving to get to the next level. It seems to provide a good topic of conversation with his friends too.