Review by C. G. King

My software package says it’s version 21 on the front, but the disk installed as version 20, still that’s not what made this unusable. The package notes the Parent’s Choice award for version 20 on the back so we still thought we’d be okay. It says it works for Windows 7 and it did install (although I needed to input my administrator password), but then we got a shock when we started the software. Instead of getting the menu shown on the box to take a lesson, play games or whatever, our menu said only ‘teacher’ or ‘student’. Turns out the software was for a classroom. The password required to set up the ‘teacher’ option, without which the ‘student’ option wouldn’t work, was said to be in the administrative manual. Unfortunately no such manual came with the software. I can only assume the wrong software was on the disk so we are left high and dry.

Since the package is opened, I can’t take it back to the office supply store where it was purchased and will have to mail the software and receipt to the company (address in 1 pt font which requires a magnifying glass to read) and the refund will take 4 to 6 weeks. I tried calling the number on the website and got a ridiculous phone menu run around. After listening to the options and choosing the one that seemed to apply another recording said a representative couldn’t help and to interface with the web instead. Surely I’d just chosen the wrong option and called again choosing the other option, but got the same message. Why would there even be a phone number to call if they aren’t taking calls. Very annoying.

I can’t speak to the software we expected to receive because we didn’t get it, but potential buyers should know that if you have a problem, there is no support. I’m willing to accept a mistake, but having the package say version 21, the disk say version 20 and different and unusable software actually install tells me this company has very poor quality control. That coupled with no support is a disaster. I do not recommend buying this software.

Update: The website does not list the version 21 software as a choice in the technical support area but I tried another type of search and found it. I had to email to get the missing password and was rewarded with a list of instructions to follow to get the software to work, including the password. I’ll try it tomorrow. Hopefully this will help, otherwise the software is still going back.