Review by John W. Graham

I used Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing many, many years ago on a Commodore 64 when I was a teen. I remember reading about it in either Compute! or Ahoy! magazine. Back then, the Dvorak keyboard layout was a popular alternative but I got the product back then to improve my typing skills. It did work back then…so when I saw this product I thought I would continue the tradition of improving typing with my own family.

First, Mavis beacon is not a real person - it is a fictitious character designed to inject some life into a typing program.

The latest version of Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing touts the use of a new technology called UltraKey. UltraKey is actually a standalone typing tutor / engine you can purchase…so it appears that Mavis Beacon has partnered with the makers of UltraKey to enhance their product line.

What you get with this product is 330 typing exercises with 12 interface themes. This is basic instructional typing software that teaches the fundamentals of the keyboard. You progress in a systematic manner from basic instruction to words, sentences, then paragraphs. You can see virtual hands which mimic motions on a virtual keyboard. Stopping to correct mistakes deducts from your typing speed rather than some typing applications which make you continue on and chastise you for making mistakes. You also get some pointers on posture which I didn’t heed as I am touch typing this review while hunched over a darkened keyboard.

Product support comes in the form of an online user’s guide, ability to email for help and some videos and FAQs.

Unfortunately, this product is licensed for just one user and computer. This is a downside to me because we have several laptops in my home which are used somewhat interchangeably. Many software installs these days allow for more than one user / computer.

Overall - you get graphical and usability improvements galore over the old C64 version of this software which is only mentioned for amusement. I think this product is an effective aide at improving typing efficiency and skill. It is far better to learn properly up front versus trying to retrain yourself to type after you’ve already learned the wrong way. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to try to relearn or for the absolute beginner.