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Practice isn't just the way to get to Carnegie Hall; it's also the way to become a good typist. KeyBlaze Free Typing Tutor from NCH Software can help you learn touch-typing or practice your skills. It offers basic lessons, drills, and speed tests suitable for typists ranging from absolute beginners to keyboard jockeys. It's easy to use and effective, too.
The KeyBlaze installation wizard offers three optional downloads, which we didn't try but thought sounded useful: FastFox, a typing expander that can create and store keyboard shortcuts; TextTally, a word counter; and Express Scribe, which assists voice transcription. We entered a User Name and a words-per-minute target and selected the optional initial skill test in the setup. The main view resembles a typewriter, with a standard keyboard image below a blank entry field. We had selected the initial test, which involved typing in a series of tongue-twisters at normal typing speed. KeyBlaze sounded an alarm whenever we hit the wrong key, and it illuminated our mistakes in red. Clicking the Exercises tab called up the main categories: Basics, Keyboard, Keypad, Practice, and Speed Tests. A prominent Stop button on the toolbar let us stop a test quickly at any stage. Clicking the Results tab displayed our User name and WMP and let us view and manage our Goal WPM, High Score, and Test Results as well as choose the next exercise. The Tools tab let us import exercises, create Reports, and configure Options, the latter selection offering General, Sounds, and Reports tabs. Clicking Basics opened an HTML-based instructional explaining the basic principles of touch-typing.
KeyBlaze is great for beginners, but it has more to offer to those who already know how to type. The lessons are easy to understand, getting progressively more difficult to master, and effective, with immediate feedback that helps users quickly overcome bad habits. Practice makes perfect, or at least an improvement; KeyBlaze is a great place to start.
Publisher's Description
From NCH Software:
KeyBlaze is a typing tutor software program designed to assist with learning how to speed type and touch type. The software allows you to start with basic lessons such as Home Keys for index, middle and pinky fingers and practice lessons including poetry, prose and drills. KeyBlaze also features a typing test where the duration can be set to one, two, five or 10 minutes. It has typing lessons for home keys, neighbor keys, and case. Practice exercise categories include revision, drills, prose, and poems, colored guide for next key on keyboard, finger guide shows appropriate finger to use for the key, and quick and easy operation.
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All versions:
1.5 starsout of 8 votes
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Results 1-8 of 8
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"The Download Came With Serious Adware or Worse"
Version: KeyBlaze Free Typing Tutor 2.0
Pros
I think the actual software may be just dandy but -- and this is the second, maybe third time -- the download installed a few difficult to get rid of programs. One was blecko tool bar or whatever it is called. This was included the last time a few weeks ago I downloaded something cnet installer assisted with. The other was a virus scanner that refused to stop scanning, would not uninstall. finally uninstalled it with revo uninstaller.
Cons
See Pros for the CONS. No need to repeat it here.
Summary
CNET installer has some problems or the software it reviews has been taken over by add on's, spyware, who knows what. Not everything but it seems to happen more often lately. Needs to be seriously looked at.
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"DO NOT DOWNLOAD: AD POP-UPS CONSTANTLY, MORE PROBLEMS"
Version: KeyBlaze Free Typing Tutor 1.29
Pros
There are none.
Cons
I am a Tech Support Analyst, and have trusted download.con and cnet for years. Not after this.
- The program interferes with start-up; starting pop-ups asking you to purchase. Pop-ups never go away.
- In win 7, the program's "Applications" are all links to install costly software. Program installers DO NOT belong in the list of installed applications. Any unwary user could easily install SW - thinking that they were simply starting a program already installed. THIS IS BAD! It is sleazy tactics to sneak software onto your system: some of that software is "trial-only": after 30 days it costs hundreds of dollars to keep using it.Summary
DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES DOWNLOAD THIS!!!
I thought CNET vetted their software to prevent scams like this, but that is clearly no longer true. I will no longer trust CNET's reviews or downloads. There are other sources for legitimate downloads out there and I will start using them.
DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES DOWNLOAD THIS!!! -
"Excellent for improving speed and accuracy!"
Version: KeyBlaze Free Typing Tutor 1.25
Pros
I was looking to improve my typing speed without going to a class. KeyBlaze is perfect. It gives you tests for typing and keypad entry. The diagram for finger position is very helpful for beginners. The tests are excellent. Both the typing and numeric keypad practices are great for finding out where you are at. Very accurate with results.
Cons
What is installed with typing test. There were some add-ons I could not figure out why they were installed.
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"no one should download it...this sware is
a mess"Version: KeyBlaze Free Typing Tutor 1.15
Pros
no pros....installing it and seeing the long list of unwanted things it had created scare one to even try running the software
Cons
just dont try it...one star because i had to
Summary
it was on Cnet's recommendation i had tried it and i feel betrayed
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"DESPICABLE DEVELOPER PRACTICES;CNET SHAME 4 ALLOWING IT"
Version: KeyBlaze Free Typing Tutor 1.15
Pros
If there were no other free typing programs on the internet, then maybe this would be a pro for the desperate. SHAME ON CNET AND REVIEWER FOR NOT WARNING EVERYONE ABOUT PRACTICES OF THIS DEVELOPER!
Cons
Read other reviewers' comments.
Summary
Stay away from this program. Write CNET reviewer and slap his sloppiness!
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"Dishonest offering"
Version: KeyBlaze Free Typing Tutor 1.15
Pros
Good content thrown in with a bait attached
Cons
Why do they shovel their other offerings unto users' PC without asking unwary users?
Summary
If I were CNET (that I tend to trust less than I used to) I'd tell KeyBlaze developers to show some respect and honesty in their delivery offerings avoiding agendas. Unfair tactics must stop here. The very same scheme happened with three other applications that I bought from them upon CNET recommendations. Very upsetting.
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"It's worth it if..."
Version: KeyBlaze Free Typing Tutor 1.15
Pros
Program itself seemed to work.
Cons
Not sure if any of the other software it installed (without permission) worked, but I know I didn't want it, or even know about it.
Summary
Dirty underhanded tactics. PITA to remove.
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"I gave it one star because I could not give it none"
Version: KeyBlaze Free Typing Tutor 1.15
Pros
Up to you to decide
Cons
Reprehensible business tactics.
Summary
Never tried the program to tell you the truth. After installing I went to my start menu and found 4 or more new folders all traceable to this program. I opened one of them and there were ....... 15/20 entries for "on-demand" downloads for various things. That was enough for me! I review things here fairly regularly and this is one of the most vile and "tricky" programs I have ever had the misfortune to put on my machine. Shame on whoever is responsible for this.
Uninstall was particularly messy too. After the built in uninstaller was finished Revo (thank goodness for GOOD free software!) found 322, yes you read that right 322! left behind registry entries. Not to mention the 69 files!
I am not a noob when it comes to installing software and know to check or uncheck the appropriate boxes during installation (of which there was 4 or so, not counting the toolbar)
This may or may not be a good program for learning to type but the slipshod and cavalier way they treat your machine should be cause for warning to one and all. Be wary of this.
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