Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 17 Deluxe

CNET Editors' review

by: CNET Staff on February 27, 2009

The multimedia-rich Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 17 Deluxe can turn even the most recalcitrant hunt-and-peck artist into a skillful touch typist. But first you'll have to download the behemoth 400MB installer and suffer through the sluggish setup process. Persevere. Once you get it running, Mavis Bacon is memory-intensive but quite fast. The unusual interface depicts a classroom; you click on various objects to select tasks (for instance, a computer to enter the Lesson Area). Mavis Bacon provides not only lessons and drills, but also videos and text advice on proper typing posture. It also allows you to build custom lessons, play special typing games, and check the ergonomics at your workplace. All in all, it's a feature-rich typing tutor with a good-looking interface and lots of useful extras.

Publisher's Description

From Broderbund:

Let Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing guide your typing tutorials. Mavis Beacon will monitor your progress, flag your weak spots and offer challenging lessons to help you continue improving your keyboarding skills. Exercise your typing fingers with more than 221 practice lessons and 103 custom lessons. Enjoy 14 entertaining arcade-style games that make practicing fun.

Enhanced user interface is compatible with wide screen laptops and leaves the desktop more accessible even while the program is running. Make your learning even more efficient by customizing lessons to fit your needs. Download lessons to your Palm Pilot for easy portable practice sessions. Jazz up your lessons by importing your own MP3 files to listen to while you practice. Straighten up your keyboarding skills by correcting your posture and physical alignment with ergonomic evaluation videos.

View larger image

All User Reviews

Sort by:
See reviews for:

All versions:
3.6 stars
out of 158 votes
- 5 star: 72
- 4 star: 28
- 3 star: 14
- 2 star: 11
- 1 star: 33
Current version:

3.6 stars

out of 152 votes
- 5 star: 69
- 4 star: 26
- 3 star: 14
- 2 star: 11
- 1 star: 32
My rating:

0 stars
Write review

Results 1-10 of 122

5.0 stars

"The best typing tutor ever"

January 6, 2012 | By George Brown 13

Version: Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 17 Deluxe 17

Pros
Really improves my typing speed.

Cons
Can't be adjusted to full screen.

Reply to this review

Was this review helpful? (0) (0)

Report this post Email this post Permalink to this post
1.0 stars

"Tricksters, it's not free!"

November 28, 2011 | By bdorn76

Version: Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 17 Deluxe 17

Pros
None. Was not able to test out, I do hear that a lot of people like them.

Cons
Not Free! You think it's free because to "download" it's free but then you have to purchase a code to open it. C'mon just be clear and up front no sneaky, sneaky!

Reply to this review

Was this review helpful? (1) (0)

Report this post Email this post Permalink to this post
1.0 stars

"Cannot open - HORRIBLE"

November 9, 2011 | By DameRadar

Version: Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 17 Deluxe 17

Pros
NONE! Cannot give it any pros if I can't use it!!!!!

Cons
Wasted time downloading and it now says I need a Serial # to register - false advertising because it appears you can download it and use it - just like all the other reviewers on here (I should have read reviews before I tried to download)! DON'T DOWNLOAD or waste your time!

Reply to this review

Was this review helpful? (0) (0)

Report this post Email this post Permalink to this post
1.0 stars

"Won't Open!!!"

November 6, 2011 | By CrystalDoom

Version: Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 17 Deluxe 17

Pros
It would probably be good and fun if I was able to complete the installation and actually use it!!!!

Cons
I wouldn't know.

Summary
I installed this and finished and was excited to finally open it up, and then NOPE!!!! I try to open it and it says I need a serial number or to purchase it, ***? That's not the impression I was under.. Very disappointing surprise!

:(

Reply to this review

Was this review helpful? (0) (0)

Report this post Email this post Permalink to this post
1.0 stars

"Got my hopes up for NOTHING.... Will not open up..."

August 4, 2011 | By pfair59

Version: Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 17 Deluxe 17

Pros
None, this program will not open to work, plus after buying this software it dd not come with a Regst.#
That's not right!!!

Cons
Will not work!!! Don't wste your MONEY..

Summary
BAD!!

Reply to this review

Was this review helpful? (3) (0)

Report this post Email this post Permalink to this post
1.0 stars

"download did not work correctly."

July 20, 2011 | By xochitlrose

Version: Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 17 Deluxe 17

Pros
no pros because it did not download completely for me to try it.

Cons
it didn't work.

Summary
sucky download that did not work.

Reply to this review

Was this review helpful? (2) (0)

Report this post Email this post Permalink to this post
1.0 stars

"DOES NOT WORK, DO NOT download."

July 8, 2011 | By sdh11

Version: Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 17 Deluxe 17

Pros
You have to have a serial number to use this after you wait 4 minutes for it to download. You have to purchase it to get the serial number.

Cons
very frustrating

Summary
don't waste your time

Reply to this review

Was this review helpful? (2) (0)

Report this post Email this post Permalink to this post
1.0 stars

"Could not get in. Disappointed."

May 3, 2011 | By SBrooks42

Version: Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 17 Deluxe 17

Pros
Could not get in.

Cons
Disappointed.

Reply to this review

Was this review helpful? (3) (0)

Report this post Email this post Permalink to this post
1.0 stars

"boo, hiss, ***..."

March 4, 2011 | By turing8

Version: Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 17 Deluxe 17

Pros
So far nothing. Would give negative stars if I could.

Cons
Won't install on XP or Vista, the installer goes through the motions and then tells you to register. What a bunch of crap.

Summary
This prog is BS. 380 MB worth of total BS, do not DL this it is just frustrating. And I really don't need this aggravation. I imagine that you don't either, so save yourself the trouble and try something else. Truth be told I registered here at CNET just to comment on this load of horse-hockey. That is a sign of how useless this file is. DON"T DOWNLOAD THIS. IT IS UTTER CRAP.

Reply to this review

Was this review helpful? (2) (0)

Report this post Email this post Permalink to this post
5.0 stars

"its an amazing learning fun game."

February 25, 2011 | By cheeseballs59

Version: Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 17 Deluxe 17

Pros
its spectacular and you cant never play it or your missing all the excitment.its learning and fun at the same time

Cons
its good for kindergardeners up to sixtey four year olds and also if they have a sickness.

Summary
its just great at every point and its great for the children.its inspirational!

Reply to this review

Was this review helpful? (1) (0)

Report this post Email this post Permalink to this post

Results 1-10 of 122

Add Your Review

or Log in or create an account to post a review.

You are logged in as . Please submit your review for Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 17 Deluxe 17

Submit your reply

E-mail this review

Report offensive content

Full Specifications

General

Download Type:: CNET Installer Enabled

About CNET Installer

The CNET Download.com Installer is a tiny ad-supported stub installer or "download manager" that helps securely deliver your downloads from Download.com's servers. We also include offers for carefully screened software that complies with Download.com Software Policies as part of our Installer process. Learn more

Direct Download Link
Publisher: Broderbund
Publisher Web Site: http://www.broderbund.com/
Release Date: September 30, 2005
Date Added: September 30, 2005
Version: 17