Garfield Typing Pal Deluxe Description:

Garfield Typing Pal Deluxe review:
5 stars (Excellent product even for teenagers and adults) - My primary motivation for purchasing this particular product (vs. a competing product) was to have a typing-tutor program that would run under Windows XP with no problems, and I have indeed found this to be the case.



I had been concerned that the software might be too child-oriented and not appeal to my 18-year-old daughter or myself. Instead, we were pleasantly surprised and found the software to be both very educational and entertaining.



Accordingly, I strongly recommend this product.
5 stars (It will get you a great career.) - The program is really fun even though I didn't have much experience and I have only passed a few levels so far. There are fun games (but only two). Lots of stories and jokes about Garfield. You get to chose who will be your assistant - Odie, Garfield, or Arleena, Garfield's friend. They also give clear instructions. There are funny animated pictures, for example: surfing, step-dancing on a wall in the alley, and working in a cup-cake factory. I recommend this program, it's worth it, it helps a lot, and it gives you something to do when you don't have anything to do.
5 stars (Great program for learning "QWERTY" or Dvorak method) - I have tried a couple of other programs (Mavis B, Jumpstart), and this is the one my daughter (7) likes the best.



All of them will teach you to type in a couple of weeks, it's just a matter of which interface you prefer. My daughter loves this program so much, we have to pull her off it every time, or she won't stop "playing".



Another great feature I found by accident, is that if you switch the keyboard to "Dvorak" (under Control Panel), the program automatically detects this and adapts the lesson for this setup (also works for "Dvorak for left hand only" or "...right hand only").



Do a search on "Dvorak keyboard" and you will see more about it.



Basically, it's an alternative keyboard setup, available on all Operating Systems, that is supposed to "increase speed and accuracy, as well as being more ergonomic". Rumor is, the "qwerty" setup was designed to slow people down so they wouldn't jam the old typewriters. I've found many sites that claim this, but further research shows it was just to get letter pairs to strike from opposite directions, so they wouldn't jam.



Most people, while not finding this method faster, do find it less stressful on the hands, decreasing RSIs



I don't know if other programs adjust for "Dvorak" as well, but either way, "Garfield Typing Pal" is a great program for kids and adults, and I highly recommend it.