Learn to type: Best typing tutor software for your Mac
From simplistic to platinum, here are four tools designed to teach the beginner and help an expert polish his chops. Or, if you’re just looking to have some fun, treat yourself to a game or three or 10 while sprucing up your data input skills.
When it comes to typing tutors, one name not only stands out, it owns this market — and for good reason. When you purchase the “deluxe” version, you get hundreds of practice sessions and a dozen games, which is more than its closest competitor (Ten Thumbs) for less money (see below). Both apps can track your progress and grade your performance.
So, there’s really only one choice then, right?
Actually, because Mavis Beacon is so dominant, Broderbund (the app’s publisher) apparently doesn’t feel the need to offer a demo or trial version, which is something the fine folks at Ten Thumbs do. Also, they offer a legacy version for Classic Mac OS, which is something to crow about in the NeXT era since Apple started naming iterations of their operating system after cats.
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 20 (no demo)
— $19.99 deluxe, $29.99 platinum (2 more games, 95 additional practice sessions), same prices for download or CD
— 12+ games, 325+ practice sessions
— Versions for Windows, Mac OS XTen Thumbs Typing Tutor 4.7 (36.4MB)
— 10-day free trial, $25.95 download, $34.95 on CD
— Only two games
— Versions for Windows, Mac OS X, Classic Mac OSTypingWeb, (web only interface)
— TypingWeb Typing Tutor for iPhone & iPod Touch
— Doesn’t require registration, but nags you to anyway1.1MB
— Freeware, one simple game that helps to improve speed
The dark horse here is TypingWeb, which is a web-only typing tutor. The caveat is that it’s not software — it’s something much worse and much less, Flash. If you can stomach Flash, then perhaps the only other word you need to hear is “free,” because that’s how much it costs.
Further, they’ve even created a version for iPhone and iPod touch users (ie not Flash).
Conclusions
The testers employed for this write up — my eight-year-old twins — stepped right into and used both Mavis and Ten with little prompting or assistance. Further, they really liked the games and could demonstrate immediate learning.
Of course, being eight-year-olds they much preferred the title, Broderbund’s, with more games.
And, TypingWeb? Even eight-year-olds prefer real software.
Mavis Beacon is dominant and she has earned her place in the world — more games, more practice, lower price. Still, as noted, Ten Thumbs has its charms and is the only realistic choice for Mac Classic users.
How did you learn to type? Seat of the pants or something more formal? Share a story and link below…
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June 3rd, 2009
OMG dude — the word is “dominant”, not “dominate”. PLEASE correct your text.
“Mavis Beacon is so dominate”
June 3rd, 2009
Master Key from macmind.com hands down the best typing tutorial app
June 3rd, 2009
The correct URL for Master Key:
http://macinmind.com/?pid=2&progid=2&subpid=1
Thanks for the tip nonetheless!
June 16th, 2009
I use the typingweb one and love it! Would be cool if it didn’t ask you to register so much though
- Kratos