Rating: 
Summary: My 2-year old loves it
Review: We have this game for our 2-year old. She loves it. She has enjoyed disk 2 for a long time. It helps teach basic mouse skills. Disk 1 she has grown into as her mouse skills have improved. I strongly encourage for young children to a) buy a child's mouse and b) SLOW THAT MOUSE DOWN.
Rating: 
Summary: StrugglingMom
Review: Honestly, we've not put much time into actually using the program but won't be either. I have an "Advanced" 3rd Grader and she does not like this Game. The introduction to the game is very, very long and she looses interest. There appears to be no way around the introduction into areas that are "fun". There is also not an "Exit" or "Escape" route to shut off the constantally talking robot. We need quicker access to the "fun" so that we can actually learn something, and this game doesn't do that.
Rating: 
Summary: Can't see the letters!!
Review: I bought this software for my daughter a couple of years ago to learn typing because she really loved other Jumpstart programs. This one seems to be a lot of fun, but strangely, the letters on the screen are so tiny that it is really difficult to see them well enough to type with any rapidity. It's a pity because the program itself looks promising. If Jumpstart has fixed this bug, pls let me know ...
Rating: 
Summary: It isn't working on XP
Review: On the case it says it's compatable with XP, but I can not get it to work on my computer. QuickTime seems to be an issue. It's been very frustrating. It does work on windows 98, unfortunately the new computer are mostly XP now. The kids do like it, but I'm very dissappointed with the XP problem.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: Very disappointed with the educational value. So many rcade-style activities distract from skill building except for coordination skill and fine motor control. Also not very intuitive software even though it claims to have auto-help.
Rating: 
Summary: There's more to the product than just installing it
Review: All of the reviews of this product gripe about the installation. Not one person talks about the product once it is installed. Maybe it never works for them. I bought JumpStart Kindergarten and my 4 year old totally loves it. I had no problems at all installing it, and we don't have a "state of the art" computer for her. It is Windows 98 though. Anyway, the games and fundamental skills it teaches are really helping to prepare my daughter for kindergarten. She's learning better how to maneuver the mouse and do double clicks and learn patterns and listening skills. There's so much to do. We haven't even gotten through 1/3 of it yet. I also bought Jumpstart Toddlers when she was just under 2, and she absolutely loved it. It was her favorite game. All in all, I love their products. Have never called tech support and can understand the frustration at having bad help. It wouldn't deter me from buying this product though. Some of the products even come with a free video which my children cannot get enough of. They are educational and fun. My kids love to sing & dance to the Kindergarten video "Why did the bus stop".
Rating:
Summary: Only works with Win 98 and higher. Doesn't work with Win 95
Review: Based on product details listed above (says good for Platforms Win 95/ 98 / Me), I purchased this product. My daugther uses a Win 95 computer. I tried to install this product on the Win 95 computer and it said "Can't install, needs Win 98 or higher". I eventually ended up installing it on an Windows 2000 computer.
One of the primary reasons I went with this product was it is supposed to work with Win 95. But that is not the case !!!!.
Rating:
Summary: Great idea, lousy install & support
Review: I purchased this for my 2nd grade daughter to use on our Windows 98 computer. The install completes with a FileIORoot error, and fails to start up when you launch the program. I spoke to tech support, which was of ABSOLUTELY NO HELP! The answer I got was "We have over 80 products, and can't be expected to support them all." Great company, huh? I've installed other Jumpstart products in the past and haven't had too many issues. Tech support has always been their shortfall. The knowledgebase on their web site didn't even list this product. I'm sure others experienced the same install problem, yet a search on the specific error message returned nothing. I think it's time to look elsewhere for educational software, especially when you can't get help installing their product. Dean
Rating:
Summary: Software has problems with audio
Review: This looks like it could be a very beneficial product. It installed easily on Windows 2000 and some audio works- there is music playing and a rabbit that speaks, but when pointing or clicking on items in a room, the text pops up in spanish but there is no audio to pronounce the word. This is a problem unless the parent speaks spanish and intends to sit at the computer the entire time and pronounce the words for them. Tech support was prompt but not helpful. Product info doesn't list Windows 2000 as an operating system for this product, but it is listed on the cd itself.
Rating:
Summary: Pass on Jumpstart Typing
Review: The graphics are high quality, but the interface, navigation system, and strategy are horrible and non-intuitive. Also, it seems to teach more letter recognition than typing. And of course, like most Jumpstart products, it does not completely install to the hard drive, forcing you to use the CD every time, which after a few handlings by children, quickly becomes scratched.
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