Rating: 
Summary: Comparison to Jumpstart 3rd Grade
Review: Nobody has really compared this program to Jumpstart 3rd Grade, which features the same charactors, so I've decided to do it. Perhaps the best metaphore is that Jumpstart 3rd Grade is like a theatricaly released film and Jumpstart Typing is like a direct-to-video release. For one thing, there is no CGI animation in Jumpstart Typing, like there is in Jumpstart 3rd Grade. For another there is a lote less at stake in the plot. Jumpstart Typing isn't really like a prequel or a sequel, just a different adventure in the same world.The only recuring charactors are Prof. Spark, Polly and Botley. This is a bit disapointing that we don't see any other charactors from Jumpstart 3rd Grade, especially since we only meet one new charactor. Jumpstart Typing is set at Sparks Stadium like Jumpstart 3rd Grade is set at Mystery Mountain. Mystery Mountain is the Sparks' home. Sparks Stadium is the first stadium for interplanetary keyborad competition, though this seems to contradict with Botley's statement in Jumpstart 3rd Grade that Prof. Spark hasn't ever found any alien transmissions to decode. All the recuring charactors look like they do in Jumpstart 3rd, probably beecause they recycled animations from Jumpstart 3rd Grade, for instance, note that Botley's pose in the main stadium scene is exactly the same seen on the 2nd Floor of Mystery Mountain in Jumpstart 3rd Grade. However, new charactors look true to the animation in Jumpstart 3rd Grade. Overall, the charactor's personalities are true to Jumpstart 3rd Grade. Botley and Prof. Spark are entirly in charactor, but then again, Prof. Spark hardly appears in either. Polly is a bit out of charactor, she is nicer. One could atribute this to the fact that her father is at Sparks Stadium, though we don't see him 'till the end, rather than far away at some convention. However, she locks Coach Qwerty in the trophy room for the same reason she sends all those robots back in time. Acadamically, this is sort of Mavis Beacon for Kids and the is the setup is similar to Jumpstart 3rd Grade. However, though Jumpstart 3rd Grade is set rather fluidly, Jumpstart Typing's setup is rather convoluted. We take Lessons and Timed Typing Tests to fine "strength" to play the games, but to win we have take the Timed Typing Tests. Playing the games is useless, unless you want a bunch stupid medals! In conclution, this is game is fairly effective at teaching keyboarding, though better at teaching speed typing than the basics. However, it fails to capture the fun of Jumpstart 3rd Grade.
Rating:
Summary: great!
Review: Oh my! I learned to type so fast, it works so well!!! You are in a gym, and you have to rescue the coach. You get cards to unlock him from a little jail, and at the end you get a trophy. I'm about to get my trophy for my 2nd game. It takes a while, you learn to type, and its just lots of fun! You'll love this item!
Rating: 
Summary: Jumpstart is a waste of money
Review: The entire program can be "won" by holding down one key or rapidly typing anything. "Power cards are supposed to be earned by learning typing, but there is no system check to ensure children are even trying to hit the right keys during "timed tests." My school was cheated by purchasing a program that first graders learned how to circumvent.
Rating:
Summary: Lots of compatability problems
Review: This product never loaded properly. It depends on a very old version of Quicktime (2.x). With this version it still generates a DLL error. The newer Quicktime 5.0 version generates an unable-to-open window message. Old and new versions of Quicktime can't co-exist on my Win98SE system. The worst part was the tech. support, or lack of it. Spent hours on line (total over several days) and never talked to a human. I never hung up on the line, it always cut me off after 20 minutes or so. Very frustrating. This dependence on obsolete software and further lack of technical support means that I must recommend that you don't buy this product.
Rating:
Summary: Lots of compatability problems
Review: This product never loaded properly. It depends on a very old version of Quicktime (2.x). With this version it still generates a DLL error. The newer Quicktime 5.0 version generates an unable-to-open window message. Old and new versions of Quicktime can't co-exist on my Win98SE system. The worst part was the tech. support, or lack of it. Spent hours on line (total over several days) and never talked to a human. I never hung up on the line, it always cut me off after 20 minutes or so. Very frustrating. This dependence on obsolete software and further lack of technical support means that I must recommend that you don't buy this product.
Rating:
Summary: Defective Program
Review: This program displayed upside down on all three of our computers. Knowledge Adventure Customer Service was absolutely terrible -- basically nonexistent.
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