5 comments about Merriam-Webster's Spanish-English Dictionary.

1. I just upgraded my Webster software to this version for WinXP. It's ok and does the job it's intended to perform. But I liked the previous versions that displayed both the definitions and the thesaurus in parallel panels. Just a matter of display preference, so it's not that important to every user.



2. This dictionary is not for the person who English is his second language. It does not have enough sentence examples to let you know how to use each entry word. In addtion, the micro doesn't work well with MS Word.



3. I received the product promptly. It was easy to load into the computer. As I writer, I find this resource very helpful. It is a dictionary and thesaurus rolled into one. The software is also easy to use.



4. I have a new computer iMac OS X 10.4.10 Tiger and my new Merriam-Webster Dictionary works great but let me give you a word of caution. After installation the audio word pronunciation feature did not work at first. I called the tech support and the lady there was very helpful and we got it working just fine. When installing this program be sure and select the option for the audio feature under the customized installation option. I'm not sure I can explain it right but it is there. I had read the Readme file before installation and it did not mention this at all. After you select Custom Installation look for an arrow to the left of the drop down menu options and double click the arrow and then click the box for audio. If all else fails, don't read the instructions because it is not there....do like I did and call Merriam-Webster's Tech support.......I like this Dictionary and I recommend it.....



5. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate is the standard for many of us in magazine and book editing. Beware, if you expect to receive an up-to-date rendition of it on disk. I bought the printed Eleventh Edition a couple of months ago, then bought the disk version earlier this week because I thought it would expedite my word checks while editing onscreen. For most needs, this certainly is ample (although I don't like the awkwardness imposed in switching between dictionary and thesaurus). Although the disk box claims it to be the "Eleventh Edition of America's #1 Dictionary," I believe it's four or five years out of date already. Certainly the printed Eleventh Edition which I received contains terms not yet included in this product. Quick test: Look up "blog" in the print edition; it's defined there, as you would expect from the latest version of any dictionary. See what happens when you type that word into your "new" disk version.
   
   [...]

5 comments about Rosetta Stone V3: Spanish (Spain), Level 1 & 2.

1. This product is sold as licensed software. Users will NOT be able to load it onto more than one computer. This aspect of the product is not clear from the blurbing on the Rosetta Stone website. It is a "single-user" product.
   Don't think that you can share this with friends, or that it is appropriate for a lending collection.



2. For the first time after many times,I think I will be able to learn Spanish. It is a great product.



3. The product is great. Easy to use interactive lessions. My 12 year old son love it. Customer support is terrible. It took over a week to get the product re-activated when my son's PC crashed. I sent Tech Support an email and I am still waiting for a reply. Finally called, spoke to someone who would not do anything till I emailed her a copy of the order. I emailed her the copy within 15 minutes. When I did not hear from her, I called again the next day and finally got the re-activation. So beware, if your PC crashed it will take a long time to get the product working again.



4. I had 2 years of high school spanish a couple decades ago! I live in a predominantly spanish speaking community (South Florida) and want to spend alot of time or possibly move to Cental America. I accidentaly ordered this instead of the Latin American version I wanted. I was very pleased with the way that customer service allowed me to return the opened product for a refund so I could then purchase the correct version for a small return fee. I have been using Rosetta Stone for several weeks now and it is definately helping. It seems to use the intuitive and immersion methods to help me learn. I don't feel like I remember a whole lot from the lessons, but as I keep progressing, I realize that the things I didn't think I really knew from a few lessons ago, I now have no trouble with. I think it will take about an hour a day for about 6 weeks to get through Level 1 and I guess the same to get through level 2. I have put a little more time than that in and am about 3/4 done with level 1. It is not a tedious program and I am excited about continuing, because I feel like I will soon be speaking pretty good. I have installed this on my desktop and on my laptop with no problem so unlike the previous review, I have had no trouble with multiple computer installations.



5. Wow, all of the reviews are going to tell you that this program is the s#$t. But why pay this much when I could be in a community college learning more for the same if not less price? Not only that, the lessons are (to create a word) stupidly short? How the h*&l am I to learn a language when the lessons are only teaching me nine different ways of saying "Esta es bocadillos?" What a waste of my hard earned money. Que es esto? Ohhh, s^&t I could have learned from my high-school spanish teacher, that's what.

5 comments about KidSpeak 6-in-1.

1. KidSpeak 6-in-1 is an awesome product for kids to have fun with and learn several languages(Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Hebrew). The animation is very fun and my kids really love this. I love the fact that my child will talk to me in a different language and I'm sure other parents would agree. When it comes down to it, Transparent Language did an awesome job with this software and I couldn't be more satisfied with it.



2. I bought this software on the recommendation of some software review site, and I must say my 9 year old daughter and I were disappointed. The graphics are sometimes hard to make out on the screen. (The animation altogether isn't very appealing at all, but that's not why I bought it . . . )And my daughter kept repeating, "But I want to learn sentences!" It's just an okay introduction if you want to learn the names of fruits and vegetables.



3. The idea and format aren't bad. I would have liked it if there had been a few more words to learn. Also, instead of learning animal names, which aren't very useful if you don't live on a farm, they should have included some simple sentences. A little more material or a little lower price would have increased my rating to 4 stars.



4. We were moving to Japan and I was looking for computer software to get my kids (age 11 and 8) started with basic words. This got high marks and included other languages so I bought it. We were very disappointed and the kids gave up on it. The problem is that it is difficult to understand the pronounciation of the words. The audio is just not clear.
   
   I later ordered Power Japanese, an adult software program, and we were much happier.



5. My review makes reference to the French language section ( I have not used the other ones)
   
   I have a 7 year old, who enjoys this software a lot. I love that the sound quality is very good, and the pronuncioation is perfect. There is plenty of vocabulary to practice. I think this is a really good complement to any language program.
   
   I believe that both,beginners and more advanced students 6-10 would enjoy and benefit from it.
   
   Featured vocabulary: numbers, colors, animals, days, months, weather, means of transportations, clothing, and more.
   
   Easy to use.

5 comments about Instant Immersion Spanish Deluxe v2.0 (old version).

1. I am sure they intended a great program but the software is very very difficult to navigate. Once you figure out how to use it, you learn well enough but I would not buy another one in this format. I had used other Instant immersion programs that were much simpler.



2. It appears to be a relatively standard foreign language program. Difficult to naviagate and requires many tries to become oriented. Spanish-English Dictionary requires a code number for installation, and no matter how many combinations of serial number, proof of purchase, etc., you may try none will work. Have to email maker for solution which interrupts any learning routine. It would seem resonable to offer an easy reference to whatever code is required for installation in an obvious place on the box.
   
   Program appears to be very comprehensive. I would prefer more CD-ROM's and fewer Audio CD's. The combination of four of each type disk makes for a confused schedule for learning.



3. I purchased version 2.0 of this program and immediately had numerous problems. As a learning tool it was not very useful with the default settings. When I tried to change them, I could not. After hours of trying to get help (as there was no manual included), I was finally able to contact tech help. Here is the email I received the next day:
   
   TOPICS Entertainment is a publisher of third-party software applications and distributes software on behalf of the software developer. We make every effort to select titles to distribute that provide an excellent choice for the consumer. The programs that the developers created are more complex and have more features than what we contracted to publish. That is why some advanced features are disabled. The full programs can be purchased directly from the developers, but most of the time they are more expensive. We try to maximize the value that you get, while keeping the price of the product as low as possible.
   
   Those instructions to enable Free-To-Roam Mode and the other advanced options are valid only for the original Deluxe series, not the Deluxe 2.0. Unfortunately I do not have instructions on how to change those settings on Deluxe 2.0 (if possible).



4. this is a good program for PC. no reason to waste time with Rosetta stone. truth be told, learning a new language requires ready, WRITING, listening, repeat drills, etc......any program you buy for PC will end up being a re-enforcement tool and refresher but I seriously doubt any computer program will be the "END ALL" of what you need. Barrons mastering Spanish would be the best study(its boring but effective)



5. I am reviewing version 2.0 of this package, but I am sure that many of the same problems are present in version 3.0. I certainly would not even think of buying version 3.0 to see if it has improved. In addition, I am specifically reviewing the "Talk To Me" series of discs and the included Spanish-English dictionary software. I am not reviewing the audio CDs, in part because I haven't really made use of them, and in part because, no matter how good they might be, they simply cannot save the 1-star rating I must give this package. The software is the star of the show anyway, right?
   
   And boy is the software terrible. The only reason I could make any use of it at all is that I already know a good deal of basic Spanish. If you do not know any Spanish yet, this product will NOT help you in the least. There are NO vocabulary or grammar explanations. The only way you can learn is by watching/listening to the dialogue (and optionally asking for translations) and doing really, really lame activities like crossword puzzles and word searches that won't teach you anything at all. That might not sound so bad if the questions for these puzzles were questions phrased in Spanish, but unfortunately it's much more inane than that: the word is simply read aloud and you have to type it in or find it in the word search. Nothing to it. Yawn.
   
   In addition, the translations can sometimes be misleading, although I don't think this actually happens very often. For example, "¿Qué te parece si nos tratamos de tú?" is translated as "How about if we call each other by our first names?" This would be a fine translation if you were translating a book, but it's not a very good translation for a lesson, because the sentence has nothing at all to do with first names. The sentence actually means, "How about we call each other 'tú'"? That is, "How about we address each other using the informal pronoun?" Of course, the program never discusses the distinction between formal and informal speech in the first place, and it would be impossible for a student to pick up on it merely through this "immersion" method.
   
   And that's the fundamental flaw of the software. Immersion doesn't work... not like this. You can't learn Spanish solely by watching TV in Spanish, and neither can you learn it just by interacting with a program in Spanish. If you want to learn by immersion, you still need the fundamentals, fundamentals which are sorely lacking here.
   
   A big part of the software is speech recognition. This is one of the better parts of the software, since every language learner needs to practice speech, and a computer is a good way to practice speech if there are no native speakers around. After all, you can't really practice speech well with a book, and with a CD you can't proceed at your own pace. And the computer can listen to you and tell you if you're pronouncing it right! Well... almost. It's terrible at it. It will very often accept very bad pronunciations -- even deliberate and obvious ones -- and sometimes reject good ones. There are occasional (thankfully rare) sentences where it's almost IMPOSSIBLE to get the computer to accept your sentence, no matter if you're saying it exactly the same as the original, to the point that I wonder if they adequately tested every sentence.
   
   Getting a score of "100% complete, 100% correct" is tricky, too. There are these dialogue sections that take the form of multiple-choice questions where none of the answers are right or wrong, they just give the product some semblance of interactivity. That's OK, although, again, it's rather useless unless you can already understand what they're saying. The problem is that sometimes the conversation takes slightly different paths depending on your answers, so you have to go back and find the parts you might have missed. That's pointless and annoying. Nevertheless, I did make it to 100% complete and correct on the Beginner Spanish CD. I popped in the Intermediate CD and prayed that it's better. It's not. It's exactly the same, just with different lessons.
   
   In short, there is nothing the program gets right. Nothing. I think I've only bothered with it as long as I have because, apparently, I am masochistic.
   
   And, as everybody else has complained, yes, the box has a map of Mexico on the cover, while the Talk To Me program is entirely European Spanish. Of course, European Spanish isn't so different that it wouldn't be useful in Latin America, but it sucks that the dialect is misrepresented this way.
   
   The dictionary itself is decent, but nothing remarkable. However, the dictionary's software is horrible and I can say without exaggeration that I could have written a better program myself. There are all sorts of problems such as occasional dead-end links, links that don't go quite where they should, and so on. There are quirks such as, if you type a word incompletely and then pause, it will try to look it up anyway, which I usually find disruptive. It seems that they didn't do their homework, either, since the software proudly displays it's a "Español-Inglès" dictionary on the toolbar. The problem is that it should be "inglés", not "inglès"; Spanish doesn't even use grave accents. Although that is a minor quibble and doesn't hinder the program's usefulness, I think it perfectly exemplifies the sort of incompetence that is displayed here. View the dictionary software as the small bonus that it is. There are free dictionaries online that are almost as good anyway.
   
   I've written a lot, probably too much, in this review. But it can all be summarized in one word:
   
   Avoid.

5 comments about Eazyspeak Spanish Levels 1 and 2 (PC & Mac).

1. My daughter loves Sims so I got this to help her improve her Spanish. It is fun to play for adults, too. The complete immersion method is more effective for learning a new language.



2. the software freezes up on your computer and once you get it running... the lessons are so boring.
   
   You follow a cartoon character around and he says things in spanish but it would be better if he said it in english then spanish.
   
   I can't figure out some of the graphics so I have to translate what the character says to english just to figure out what is going on.



3. This is a good little program that can help you speak basic Spanish, but not by itself. While it does a good job teaching phrases and vocabulary, it's "immersion" approach means you should arm yourself with a good Spanish/English dictionary. It would also be a good idea to get a book and use them in concert.



4. very entertaining. The pictures and voices make this a fun way to brush up on your Spanish speaking skills. Some knowledge of the language is much needed though. You have to know some basics or be near to someone that does.



5. I'm very disappointed in this product. I'm a homeschooler who wanted her children to learn a second language. Little did I know navigating through this program you would need a computer class just to figure it out. We've had this for over a month & although we did figure out how to use it eventually I don't think the program was worth all the hassle.

5 comments about Rosetta Stone V3: Spanish (Spain), Level 1, 2 & 3.

1. I assumed (incorrectly) that this was the same item as sold on the Rosetta website, but for 49.00 cheaper. It is not. It does not include the audio companion, which was one of the main reasons I purchased due to long commutes.
   
   I had to call Rosetta Stone (cannot order seperately on-line, must go through sales via phone) and paid $55.00 for it. I therefore spent more with Amazon, not less as they advertise (they are doing a price comparison with Rosetta Stone, but not comparing the same products!) and had to wait several weeks and go through a lot of trouble just to get what I could have gotten for less with an actual guarantee through the website. Don't buy from Amazon - go through Rosetta Stone!



2. Great program. Does not thrust one into conversational Spanish as many other tutorials do. RosettaStone starts at a very basic level as a young child learns language and then progresses from there. After many years of trying books, recordings, and other computer programs, am finally learning Spanish with RosettaStone.



3. I have taken a couple Spanish classes at the high school and college level. For the amount of money you will pay for a three credit hour Spanish class at a junior college or university, which is about $400.00, you should decided to invest in this program instead. This program is worth every penny that you spend to purchase it. I have learned more using this program, and faster, than any other class or program I have been in. I have even used "Speed Spanish" by National Dynamics, which is a good program too, but not as good as Rosetta Stone. You do learn how to conjugate in the present, past and future. You learn tons of vocabulary words and yes, you learn some conversational skills too. However, it is complete up to you to leave your comfort zone and practice it in the real world. I use it every day with other employees in my office that are fluent in Spanish. You need to find ways to immerse yourself in the language even though you may live in a country that does not use the native tongue you are learning. Take a chance on Rosetta Stone, you will not regret it.



4. I received this product promptly, everything was there. There were headphones/microphones with it. The product appeared to be new. Great product.



5. I actually got the Latin American version, but have really enjoyed using it. It is not boring and I look forward to the time I have to use it.

5 comments about Berlitz Spanish Premier (Win/Mac).

1. I was quite disappointed with this product, and had it not been for the price after rebate, I would have certainly returned it. For a beginner, this program can easily be overwhelming, especially in the most important feature which is the "immersion environment." The speech pronunciation guide is a farce. I had a native of Puerto Rico listen to the female voice and she said unequivocally that it was terrible. The program gave my native speaker friend poor pronunciation grades--even when she tried over and over again. Much of the program is not intuitive. The details are not worked out well. An example is the bookmark feature which supposedly allows you to start back where you would like. No--you have to go through each and every bookmark you've made before getting to the last bookmark--and you can't name the bookmarks. I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. I'm still struggling with it, but it is painful.



2. You have to read a long manual before you can figure out how to use this Berlitz Spanish program on computer. I got so frustrated that I went out and bought a Spanish book.
   The only thing I like about the Berlitz program is the flash cards.



3. I decided to give this product a shot before I bought something more expensive, but I wish I'd just gone ahead and committed to something more serious. As a learning environment, this product is scattershot and poorly put together. I kept looking for the "start here" button -- while the box trumpets the several ways to learn, there's just no easy way into the language. The software is supposedly an immersion environment for beginners, but it starts with lengthy dialogues and short sentences rather than the simple phrases you need to learn when you're an absolute beginner. The software also doesn't resize at all, so the software screen just looked tiny on my large monitor. The iPod vocabulary is pretty good, but it's missing a lot of things --it includes "sister-in-law", but not "mother", and only has three seasons. The stand-alone flash card program is good for what it is, but it uses that same limited vocabulary. I belatedly found that the box comes with a copy of Spanish Guaranteed, an all-audio CD program, and while it seems like a decent course, it's the only part of the package in Castilian Spanish.
   
   This software might help someone who needs a brush-up on first year Spanish, but if you're looking for a quick course so you don't feel lost when you step off the plane, there are many options that are much better. I also found many free online resources that did a better job, including one that gave me the proper pronunciation of that missing season, el otoño.



4. Berlitz Spanish Premier (Win/Mac)
   Actually, I don't know if I like this software or not. It won't open on my MacBook. No advice on the trouble shooting page and no answer to my email request for technical help. Mac user be very wary.



5. clunky, not mac friendly, poor vocab, fake "total immersion" (basically just people having brainless conversations that are too fast for beginners and too insipid for intermediaries). Berlitz has a really bad reputation and it's easy to see why when you receive this kind of product in the mail.
   
   I work in a school where we receive dozens of products to sample every month.
   
   Berlitz (aside from the really old editions, from the 1950's) is always the worst.

5 comments about Rosetta Stone V3: Portuguese, Level 1, 2 & 3.

1. This product is sold as licensed software. Users will NOT be able to load it onto more than one computer. This aspect of the product is not clear from the blurbing on the Rosetta Stone website. It is a "single-user" product.
   Don't think that you can share this with friends, or that it is appropriate for a lending collection.



2. Version 3 of Rosetta Stone allows for installation on two computers, unlike the previous version which require the CD-ROM to be inserted for use. That said, from a licensing standpoint I believe it is still only for use by one individual and should not be lent!



3. Excellent product, working with it is addictive and fun. Cost is too high for only two licenses.



4. I have not used other products like this so I have no way to compare it to similar products. However, and I very impressed with how easy it is to use, and the quality of the instruction. One of the best features is if you don't understand something you can go back and review it. New information comes out you so fast sometimes I had to go back and review some things a few time to understand the correct meaning and the word usage. But the program allows for that. I recommend this product.



5. I highly recommend this software to anyonewho wants to learn another language fast! I was able to hold a simple conversation in Portugeuse in under 6 months without studying every day. I use it only once a week now just to keep it fresh in my mind.
   Using this program, to me, was more effective than having a teacher.

3 comments about Rosetta Stone V3: Spanish (Spain), Level 1.

1. This product is sold as licensed software. Users will NOT be able to load it onto more than one computer. This aspect of the product is not clear from the blurbing on the Rosetta Stone website. It is a "single-user" product.
   Don't think that you can share this with friends, or that it is appropriate for a lending collection.



2. I assume it is a great product. I had never order with Amazon. Although I was quite satisfied with how speedy the product arrived.
   Also I was amazed at how easy it was to place the order, pricing and availablilty of the product. In the future I hope to use Amazon again.



3. My husband and I bought this set hoping to learn enough Spanish to 'get around' Barcelona during our vacation. I had several years of Spanish in high school, but my husband had none (he took two years of French).
   
   This program uses a nice combination of visual learning through pictures, spelling / grammar and pronunciation via the spoken word. Very effective. It seems to intuitively cycle difficult words / phrases back into your learning activities to give you more practice, which is great.
   
   You can set the degree of difficulty you want the program to grade your pronunciation on, depending on your level of comfort and past experience with the language. You can use your own computer's microphone, or the headset they provide. You can choose a 'male' or 'female' voice for recognition, to further customize your experience. The technology itself is smooth and easily navigable.
   
   As someone who has a 'little' background in Spanish, some of this Level 1 is a bit of a review, but learning it in a new way is making it less repetetive and dull. The lessons move quickly, as well. Would recommend for true beginners.

No comments about Instant Immersion Spanish v3.0.