Typing Master Express Review

I first tried Typing Master Express only for the typing test; I was curious as to where my typing speed was these days, but sure that it wouldn't have anything else to offer me.

Well, I'm pleased to admit I was wrong. Although Typing Master Express seems like a great tool for any beginner, it also boasts a handful of features that anyone—even a professional typist—can benefit from, like the "Special Marks" course, geared specifically towards mastering those few special characters we rarely use and always hunt for. As a freelance writer, time is money, and typing speed is time; the extra moments gained from those few keys alone have easily paid back the less than $20 that the program cost.

Typing Test

First, the typing test. You choose the duration: Choose "Free" to type only for as long as it takes you to type the full piece, or set the timer for 2, 5, 10, 20, or 30 minutes. (The text will repeat if you finish the entire piece before your time is up.) They have 20 writing samples to choose from, with titles ranging from "Aesop's fables" to "Yosemite National Park."

One feature that really makes Typing Master Express stand out is the ability to use any text file on your hard drive for the typing test. Forget Aesop and Yosemite; instead, I can use pieces from my actual day-to-day job to gauge my typing abilities (which currently clock in at 94wpm) most accurately.

The test goes smoothly for the most part, and allows you a second or two to fix mistakes before preventing you from going back. However, once you finish typing the last word on the screen, it takes a second for the next section to appear, which can be disorienting and may hurt your speed slightly.

I was a bit put off by their referring to my printed typing test results as a "diploma," as though I had somehow returned to high school in the course of the last two minutes. Thankfully, instead of the gaudy certificate replete with oversized pixilated ribbons that I was expecting, the results page is simple and professional: just the pertinent information written in plain black and white text. You could attach this to most any resume and still be able to look a prospective employer in the eye.

Courses

Typing Master Express offers six different courses, each with a set number of lessons. You can take any or every course, and in any order. Work for as long as you like, or set the lesson duration to 25, 35, or 45 minutes.

Courses include:

• Complete Typing Course (13 lessons)
  
• Complete Typing Course, Symmetrical (12 lessons)
  
• Numeric Keypad (3 lessons)
  
• Refresher Course (8 lessons)
  
• Special Marks (4 lessons)
  
• Typing Training for Typists (2 lessons)

Review

As you use the program, whether just for a typing test or for one or more courses, it will keep track of the keys which you mistype most often. Under the "Review" section, you can see a chart of your "difficult keys" and be given the chance to practice them via a keyboard exercise, test exercise, or game. Depending on your level of difficulty, the program may or may not recommend a review. In lieu of reviewing your problem keys, you can also practice the keys you most recently learned (pre-defined) or specify the key(s) you want to work on yourself.

Games

There are four games within Typing Master, each with its own list of top ten highest scores at the end.

• In "Bubbles," individual characters appear within bubbles, floating towards the top of the screen. Press the correct key before the character makes it to the top to score points. This is great for familiarizing yourself with the keyboard layout.
  
• In "ABC," the entire alphabet appears in a row. Type it as fast as you can, in order, to win. Harder than it sounds!
  
• In "Wordtris," a word appears and begins falling towards the bottom of the screen. Type it correctly before it hits the ground to score points. Choose from: studied keys, animals, cars, countries, names, or numbers.
  
• In "Clouds," a word appears underneath a moving cloud. Type it correctly before it floats off the opposite side of the screen to score points.

ProTrainer Satellite

Perhaps the most useful feature of Typing Master Express is the ProTrainer Satellite. Once you "launch" the satellite (by clicking a button within the program), it will monitor your typing within any Windows program and store the results. Go about your computer usage as normal, sending emails and typing documents; then return to Typing Master Express periodically to get customized reviews to help you firm up your weakest areas.

Even though I'm already a good typist, I was surprised to learn that I made an error 11% of the time when attempting to type an uppercase "E." I then completed a few typing exercises and games focusing on it, and now "E" has dropped completely off my list of difficult keys.

The Nitty-Gritty

The program keeps a running history of your typing tests and results right on the main screen, so you can review your progress with a simple flick of an arrow key. You can print the results of any individual test at any time. Additionally, Typing Master Express tracks the total number of minutes spent "studying" (i.e. a two-minute typing test would count as two minutes of study time) and the total number of usages (each time the program is opened).

Overall, the interface is extremely intuitive and easy-to-use. It's also small enough to work in without needing to be full-screen; this allows you to keep an eye on any other important programs (like work email) running in the background. Sound effects are minimal and can be silenced through the "Settings" tab. You can also toggle between WPM (Words Per Minute) and CPM (Characters Per Minute); between regular and large font; and/or between 33 different keyboard layouts, including many foreign languages. (However, the exercises are only available in English.)