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A good way to learn touch-typing

CentipeedCentipeed Registered User regular
edited September 2008 in Help / Advice Forum
I can touch-type in the sense that I can write speedily without looking at my keyboard, but it was all self-taught so my finger placement and whatnot aren't exactly ideal. I'd like to learn to touch type "properly", and I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a good, but freely available tool that would allow me to learn well.

Centipeed on

Posts

  • RUNN1NGMANRUNN1NGMAN Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Mavis Beacon? You can probably find it for $5 in some discount software bin. Looks like it's $19.99 on the Broderbund website.

    RUNN1NGMAN on
  • RhavenRhaven Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Mario Teaches Typing! I can't vouch for this download working or not, but this was a fun program that I used back in the day. Aside from that a couple of data entry jobs did it for me.

    http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/987/Mario+Teaches+Typing.html

    Hmm, not sure if it was ok for me to post that link or not, given the quasi-legality of "abandonware". It was more for that site's info/screenshots on the game but if it's not cool then please let me know and I'll remove it.

    Rhaven on
  • KalTorakKalTorak One way or another, they all end up in the Undercity.Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    I've heard "Typing of the Dead" (i might have the name wrong) is fun... zombie-shooter + typing game. No idea where to find it tho.

    KalTorak on
  • ErandusErandus Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Once you start bulding some skills with the typing tutor program of your choice, start MUDding or something. Seriously. I was around 30wpm when I finished highschool keyboarding classes, and then got hooked on MUDding where the faster you typed, the longer you lived. In 2-3 months I was up to 90wpm or so.

    Alternately, online chatting, or WoW type games. Something that makes you type off the top of your head for great length. You don't just learn to type 60+wpm. You learn to type and then keep doing it endlessly until you get faster.

    Erandus on
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  • Sir CarcassSir Carcass I have been shown the end of my world Round Rock, TXRegistered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Erandus wrote: »
    Once you start bulding some skills with the typing tutor program of your choice, start MUDding or something. Seriously. I was around 30wpm when I finished highschool keyboarding classes, and then got hooked on MUDding where the faster you typed, the longer you lived. In 2-3 months I was up to 90wpm or so.

    Alternately, online chatting, or WoW type games. Something that makes you type off the top of your head for great length. You don't just learn to type 60+wpm. You learn to type and then keep doing it endlessly until you get faster.

    Yeah, MUDs are where my speed took off after keyboarding class.

    Sir Carcass on
  • NeadenNeaden Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Rhaven wrote: »
    Mario Teaches Typing! I can't vouch for this download working or not, but this was a fun program that I used back in the day. Aside from that a couple of data entry jobs did it for me.

    http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/987/Mario+Teaches+Typing.html

    Man this is what I came in here to mention. Mario Teaches Typing is what I thank today for being able to type well.

    Neaden on
  • George Fornby GrillGeorge Fornby Grill ...Like Clockwork Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Erandus wrote: »
    Once you start bulding some skills with the typing tutor program of your choice, start MUDding or something. Seriously. I was around 30wpm when I finished highschool keyboarding classes, and then got hooked on MUDding where the faster you typed, the longer you lived. In 2-3 months I was up to 90wpm or so.

    Alternately, online chatting, or WoW type games. Something that makes you type off the top of your head for great length. You don't just learn to type 60+wpm. You learn to type and then keep doing it endlessly until you get faster.

    Yeah, I was doing like 30 WPM before I started on MMOs, now I can get 70+ WPM if I try.

    George Fornby Grill on
  • INeedNoSaltINeedNoSalt with blood on my teeth Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Is there a problem inherent to not having ideal finger position?

    I learned to touch type on my own and I think I've got pretty respectable WPM with like no idea how normal finger position is supposed to look.

    INeedNoSalt on
  • Psychotic OnePsychotic One The Lord of No Pants Parts UnknownRegistered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Neaden wrote: »
    Rhaven wrote: »
    Mario Teaches Typing! I can't vouch for this download working or not, but this was a fun program that I used back in the day. Aside from that a couple of data entry jobs did it for me.

    http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/987/Mario+Teaches+Typing.html

    Man this is what I came in here to mention. Mario Teaches Typing is what I thank today for being able to type well.

    Thirded....this taught me to type in middle school. So helpful and fun

    Psychotic One on
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  • noir_bloodnoir_blood Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Erandus wrote: »
    Once you start bulding some skills with the typing tutor program of your choice, start MUDding or something. Seriously. I was around 30wpm when I finished highschool keyboarding classes, and then got hooked on MUDding where the faster you typed, the longer you lived. In 2-3 months I was up to 90wpm or so.

    Alternately, online chatting, or WoW type games. Something that makes you type off the top of your head for great length. You don't just learn to type 60+wpm. You learn to type and then keep doing it endlessly until you get faster.


    Oh god. MUDding. I remember at first cheating and having some general macro actions, but soon enough I just started typing the actions themselves. Like you, I can type a pretty consistent 90wpm now thanks to that.

    noir_blood on
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  • DeathPrawnDeathPrawn Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Typing of the Dead is the way to go. I used to be a fairly speedy hunt-and-pecker (tee hee, I said 'pecker'), but TotD made me into a full fledged touch-typing speed demon. I wasn't even playing it to get better at typing, just because it's fun and incredibly ridiculous.

    DeathPrawn on
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