Rating: 
Summary: Don't buy Advantage Middle School 2004 -Encore softerware!!
Review: I purchased it, I'm going to return it tomorrow.If you just purchase it, you probably want to return it. (Check out their Math CD quiz, it is mix up, they give out wrong answers, how that help your kids learn anything from them?) After I purchased Advantage Middle School 2004 for my brother who is in 6th grade, I tried on the software to test out, especially on the Math CD that included in the package. I already FOUND 4 of the quiz multiple choice questions' answers do not match with the real answer, for example: when you click for your answer, let's say: "B", the software will tell you, "you answer is wrong, the correct answer should be "C"," so you click on the solution they provided at the bottom of your screen to find out why, they give out the solution to the question, the answer is, let's say: 3/4, which is the multiple choice "B", not "C". IT DOESN'T MATCH, they give out Wrong information. And ONE OF THE QUESTION HAS TOTALLY THE WRONG SOLUTION. I'm very mad when I find out about this. I called the customer service, they say it is a technical problem, they want me to call their tech person, I didn't call yet, which I don't think it is something they can help me over the phone. But the important thing is: ON THE FRONT OF THE SOFTWARE PACKAGE says:"already sold one million copies." My god! There's probably one million kids out there using their software for study. What do you think as a parent or guardian? What should we do about this? Is there anyone knows how to stop them from selling this software? Or recall the product? I'm sure there's lot of people do not know about this yet!
Rating: 
Summary: So far, so good !
Review: I originally had reservations on purchasing software. I spoke with a few people at the local electronic retailers and was told that the software should work in my system. I purchased a Dell Dimension 4600, about 2 months ago. 512 RAM, XP Standard. when i launch the program i get an error message that it is unable to find some kind of local file, but this does not seem to hinder my use. I need to brush up on my Math, so that I can prepare for the 1st Actuarial Exam. I will start at Pre-Alg, and work my way up to the Calculus, then I will rely on books by Howard Anton. I do not have time to enroll in a class either online or in person, so I am hoping the software will help rebuild the necessary foundation to continue further. I was able to knock out the Pre-Alg and Alg 1 in one day. ran thru the tutorial, and did the quiz and examinations for both and no problems with running. I will give another review when i have completed Calculus. keeping my fingers crossed.
Rating: 
Summary: Math DIS-Advantage?
Review: The earlier review about how "8-bit" this software seems, is right on the mark. I bought Math Advantage to try to learn the math I had missed in school... and I am finding the whole experience of using this software slow and frustrating. What may be salvagable to me is to use M.A. as a starting point for further exploring, on the web and elsewhere. Such that, when I get to a point where the convoluted and seemingly "wrong" lessons bring me to a point of frustration, I can then go to the web and search on whatever the lesson is trying to teach and hopefully get clarification. Having now spent the money and having had the motivation in the first place to learn what I had missed, perhaps I can salvage some knowledge from actually using Math Advantage 2004 (which is unchanged since 2002, if not earlier) - but this product is in serious need of a makeover and modernization to compliment the abilities of today's computer operating systems.
Rating:
Summary: Can't run software on a computer with 1GB memory
Review: I have the same problem on a computer running Windows 2000 with 1GB memory. The software won't start and gives me the error message "Director Player 6.0 - This program requires at least 3MB of free virtual memory to run". I know there is more than 3MB of free virtual memory on my computer. I tried different virtual memory setting and found that setting virtual memory to 128MB would cause the software to run. It is obvious that the software has mis-calculated the available virtual memory. It interprets virtual memory > 1GB as less than 3MB virtual memory. I have sent email to the technical support at Encore and are waiting for their reply. I share the previous reader's opinion that setting the virtual memory to a lower setting is not an acceptable solution. However, after I started the program, I like the interface and graphic. The software is better than "Mind Power Math Middle School" from the Learning Company. I also like that it has a game where you can test your skill. I will write an update after I receive a reply from Encore.
Rating:
Summary: Not Recommended
Review: If this program can confuse X and Y intercepts I can only imagine what else may be wrong with it. I just purchased this for my son today, but will be returning it tomorrow. He has a placement test in 2 weeks and I don't want him to blow it because of this faulty software.
Rating:
Summary: It's Great!!
Review: I have the Elementary Advantage, and I'm about to go into Middle School Advantage. I find these programs are excellent. I am a homeschooling parent, and the Elementary Advantage suite have done a great job in assisting me with teaching my child. I've learned a lot myself. My son is about to enter middle school grades, and as I explore the the Middle School Advantage suite, I marvel at how well its put together. I have not run into answers that are wrong as was the claim of one reviewer. But, that does not bother me because you will find wrong answers in educational books written by the best educators. I focus on the how well I am taught the subject. If I can catch the wrong answers then I was taught well. I paid only $24.99 for each suite. I also have a Dell Dimension 4600, and the programs run fine. For all those having a problem running the program. You better get a Dell, Dude! For the money, IT'S GREAT!
Rating:
Summary: Just some comment
Review: I just have some comment about the previous couple of posts. I actually donot have this software but find this page through google on "Director Player 6.0 3MB of free virtual memory" for a possible fix on a different product. I think direct player is a macromedia product and they didn't get updated for calculating GB correctly. Here is the url http://www.truenorthentertainment.com/html/flytying/fly_support.htm Macromedia probably should patch this up. It's not very responsible to ask another person to fix the problem when it is really yours.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: My kids hate it. What more is there to say? The software is kind of a hodge-podge of different lessons and programs, most of which are pretty dull and uninspiring for an interactive environment. There is no continuity at all from one disk to the next, either in content, presentation, or by learning style. The whole package looks dated and old. I've seen better programs available for free on the Internet. This was an impulse purchase for me and I feel like I've wasted {$$$}. They say the product is guaranteed -- we'll see, as I plan on trying to get my money back.
Rating:
Summary: Does not work with XP Professional!!!
Review: Beware, this software is not compatible with Microsoft XP Professional Edition and the Encore Software website does not provide any troubleshooting information for it in their Knowledge Database... Forty Dollars down the drain!
Rating: 
Summary: No Technical Problems Here, But Title is Still Underwhelming
Review: You know how a lot of games out there are just recycled stuff from the 8-bit days, only with better graphics? This software would have been quite adequate back in the 8-bit days, but in the 21st Century it adds absolutely nothing new to the experience...it's straightforward, which may sound like a postitive characteristic, but so is one of them dry, old texts still in circulation in our run-down inner-city public schools...the games are fairly interesting, but the remaining little bit of "multimedia" is disappointing, nothing imaginative at all...generally speaking, I do not recommend this product -- it's worth only $15 at most. One last note: I have not had any technical difficulties on my WinXP Home laptop. The installation was a little strange (each subject [i.e., algebra, trig, etc.] had to be installed separately), but so far ("so far" because I don't know how much of this boredom I can take -- again, it's just slightly better than rummaging through a textbook and workbook on your own) everything runs fine, if not interestingly so...I do hope they think out of the box for next year's edition: due to a lack of space, I can't go into details, but there is a much better, more interesting, and ultimately much more enlightening way of presenting and teaching mathematics than this, which seems like a straightforward "port" out of some textbook, almost like the kind of generic, unimaginative, half-baked stuff one might find on a CD included in some texts these days, to cash in on the "multimedia 'bug'"....
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