Bonzi Buddy: Turn On Computer, Let The Ape Appear, Right Click, Hit Close
Written: Dec 24 '00 (Updated Jun 29 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: will tell you how to say words
Cons: interrupts real work, distracting, stupid, annoying....
The Bottom Line: I thought purple dinosaurs on tv were annoying! Purple apes on a computer are worse!
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| naphtalia's Full Review: Bonzi Buddy |
The title of this review is what I do whenever I use the computer in the English room at the elementary school where I teach in Israel. Our Bonzi has been set up to help children with English. I don't know whose idea this was, but it doesn't work.
Bonzi surfs and swings in while the students are working, and across things that they are reading. This is very disturbing, especially to youngsters who are trying to learn to read. There is a nice function in which a child can type in a word and Buddy will say it back to them with the correct pronunciation - provided he knows the word or can work it out phonetically. For the children with whom I'm working, the majority of words will be there.
Bonzi also tells jokes and sings on command, or sometimes just because he wants to.
I don't find Bonzi useful. There are other programs that will say a word if it's typed in.
Most annoying to me is that Bonzi keeps coming on and telling me about updates on his page. I don't mind seeing these when I log on, but if I say I don't want to see them, I don't want more reminders coming up while I or my students are working on the computer.
I hope Bonzi wipes out on his surfboard or that the vine he swings on breaks. I hate this program! If it was up to me, I would get it off the computer in our English room. Unfortunately, it's not and so I just have to remember to turn him off before I let the kids get on.
If you want cute animals on your monitor, get e-sheep.
Recommended:
No
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naphtalia
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