Software Reviews: DreamWorks Madagascar from ActiVision and Kidview Computer Explorer: Kid-Easy Operating System from Hoopah LLC

Cyber News and Reviews is a monthly column published since 1995 for parents, teachers and small business and home business owners offering articles on some of the best computer products available. I cover business software, education, entertainment with freeware and shareware, and some hardware too. Over the years, I've reviewed computer programs from Microsoft, Knowledge Adventure (Davidson) and others. When my kids were young, they couldn't wait for the software to arrive and have fun testing the games and lessons with me. And, in the past few years they've contributed some of their own reviews with opinions. The best advice on software is from the children who use it. Also, many of the business programs reviewed are useful for home business and small business owners. HB

DreamWorks Madagascar from ActiVision and Kidview Computer Explorer: Kid-Easy Operating System from Hoopah LLC

By Howard Berenbon

DreamWorks Madagascar from ActiVision

Kidview Computer Explorer: Kid-Easy Operating System from Hoopah LLC

If you're a parent and worry that your child is going to access inappropriate content on the Internet, then you need this new tool and computer environment from Hoopah LLC. Kidview Computer Explorer: Kid-Easy Operating System is an innovative computer program designed to offer kids ages 2 to 10 a safe and friendly Internet environment for any PC compatible computer.

The program is customizable and offers a kid-friendly browser, a database of Web content categorized by age and topic, Kid-Easy E-mail and a picture-driven menu for kids that can't yet read. It also includes a list of online games and educational content easily accessible from the desktop.

This program is designed to help kids safely enjoy the Internet while freeing parents from the worry involved with leaving kids unsupervised on the Internet. And parents will love this feature: you can set computer and online limits. Now that's a great tool to include.

Kidview Computer Explorer: Kid-Easy Operating System sells for $39.95 and will run on any multimedia PC, Pentium 166 MHz or faster, 32 MB RAM with Windows 98/ME/2000/XP and a 4x CD-ROM drive. For more information, or to order, visit Amazon.com.

DreamWorks Madagascar from ActiVision

If you loved the DreamWorks movie of the same name, then you and your kids will love entering the world of Madagascar and interacting with some of the funniest animated Central Park Zoo animals you'll ever meet. Of course, you'll need the top of the line 3D graphics card to make this game work, but if you have the correct computer hardware, you'll have a blast. This is a 3D graphics full-featured video game with music, sounds and lots of action and fun.

You'll meet Marty the zebra, Alex the lion, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo as you move through the streets of New York City and journey across the ocean to the island of Madagascar. Once you arrive, you will have to survive in the wild, but you'll get help from some local Lemurs. By the way, it all starts out when Marty wants to leave the zoo, and gets help from the friendly Penguins. This is a fun game with great graphics and sounds. Where else could you see animals running down the streets of Manhattan.

The game is made up of several chapters beginning with the King of New York, displayed on a map. Each time you complete a chapter a new area of the map is unlocked so you can enter and explore. They include New York Street Chase, Penguin Mutiny, Mysterious Jungle (on the island of Madagascar), Save the Lemurs, Jungle Banquet, Back to the Beach, Marty to the Rescue and the Final Battle.

DreamWorks Madagascar from ActiVision sells for $18.99 and will run on any multimedia PC, Pentium III 800 MHz or faster, 256 MB RAM with Windows 98/ME/2000/XP, a 3D hardware accelerator card and a quad speed CD-ROM drive. For more information, or to order, visit Amazon.com.

Software Companies Mentioned

AcTiVision, Incorporated
3100 Ocean Park Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Phone: 310-255-2000
URL http://www.activision.com

Hoopah LLC
11585 Jones Bridge Road
Suite 420-166
Alpharetta, GA 30022
Phone: 404-455-6791
URL http://windows4kids.com

Business Software Reviewed & Educational Software Reviews since 1995 - Anti-spyware and virus detection and protection programs