Customer Rating: 
Summary: Just Finished the Entire RSV3:Spanish Level 1
Comment: First some specs:
~Rosetta Stone Languages V3 are divided into Levels, then Units, then Lessons, then Exercises, and finally Activites like this:
3 Levels > 4 Units each Level > 4 Lessons each Unit with 1 Milestone > 3-17 Activities each Lesson > 9-40 Exercises per Activity (LOTS of practice)
~A Milestone is a conversation simulation that's supposed to test your knowledge of each unit's material
When I first started the Rosetta Stone Spanish program I was ecstatic that I was doing so well from the very beginning. I took this as a sign that me and Rosetta would have a wonderful, lasting relationship. However, I was wrong, and our relationship fizzled out once the initial sparks wore off.
Yes, I did learn a lot of vocabulary words that would help me in the real world ("I want to pay in cash," "The sweater size is too big/expensive"). And it is great that they throw Milestones at the end of each Unit to test your comprehension. This is where I realized that this relationship wasn't destined to work and here's why:
1. There were weak connections between what was being said and what was happening in the picture as you get further into the program, consequently, as the language became more complex. Nearing the end of the Unit 4 I 'kinda' knew what the picture was saying, but didn't have a firm grasp of it.
2. Sad to say, but the milestones are a joke. In the very last milestone of Level 1 (Unit 4 Lesson 4) there were 20 cues for you to say the 'right' thing. Of those 20 there were 8 spots used for phrases like: "hola," "de nada," "gracias," "buenas tardes," and "buenos dias." This far into the program, I don't want to test easy material, but more in depth material; and, to reserve that many slots for easy phrases is inexcusable when trying to master a foreign language.
3. Material is fun and easy, at first, but get's very boring and repetitive. I realize what is necessary to learn a language and I have painstakingly tried to continue on, but with such a redundant script, what motivation does this program give me over a course at the community college?
So as you can see, I fell for Rosetta's glamorous praise from the likes of Michael Phelps and other Olympians, but alas, twas merely infatuation. She offered me a great way to learn vocabulary and some grammar, but I don't have a clue how to apply it to real life. So I am moving on and have found another love (whom I have studied and researched):
Her name is Fluenz. Though a fairly recent start-up company, you can see the passion in their program to TEACH you (and me) Spanish, the ingenuity, and the commitment to each language. Try Fluenz's demo, you'll fall in love, I did!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Rosetta on Vista... so far... just a nightmare!
Comment: I just got our Rosetta Stone today. I am on my third attempt to load it on Vista. I cannot get it to run and of course Rosetta Stone is closed as I am on the West Coast.
I have read other comments and counter comments. Is it Vista? Is it Rosetta Stone?
I truly don't know. What I do know is I just spent almost $300.00 for a program that won't run.
I can buy damn near anything on the freakin' planet for a computer for $300.00 and it will run.
But not Rosetta Stone.
Misrepresentation. Lack of warning. Lack of customer support. Lack of web based information. (Just go ahead and check out their "FAQ's"... like me you will ask yourself for the kinda of money they are making, they can't sort their FAQ's a little better?)
I think the program may be good. I might never find out at the rate they are going. But this is a very bad beginning.
Rosetta Stone... get your act together. This simply shouldn't happen.
Customer Rating:
Summary: One of the best in foreign language instruction!
Comment: I had an excellent Spanish class for two years in high school and was well-equipped in grammer and sentence structure. Basically, I could read and write Spanish. But as with most foreign-language classes, I did not speak Spanish very often and once I went to college I forgot most of what I learned. But then along came Rosetta Stone! After completing 3/4 of the first Level, I am happy to say that this is an excellent product! I love the interactive style of learning, it is fun, and the Spanish spoken in this course is very similar to the Spanish spoken in places like Guatemala (which I visited over the summer). WEAKNESSES: Is a little difficult if you have never even looked at Spanish before, does not explain grammatical rules. STRENGTHS: Emphasizes speaking, entertaining, user-friendly, and practical.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Rosetta Stone Spanish - Latin America
Comment: Well structured with repetition yet variety. The photos are excellent and interesting. Recommend doing a lesson daily for best results.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Un-Ending Tech Problems
Comment: I bought levels 1,2 and 3 assuming that, based on the price, it must be great software. Well, I like the software, but it has TERRIBLE and CONTINUOUS TECH problems. The software will work for awhile; the tech dept is only open mon-fri until 7 pm...so by the time I can get home from work and call them at 6, I wait for 10 to 20 minutes to get an answer, and then the techs have NOT been able to solve my problem in the 40 to 50 minutes remaining. So then they tell me to call back and ask for a Senior Tech person, but then when I finally DO have time to call back on a week-night, they will not let me talk to a senior tech....YIKES! so the Jr. techs (nice people, at least) have me uninstall my software and then re-install the software, but then I can't re-activate it because it's already been activated, and it's another dept that I have to call back on yet another day to scold me because I'm again re-activating the software that I paid over $400 for. They sort of treat me like I'm trying to steal their software each time I have to get it re-activated YET AGAIN! I've never in my life had such a protective and nasty software program. I WISH I could get my money back...so don't buy this unless you plan to put only on ONE computer, not VISTA and are yourself a master computer tech who can make long phone calls to Rosetta Stone during the days Mon through Friday.
Summary: Just Finished the Entire RSV3:Spanish Level 1
Comment: First some specs:
~Rosetta Stone Languages V3 are divided into Levels, then Units, then Lessons, then Exercises, and finally Activites like this:
3 Levels > 4 Units each Level > 4 Lessons each Unit with 1 Milestone > 3-17 Activities each Lesson > 9-40 Exercises per Activity (LOTS of practice)
~A Milestone is a conversation simulation that's supposed to test your knowledge of each unit's material
When I first started the Rosetta Stone Spanish program I was ecstatic that I was doing so well from the very beginning. I took this as a sign that me and Rosetta would have a wonderful, lasting relationship. However, I was wrong, and our relationship fizzled out once the initial sparks wore off.
Yes, I did learn a lot of vocabulary words that would help me in the real world ("I want to pay in cash," "The sweater size is too big/expensive"). And it is great that they throw Milestones at the end of each Unit to test your comprehension. This is where I realized that this relationship wasn't destined to work and here's why:
1. There were weak connections between what was being said and what was happening in the picture as you get further into the program, consequently, as the language became more complex. Nearing the end of the Unit 4 I 'kinda' knew what the picture was saying, but didn't have a firm grasp of it.
2. Sad to say, but the milestones are a joke. In the very last milestone of Level 1 (Unit 4 Lesson 4) there were 20 cues for you to say the 'right' thing. Of those 20 there were 8 spots used for phrases like: "hola," "de nada," "gracias," "buenas tardes," and "buenos dias." This far into the program, I don't want to test easy material, but more in depth material; and, to reserve that many slots for easy phrases is inexcusable when trying to master a foreign language.
3. Material is fun and easy, at first, but get's very boring and repetitive. I realize what is necessary to learn a language and I have painstakingly tried to continue on, but with such a redundant script, what motivation does this program give me over a course at the community college?
So as you can see, I fell for Rosetta's glamorous praise from the likes of Michael Phelps and other Olympians, but alas, twas merely infatuation. She offered me a great way to learn vocabulary and some grammar, but I don't have a clue how to apply it to real life. So I am moving on and have found another love (whom I have studied and researched):
Her name is Fluenz. Though a fairly recent start-up company, you can see the passion in their program to TEACH you (and me) Spanish, the ingenuity, and the commitment to each language. Try Fluenz's demo, you'll fall in love, I did!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Rosetta on Vista... so far... just a nightmare!
Comment: I just got our Rosetta Stone today. I am on my third attempt to load it on Vista. I cannot get it to run and of course Rosetta Stone is closed as I am on the West Coast.
I have read other comments and counter comments. Is it Vista? Is it Rosetta Stone?
I truly don't know. What I do know is I just spent almost $300.00 for a program that won't run.
I can buy damn near anything on the freakin' planet for a computer for $300.00 and it will run.
But not Rosetta Stone.
Misrepresentation. Lack of warning. Lack of customer support. Lack of web based information. (Just go ahead and check out their "FAQ's"... like me you will ask yourself for the kinda of money they are making, they can't sort their FAQ's a little better?)
I think the program may be good. I might never find out at the rate they are going. But this is a very bad beginning.
Rosetta Stone... get your act together. This simply shouldn't happen.
Customer Rating:
Summary: One of the best in foreign language instruction!
Comment: I had an excellent Spanish class for two years in high school and was well-equipped in grammer and sentence structure. Basically, I could read and write Spanish. But as with most foreign-language classes, I did not speak Spanish very often and once I went to college I forgot most of what I learned. But then along came Rosetta Stone! After completing 3/4 of the first Level, I am happy to say that this is an excellent product! I love the interactive style of learning, it is fun, and the Spanish spoken in this course is very similar to the Spanish spoken in places like Guatemala (which I visited over the summer). WEAKNESSES: Is a little difficult if you have never even looked at Spanish before, does not explain grammatical rules. STRENGTHS: Emphasizes speaking, entertaining, user-friendly, and practical.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Rosetta Stone Spanish - Latin America
Comment: Well structured with repetition yet variety. The photos are excellent and interesting. Recommend doing a lesson daily for best results.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Un-Ending Tech Problems
Comment: I bought levels 1,2 and 3 assuming that, based on the price, it must be great software. Well, I like the software, but it has TERRIBLE and CONTINUOUS TECH problems. The software will work for awhile; the tech dept is only open mon-fri until 7 pm...so by the time I can get home from work and call them at 6, I wait for 10 to 20 minutes to get an answer, and then the techs have NOT been able to solve my problem in the 40 to 50 minutes remaining. So then they tell me to call back and ask for a Senior Tech person, but then when I finally DO have time to call back on a week-night, they will not let me talk to a senior tech....YIKES! so the Jr. techs (nice people, at least) have me uninstall my software and then re-install the software, but then I can't re-activate it because it's already been activated, and it's another dept that I have to call back on yet another day to scold me because I'm again re-activating the software that I paid over $400 for. They sort of treat me like I'm trying to steal their software each time I have to get it re-activated YET AGAIN! I've never in my life had such a protective and nasty software program. I WISH I could get my money back...so don't buy this unless you plan to put only on ONE computer, not VISTA and are yourself a master computer tech who can make long phone calls to Rosetta Stone during the days Mon through Friday.