3dGameMan …to the point news and reviews !

Multimedia dictionary, loaded with games, activities and content, gives kids fun-filled glimpse at words and English language!

Do you ever get the feeling that your students use the same words over and over again? Are there certain words your child finds hard to pronounce? Do your students grasp the real definition of words they read? Instead of dragging out any dictionary, try a classic multimedia dictionary for kids ages 7-12, and you may be surprised at the results!

American Heritage Children’s Dictionary can be used just like a conventional dictionary. Aside from the obvious difference (it takes less space in your classroom or home bookshelf because it’s a CD-ROM!), the greatest benefit to using this multimedia dictionary is the fun factor! (continue reading…)

I’ll admit it. I’m a sucker for software about rainforests. The Amazon Trail 3rd Edition: Rainforest Adventures is a big improvement over earlier editions. In fact, the 3D graphics are so realistic, I started feeling seasick navigating the canoe on the mighty Amazon River in search for secrets. Then again, I always get seasick!

Taking photos of exotic plants and animals is a breeze, however! Catching fish with harpoons is an activity that most kids enjoy–however, it’s not all fun and games. They’ll need to look up the fish species in the guidebook to determine if the fish is edible. (continue reading…)

Finally, a definitive Internet guide written for kids! Jean Armour Polly’s The Internet Kids & Family Yellow Pages, Second Edition IS all that!

This 576-page softcover book is nearly twice the size of the first edition with its topical content well-organized in alphabetical order. I consider this book a requirement for all kids who surf the Net, whether they’re at home or in school. It also is a great reference book which serves up a healthy menu of quality Internet resources for kids and families–easily accessible to newbies and intermediate users.

If you know a skeptical parent or two who believes the Internet is loaded with bad stuff or if you’d like to encourage your child’s teacher to become Net-savvy and blend more technology into the classroom, this book would be also be ideal. (continue reading…)

Apple’s Performa 6400 is a powerhouse of a computer. In fact, it may be a classic–since Apple recently announced it is discontinuing the Performa line. But the 6400 is not an ordinary Performa–it’s a tower of power with PowerPC muscle. And unlike most Performas, this system comes without a monitor, so you can select whatever size and resolution you wish. Our review model shipped with an Apple 15″ AV Display with integral stereo speakers, but what impressed us first was how the sound expanded to fill the room with the subwoofer system built into the 6400’s case. A convenient front volume control balances the subwoofer with whatever monitor or desktop speakers you may have and a headphone jack provides private listening. Either way, you’ll really enjoy the Performa 6400’s SRS 3D surround sound with its 16-bit, 44-kHz stereo output. (continue reading…)

Got a girlfriend who’s not wired? Get Women’s Wire Web Directory, a comprehensive book and CD-ROM filled with tons of informative Web sites with women in mind. This book won’t sit on anyone’s coffee table for long!

The 486-page book is no lightweight, either! It includes 15 chapters: Getting Started (a quickie intro on the World Wide Web, including Net culture and safety issues); sites on Mind and Body; Careers and Networking; Entertainment and Leisure (fun stuff); News, Politics and the Law (a little heavy, but informative!); Family (The REVIEW ZONE was somehow missed…maybe next edition?); Relationships (cyber-dating 101); Fashion and Beauty; Education; Personal Finance and Business (for all of you pencil-pushers!); Habitat (look out Martha Stewart!); Technology and the Internet (my favorite chapter!); Shopping (virtual malls, anyone?); Community and Social Service; and Search and Reference. (continue reading…)

Motorola’s StarMax 5000, a PowerPC-based 300 MHz clone, is wickedly fast. Never have I seen such lightning quick performances…whether inserting or ejecting a CD-ROM on its 16X SCSI CD-ROM drive or navigating Photoshop.

In fact, parting with this minitower system wasn’t easy. The StarMax 5000/300, equipped with the new Tanzania II motherboard, is a high performance player. You’ll want this computer on your side for multimedia, web design, desktop publishing and home/office applications. The 603e processor/300 MHz marriage seemed to be darned near perfect. (continue reading…)

I posted to Apple’s Evangelist, a great bunch of Mac users and enthusiasts, for comments on their personal experiences with the Apple iMac. I received over 100 letters and my thanks go out to the Evangelist for helping me with this feature.

Here’s what folks on the Evangelist had to say about Apple’s iMac. Most users seemed very positive about their iMacs, but some of them have experienced problems.

First, the positives:Todd Huettel, who works in a high school computer lab in Illinois, convinced his boss to buy four iMacs for the school computer lab. Todd says, “And I gotta tell you, they are a big hit. Whenever a class arrives at the lab, students always race to get to the iMacs first. 99 percent of the students think they’re cool (the other 1 percent think they’re a little too far out there for their tastes.” (continue reading…)

Watching kids use Motorola’s new Talk About SLK Two-Way Radios reminded me of the fun I had years ago with Citizen-Band (CB) Radios! Not only can you communicate (clearly) with your best buds, you can eavesdrop on other conversations and join in. How totally cool!

Unlike the big and bulky CB radios of the past or the boring-looking rectangular black walkie-talkies common to most geeky neighborhood kids, the TalkAbout SLKs are in a league of their own. Although, it’s obvious times have changed. (continue reading…)