26 Weeks with Rosetta Stone: Week Zero -- The Unboxing.
Why devote a whole post just to opening a box?
It’s a tech blog tradition [so go bug them about it] and with a list price of $500, this sucker is a bit more expensive that 90% of all netbooks and smartphones — and there is quite a lot here.
And — If you were considering Rosetta Stone for your have-to-watch-anime-in-the-raw-as-soon-as-it’s-available-need (or whatever you need a foreign language for; go away kid, you’re bothering me) but balked at the price tag (who wouldn’t?) well, maybe it’d help if someone showed you exactly what you get for a half-grand.
As denoted by the image above: this is three levels of Rosetta Stone Japanese (not the level-one-only set they have for $250 bucks — this is the big ante.)
What you’ll find inside:
translation: buncha discs, cheap headset.
Back Cover, more ad copy —
Note: I didn’t pay $500 bucks (and these were actually $550 dollars like, last month) but I didn’t manage to save more than $50 off list price even with my ‘connections’ — Rosetta Stone is expensive. I could’ve saved up to $75 buying online, but in this case I chose to forgo the additional discount as we had a copy in the store and I could take it home Saturday night; no need to wait on UPS to ship it to me.
After cutting through the strategically placed clear packing tape, and navigating not one but two slip cases, we get to the inner sanctum of the software box.
And from there we discover Rosetta-chan likes tea, traditional Yukata, and extraneous packaging.
Stealthily fishing into Rosetta’s yukata, we can actually put our hands on the goods; in this case, the actual program, a smidge of documentation, and a whole lot of audio CDs:
First up is the actual, much vaunted, RS software itself: it looks like there is a base install CD, along with data CDs for each of the three levels (next week I’ll cover the installation process and first impressions; right now we’re still just opening up the box)
For each level of the program, there are 4 audio CDs:
[these are actually different images, one for each level of the program]
[each of these images is actually three times this size; open ‘em in a new tab to see some detail]
If one believes the ad copy on the back of the box, the audio CDs are meant to reinforce the Rosetta Stone computer lessons. We’ll be looking into that.
All the software and audio media comes with a user’s guide (which I haven’t read and probably won’t read) a quick start guide (which I haven’t read and might not read depending on how easy it is to install the software) and a sticker — a sticker one can place on one’s laptop to clarify to the general public that one isn’t crazy, one is merely trying to learn correct pronunciation of a foreign language using the clunky, provided USB headset
If one spends less than $500, I’m guessing you don’t get a $15 headset mic and you’re on your own for ye ol’ speech recognition functionality in Rosetta Stone [edit 12-Aug-09: see the comments, a Rosetta Stone employee assures us the headset comes in all RS packages, regardless of level] (I have a USB mic; I’ll verify if one needs the proprietary headset to use this feature) but as I’ve already bought the set — here it is:
So. 12 audio CDs, 4 data CDs, the headset, and assorted docs.
Rosetta Stone Japanese; levels 1, 2 , & 3 — trackball, laptop, manga, and beer not included —
And so the experiment begins; I’ll keep you posted.
Some things to note~
I’m a Rosetta Stone store manager and thought i’d comment on some of this..
~japanese levels 1-2-3 sell from us for $499. except when special offers are on.
~you said this was in stock in your store and I see a price tag on it. If you purchase our sets from someone other than us your return policy is limited to what that retailer’s return policy is, 2 weeks,1 month, whatever. From us you get a 6 month return policy for refunded materials.
~the headset we include is quality, not ‘clunky’ and they’re very comfortable for extended length wearing. Good for Skype internet telephone use also.
~the audio companion disks are cds you can play in a cd player,car, home..but they also include MP3s that can be put on an ipod for use at gym,walking, biking..where ever.
~the installation can be done twice..they give you 2 installations, so you can have it on two different computers (one at home, one at office or school or for travel) and can be used on a PC or Mac.
~i’ll be interested in following your progress with our system. You see to have an open mind as per expectations and i’m confident you’ll enjoy and learn with our program. Good luck and have fun!
Comment by Stephen — 12 August 2009, 18:55 #
@Stephen:
- indeed, the list price is $499. The store I bought it from offers a ‘member’ discount of 10% off — or $50, in this case — but no additional coupons, discounts, or other special offers apply.
- 6 months beats the royal s#!t out of this particular retailer’s return policy (14 days) — but of course I can’t return it at all now, since I opened it. ;)
- it’s good to know I can install it twice, as I hope to upgrade to a new laptop soon (would have been this month except I bought the Rosetta Stone software) and I will in fact need to install this twice
- and I’ll try to have an update each Monday morning, with my impressions on the program, the headset, my progress, and my frustrations with the Japanese language.
Comment by Matt Blind — 12 August 2009, 19:48 #
Hi, I’m also an employee at Rosetta Stone and will be watching you with interest on your progress.
As for the headset, it comes in all of our packages because what would we be if we didn’t give you all the necessary components even if you only bought Level 1?
And upgrading your computer? You can actually get that activation code back. Calling our tech support will help you through that to make sure it’s deactivated for another use.
This is going to be rather cool, I’ve never been able to actually follow along with anyone’s progress but my own. As I am also in the middle of Japanese, I’ll be curious to see how someone else does. Have fun!
Comment by Elizabeth — 12 August 2009, 20:14 #
@Elizabeth:
Thanks for the info on the upgrade/transfer issue. I don’t know that I’ll need a third install, but it’s nice to know you guys thought of that already, and are looking out for consumers in my kind of circumstances.
And thanks for the correction; I’ll edit the post to reflect that.
Comment by Matt Blind — 12 August 2009, 21:13 #
Having commented before on your Rosetta Stone adventure blog, feeling all good about contributing to a worthwile endevor, Rosetta Stone has THREATENED me/any RS employee
(ya know, if I WAS one, wink )
with TERMINATION for ‘representing them on any blog or website’…
so a word in the ear of any RS employee thinking about helping or correcting someone else’s incorrect information or, god forbid, helping to promote the product! They care about the product, just not their employees who sell it.
Sorry Matt…
Comment by disgruntled about RS — 21 August 2009, 16:22 #
wink wink nudge nudge.
I hope RS doesn’t object to me posting my thoughts about a product I paid $500 (ok, ok, just $450) for — that amount of cash does tend to give one a certain expectation of ownership over the item purchased. :)
Comment by Matt Blind — 21 August 2009, 19:14 #