I just found this at the Daltaí discussion forum–
http://www.daltai.com/discus/messages/20/33453.html?1210704588
“For anybody who wants to sample the Irish language version of this product, you can call their customer service department at 888-232-9245 and ask for an Irish language demo version. They’ll then mail you a CD containing the first lesson.
Why they don’t do this online is beyond me, as they used to, but there you have it. (Also, be prepared for a bit of a hard sell… “it comes with an unconditional money-back offer, why not just buy it?”, you get the drift.)”
Oooh! Cool! 
Apparently there are those rare individuals who can simply “pick up” another language, but then there are all the rest of us, or so it seems.
So, for the rest of us, there generally are two, commonly available language acquisition methods, aka, the easy, and the difficult.
The easy method teaches how to mimic, without any understanding of how a language works, to then leave a student clueless as to how to go further.
Worse, the easy method generally also leaves a student completely unprepared to understand any question(s) they may be asked.
A phrase book, or the easy method, is about worthless, but could come in quite handy for temporary purposes, such as a vacation, etc.
The difficult method, however, teaches vocabulary, grammar, and syntax, to then leave a student prepared to “use” the language.
The Rosetta method does not say just what is covered in any of their materials, and, frankly, that’s not good, at least not at the price they ask.
I’d suggest beginning with a quality grammar, in English, which invariably also leaves a student with a useful “starter” vocabulary, and some syntax.
These days, a quality grammar, in English, could cost ~ $50 to $75, or so, provided that grammar is available, depending on the language of interest.
YMMV. 
Cork, I think you just nailed why I’m uncomfortable with Rosetta. I think it could be a useful supplement, but without a written explanation of the grammar, I have trouble laying it into the mental matrix.
I’m guessing, here, but perhaps for many individuals a foreign language ability could be but a dream, not that dreams need be a bad thing, BTW.
Unfortunately, however, it seems that more than one publisher has discovered how to tap such a lucrative audience.
I didn’t mean to single out Rosetta, for there indeed are others, but at that price level (!), I just had to speak out.
Fortunately, however, there are numerous other, quality sources, and to learn another language, one simply need not pay big money.
After all, in learning another language, the real payment comes in terms of time, effort and dedication.
BTW, and for reasons, it’s possible these days to find low cost instruction in more than a few, less than common languages, globally.
For me, the best method is…well, methodical. I started with “Teach Yourself Irish,” which is organized much like a high school foreign language text (teaching you grammar and vocabulary as you go along). As my foundation in grammar got more solid and my vocabulary more extensive, I started using what I had whenever possible (including blogging in Irish, attempting simple translations at IGTF, etc.). I’ve also done a TON of listening (with TG4 and Raidió na Gaeltachta available on-line, that’s gotten easier in recent years). Unfortunately, my opportunities to speak are few and far between, with the result that I read Irish and understand spoken Irish on a much higher level than I speak it.
That’s the place where computer modules and recorded learning methods can come in handy…though, as I’ve said, there are some that are considerably less expensive than Rosetta Stone (you can get “Learn Irish Now,” for example, for $69, or the EuroTalk packages for around $30) Right now I’m working a lot with “Teach Yourself Irish Conversation” (about $29), which is a series of question and response lessons geared to help you get used to actually speaking in the language, in preparation for my time in the Gaeltacht this summer.
What seems to be the case, at least with Irish (which does have particularly complex grammar rules!) is a combination: A good book method to help you develop a strong foundation in grammar, syntax and vocabulary; coupled with some kind of computer method that exercises your comprehension and response skills. This is all assuming you can’t find a teacher, which, for Irish at least (and especially on the west coast) is not particularly easy.
Redwolf
Possibly one feature of Rosetta that makes it so expensive is the computer monitor, where you speak into a mic and it corrects your pronunciation. I don’t see anything approaching that in a $50 tutor. That may speak to Redwolf’s concerns somewhat. Personally, I can’t afford to shell out that much on something so peripheral to the music, but that’s just for me, of course.
djm
Most of the computer modules have voice recognition software that does something similar…comparing your pronunciation to the speaker’s and “rewarding” you as you get closer.
Another thing I’d be interested in learning is which dialect does it teach? I haven’t seen anything on that yet. There can be significant differences in pronunciation and word usage between, say, Ulster and Munster.
Redwolf
By what you have said, Redwolf, and I speak as one who has studied several languages, it seems as though you are well on the way, congratulations!
I don’t speak Irish, other than maybe a word or two. My father’s parents spoke a Hebridean dialect, of the island of Lewis, but my father, who came by ship to the US at a very young age, apparently knew little of that language, and I know about nothing.
By all and any means, however, keep it up!
Apparently “Irish” has suffered a fate similar to so many other languages around the world, it having, more for reasons of the survival of its people, been dominated by another language, in this case English, where in other cases it has been Russian, French, Chinese, Spanish, and other such dominant languages.
Yes, apparently “Irish” originally consisted of at least a few, different dialects, traces of which no doubt remain. However, within recent decades, it seems that the government of Ireland has made some efforts to consolidate these dialects, and has established a common, “Irish” language, which apparently is being taught in schools, currently. Moreover, around the world, a similar process seems to occur, as apparently within nations various regional dialects currently are being supplanted by a “universal” national language, for instance, and as an early example, perhaps High German, as the language of German government, education, business, media and communications, could represent a “synthetic” language which incorporates features of various German dialects, yet which originates as the “mother” tongue of nobody but the young, who learned it in school.
Again, this consolidation apparently is ongoing, around the world, not to mention those languages which are being altogether wiped out, no kidding!
So, in regard to “Irish”, and given the pressure such less common languages and their dialects appear to be under, perhaps it could be better to focus on the “mainstream” version, which may be something less than “authentic”, but apparently that’s what’s currently being taught to the next generation, and while remnants of regional dialects may well remain, perhaps learning the “standard” language could be a better strategy, in the long run.
I think you’ll find it is not so simple as you put it with Irish at the moment Cork. Rosetta stone in particular refused to put out an Irish module for a long time because there is no very solid standard and they couldn’t figure out which to produce. Each Gaeltacht has its own dialect - munster irish and that of the North being reasonably (whatever that means) different in pronunciation and idiom.
Rosetta stone’s technique of teaching is different from that of most language systems. They try to sort of immerse you. I quite enjoyed some of the lessons that tried on line back when that was up. Whether it works though (probably better for some than others) I can’t vouch for. It is what they use for crash courses for military and foreign service I believe.
Ah, perhaps I didn’t understand what you meant by traces. Apologies if not.
@ bepoq
I suspect that we are at least fairly close in our interpretation of this matter.
For instance, given that a “foreign” language producer, such as Rosetta in this instance, could offer a language study product to clients which likely have no previous experience with whatever language, and given that whatever target language could also have various regional dialects, then what else could a producer do but to offer a “generic” language course? That is, to present the whole of the language, including all dialects, perhaps could lead to client confusion?
For instance, apparently the government of Ireland itself currently supports such a “generic” language curriculum, in schools throughout Ireland.
That’s why I suspect that Rosetta, for instance, could offer but one “interpretation” of the “Irish” language for its clients.
Otherwise, I fully appreciate that regional language differences could exist, but my point has to do with the commercial presentation, of same.
As bepog said, with Irish, the standard is not firmly established. Also, it only applies to the written language…the standard makes no assertions about pronunciation at all. In reality, there are significant differences in pronunciation, word usage and idioms among the three main dialects (Ulster, Connacht and Munster).
For example, I have Ulster Irish, and if I want to say that something is good (tá sé go maith) I’d say “taa shay guh my,” whereas a person from Munster would say "taw shay go mah). If I want to say “ourselves,” I’d say “muid féin” (and pronounce it “mwij hayn”) whereas someone from Munster would say “sinn féin” (and pronounce it, roughly, “shin fayn”). If I want to greet you, I would say something like “cad é mar atá tú?,” whereas a person from Connacht would likely say “cén chaoi a bhfuil tú?” and the Munsterite would say “conas 'tá tú?”
For beginners, we generally encourage them not to worry about dialect unless they have a specific reason for wanting to learn one or the other, or unless their teacher favors a particular one…but eventually, they do kind of have to specialize.
Redwolf
OK, it’s my turn to back off, please. I don’t speak any of the Irish languages, and therefore I’m not in any position to speak about them.
However, I’m aware of a general, global consolidation of numerous, less populated languages, and especially of dialects, nation by nation.
Actually, I know a lot of people who support this position (and it would definitely make using learning products easier). I’ve heard Irish parents express frustration that their kids will have a teacher from one region one year and from another the next, with the result that the kids are never sure how to pronounce things or which expressions to use.
Sadly, there is a lot of resistance to the CO (Caighdeán Oifigiúil – the Official Standard) even as it stands for spelling and grammar. A shame, I think, and ultimately to the detriment of the language. Irish language radio and television has alleviated this to some extent, but whether it’s too little and too late remains to be seen.
A weak point of one of the newer products out there – Teach Yourself Irish Conversation – is that, in trying to include all dialects, it sets up a situation that would be very confusing to a beginner. In most of the conversations, they have people from different regions talking with one another, each using his or her regional pronunciation, but nowhere does the narrator point out the reasons for the differences. For the more advanced learner, who has had some exposure to the various dialects , it’s not a problem (the differences are rather like the differences between the English spoken in New York and the English spoken in Texas…if you know one, you can generally follow the other without much trouble), but I would think a beginner would be baffled.
Anyway, that’s why I’m curious as to what dialect Rosetta Stone is using. Back when I first started learning, I bought a product that turned out to be geared solely toward Munster Irish, which wouldn’t have been a problem if not for the fact that most of the people I know personally who speak Irish, including my teacher, are from Ulster, so I had focused my learning on that dialect. The product (Pimsleur) didn’t say anywhere on the packaging or in the reviews that it was geared toward a particular dialect, so I didn’t discover it until I listened to the first few lessons and, baffled, asked someone "what’s “Gaeluinn”? (one of the Munster words for what I call “Gaeilge”). If I were considering buying Rosetta Stone (I’m not, but for those who are), that’s something I would definitely ask about.
Redwolf
Hey Red, how about this - you get the free sample, find out what dialect it is, and then give it to me in June?
Don’t think I’d have time for the CD to arrive before heading off. We’re only what…two weeks out, or thereabouts. 
Hard to believe it’s coming up so soon! I’m in the final push of making sure that Tony and Johanna are prepared for nearly four weeks without me!
Redwolf
I believe it’s the Munster dialect because supposedly that’s the easiest one to learn. But I did read it on one of the sites that it’s that dialect.
That there could be a “lot” of such resistance seems to be a good sign, as were there only a “little” resistance, then perhaps there wouldn’t be much left to save!
I wouldn’t say that Munster is any easier to learn than the others. In fact, in some ways, it’s more complicated (it preserves some genitives that the other two have lost). Funny what people will come up with!
They do need to make that obvious to purchasers, though. People often have very strong, personal, reasons for choosing a particular dialect (for example, if great- great- granddaddy came from Donegal or Mayo or Kerry).
Redwolf