This remains an outstanding trip planning and GPS program. Unfortunately, some of the map details are still not as good as were found in the 2004 version of this program. I can't understand why MS would dumb down their product. Also, the street names seem to have been dumbed down as well. For example, Golden Eagle Ferry Road has been reduced to Ferry Road. There are innumerable examples of this dumbing down and simplifying which only serves to confuse.
Despite the dumbing down of the actual map data the program remains a superb mapping program with many updates since the 2004 and 2005 versions. New streets, restaurants and other points of interest are now incorporated. This program offers a truly affordable GPS guidance system for nearly all consumers without having to go to the expensive Garmin or Magellan systems. If you find yourself traveling to points unknown I cannot imagine a better more affordable solution for getting around than this product in conjunction with your notebook computer. Even if you have an "all in one" solution such as the Garmin Nuvi Streets and Trips can help you plan your trip and routs. I have both and they compliment one another very well.
A few comments about the Streets and Trips mapping software. I am familiar with the Delorme product and the Garmin product and Streets and Trips blows them both away - no contest. Instantaneous panning, zooming in and zooming out, outstanding routing software, and a plethora of other features makes Streets and Trips, by far, my favorite mapping software.
I heartily recommend this product! The updated mapping details and new points of interest are also useful. Microsoft Streets and Trips 2007 [OLD VERSION]
Microsoft provides users with the fastest, sleekest consumer map software with Streets and Trips. As such, I have been a fan of Streets and Trips since the 2002 version. Unfortunately, Streets and Trips is merely a slight improvement over its predecessor, Streets and Trips 2006, and still has most of the key problems.
There is no question there are several benefits to Streets and Trips over online "free" applications with their invasive advertising, sluggishness and reliance on an Internet connection. Resident map data addresses all of these annoyances and gives the user more control. Putting that particular debate aside, Streets and Trips 2007 does suffer from a lack of connectivity in its inability to update core grid data and point-of-interest data over the Internet.
As I mentioned in my review of S&T 2006, Google Earth is setting the stage in the consumer map world. While Satellite photos do little for trip planning, Google does a nice job of locally caching large amounts of data from a remote server. The Streets and Trips development team must do the inverse of this. Most of the data should be resident on the local computer with dynamic integration from a variety of remote sources.
Dynamic updates can serve many purposes. The most straightforward is correcting inaccurate road information and updating core data as new roads are constructed. Secondly, there is a great deal of POI (point of interest) data that could be updated continuously. Lastly, if Microsoft promoted a comprehensive ecosystem, various government and private entities could provide plug-ins for Streets and Trips. At the current time, this ecosystem does not exist.
The lack of real-time connectivity leads to other shortcomings. In essence, Streets and Trips creates static maps. This precludes the implementation of real-time traffic or weather. Sadly, Microsoft has lost out on so many other value-added features that are provided by Google Earth, Yahoo Maps, and the Weather Channel online.
Oddly, key problems in its management of basic street data persist. For example, it can't properly interpret hyphenated street addresses in the boroughs of New York. Of course, it is impossible for a single user to error check the entire database, so I am curious what other errors exist.
Like most map programs, Streets and Trips is automobile-centric. This means that it interprets one-way streets literally. While great for drivers, it doesn't help for walking. Moreover, there is no interpretation of public transit systems where users would walk to a subway or train stop, board, and walk to a destination.
Shortcomings aside, Streets and Trips 2007 is still a very useful consumer mapping tool. After you become accustom to the application, you will find yourself using it for the most mundane trips. It is very fast and easy to use - perfect last-minute errand planning. In the larger context, however, Microsoft does need to update its Streets and Trips business model to provide users with the same features they have grown accustom to with web-based applications. Only then with Microsoft have a killer app.
Pros
Fast
Ease of use
Exceptional clarity in maps and interface
No advertisements
First connectivity steps with Windows Live
Cons
Can't properly interpret hyphenated addresses
No export of point-of-interest data
No integration with 3rd party data
No real-time traffic
Won't print to larger formats (can't print to legal or tabloid)
Not enough control during printing (fonts and streets)
Not fully integrated with Office applications
First of all, I like the product. It works reliably - and that's more than you can say about some other MS products.
Picky points:
1. To use the GPS navigator, you must click one more time - to agree that you will not sue MS if you screw up your driving. Yeah, yeah. Well, once would have been quite sufficient.
2. Construction updates: Huh? Completely useless. Example - in California, heading on Hwy 89 from Lassen to Mt. Shasta, the road has been under serious construction (new bridges, etc) for years. Yet, nothing is noted when the latest construction info is downloaded.
3. Distances to turns are usually correct. However, on I-15 in Utah, the exit numbers are 3 or 4 miles too far north. I can understand this on smaller roads, but on I-15?
4. Off-route: the program should be a little more reasonable. I'm on the road around the rim of Crater Lake, and for whatever reason (probably a bad fix from the GPS), my track appears to veer off into space, and a voice warns me, "Off route". Huh? Hey, I'm on the only road....
5. Once in a while the program directs you to roads that existed, but no longer are correct. You must carry an up-to-date atlas and check your planned route.
6. No indication is given for road surfaces. Sometimes the program will direct you to roads that are gravel. That might be okay for you, but I'm pulling a trailer, and I don't go well on gravel.
7. The program shows you your elevation, but in tiny type. No provision is made for increasing the size. Another point - it would be really handy to have the program show you an elevation profile of your planned route.
Some terrific things:
1. Your actual speed is shown in big numbers. Very good - my truck has extra-large tires, and my speedometer reads 12% BELOW the real speed. Good way to get a ticket.
2. Map orientation is selectable. Wonderful.
3. Painless integration with the GPS unit. Plug it in, away you go.
4. It's surprisingly quick to note that you're off route. It's strange when you pull into a rest stop, and the program advises you that you're off route, but it's REALLY useful when you make a wrong turn in the city - got 50 feet and you'll get warned. This is very useful so that you can make a quick correction at the next block.
One funny thing: the program is prone to give you completely useless intructions: "in 14.3 miles, continue straight" Ha ha. But then when you come to a confusing intersection, no comment. Oh, well.
Summary: for about $100 including the GPS unit, this product is very, very, good. I've used it to plan my routes and find places for 10,000 miles, and it's been a faithful companion - not perfect, but a pretty good navigator. - Cartography - Maps - Gps - Streets And Trips'
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