Microsoft Streets and Trips 2007 [OLD VERSION] Reviews

• Still the Fastest Interface, Still the Same Problems

  
  By A33ZYFE8XMKKR1 on 2006-11-29
  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
  
  
  

• Still an excellent product!

  
  By A3IPSECQAUAT8V on 2006-10-22
  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.
  
  

• Good Product, some flaws

  
  By AJM73P9OHYQJ6 on 2006-10-25
  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.
  
  

• Disappointed, but few other options exist

  
  By A12B1L5DGPM9DG on 2006-12-04
  Re Microsoft Streets and Trips 2007:
  
  Think of a pretty house (easy to use, nice maps) with a rotting foundation (data errors, crashing, bad routing) and you'll understand why I'm conflicted about this product.
  
  My particular area of concern is the lack of POIs (points of interest). Most good systems will have from 3-7 million points. S&T 2006 had a meager 1.8 million points and generated many complaints because of it. So, what did Microsoft do for 2007? They actually REMOVED 600,000 points!! This is lunacy. Among other things, virtually all RV parks have been eliminated, making it useless for planning that type of trip. Many other points are still missing also, e.g. Wal-marts. My guess is that no one will pay what MS wants for inclusion in their precious map. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
  
  If something better came along, I'd dump this thing in a heartbeat. Problem is, all the others are worse. DeLorme has better data, but ugly maps and a weird home-grown user interface that's nothing like Windows or Mac standard. Rand McNally, etc. are not even in the same league. Online maps don't work too well when you're nowhere near suitable web access.
  
  The best map program ever is still the late lamented AAA Map&Go. I could literally plot a cross country road trip in five minutes with this great product. DeLorme dropped it years ago, it didn't match their arrogantly misguided ideas about user interface. If they ever brought it back, I'd be first in line.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Still stupid, still no NSEW after highway number

  
  By A1QSGYUODNYG9A on 2006-11-09
  Unlike most online maps including their own msn map, the 2007 version still doesn't put N,S,E,W after a highway number. Instead, they tell you where the roads lead to. Unless you are familar with a place, those city names don't give you much sense about direction, and it distracts your attention to the road to read the names on a road sign. Does it cost too much trouble to just put a letter after a number, like I95N?
  
  
• Bad map data spoils a good product
  By A3OBQQ7NCJ32KK on 2006-11-04
  I eagerly look forward to each new edition of Streets and Trips, having selected it as "best" some years ago. The 2007 edition has - unexplainedly - introduced bad map data near me. Specifically, there are "locked gate" PennDOT-only access and service plaza service roads being used for routing along the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the Philadelphia suburbs. Clearly this is bad map data in the 2007 edition. Anyone traveling through this area, beware, as the routes are impossible to follow.
  
  
• Much better GPS interface than Streets 2005
  By A30UVFB7RZ6239 on 2006-10-24
  I purchased a USB GPS reciever seperately earlier this year and had been using it with the 2005 version of the software. It worked good to let you know where you were on the map, but you really needed someone in the car to let you know what turns were up ahead. This version is much better in that it adds voice prompts and has a seperate window (driving guidance) which displays the upcoming turn direction and a status bar of how much further you have before the turn. I also like the GPS screen which quickly switches to a full map screen with a large driving guidance window on the bottom. From this screen, hit F3 to reroute from your current position, spacebar to repeat voice commands, and + and - to zoom in and out. No drag down menus needed. The night mode also makes it easier on the eyes as you glance at the screen in the car and then refocus on the road. Other than the much improved GPS interface, I haven't seen much difference between the 2005 and this version. Still, the GPS upgrade makes this worth every penny.
  
  
• No major updates since 2006. You'll need DVD drive to use.
  By A1PVC6VB7GA94P on 2006-10-22
  I've enjoyed using this program for several years now, to plan both business trips and family vacations. Very user-friendly, and also suffices as a great "poor man's GPS". The 2007 edition adds very few features, but does have updated maps.
  
  But be advised that you'll need a DVD player to install. My home PC is a few years old, with only a CD R/W (no DVD), so I could not install on my home PC at all. And yes, I purchased 2 copies of the software; one for home and one for work.
  
  
• Not what I was expecting
  By A33BB5JRQWSAU3 on 2007-03-18
  I've used MS Streets and Trips for years with minor problems. This year I upgraded to a Windows Vista Laptop and wanted the latest software for it. I have a GPS and I use a Pocket PC PDA so I need Pocket Streets.
  
  After I got home I read the fine print on the box. It list support for no higher than the Windows XP OS. But, so far the program is running fine on my Vista machine.
  
  The laptop has no serial COM ports and S&T 2007 won't detect a USB port. The description of S&T 2007 which includes a GPS indicates it uses a USB port but apparently it needs the included USB adaptor. I could not locate where I could purchase such an adapter.
  
  S&T 2007 no longer ships with Pocket Streets. Nor could I locate where I could download a copy. I can (for now) use my old Pocket Streets program because 2007 does EXPORT Pocket Street maps.
  
  Finally, within two miles of my home the map list an airport and runway that was shut down in the early 90's. The main highway a few blocks from me has only 3 exits in 2 miles yet S&T 2007 list over a dozen intersections which means when I get directions I always end up down a dead-end road.
  
  I've purchase many versions of Streets and Trips and this is the first time I felt I've wasted my money. Open software can't be returned from where I purchased it. I guess I'll have to start researching other software packages.
  
  
  
  
• Works Great
  By A12AKL57VID69A on 2006-11-04
  I ordered this product and used the super saver shipping. The package was delivered 3 days from the order place date even though the time interval stated was longer. I loaded the maps in a laptop, MUST HAVE DVD DRIVE, and take the laptop with me to use as a navagation system. Large screen, easy to read, works great. It is easy to go from one location to another by entering the addresses. Easy to zoom in and see road details, especially access to and from limited access highways or confusing intersections. Prints sheet size maps. I don't use a GPS system so I have no comment about that feature.
  
  
• nice product for the price but has its drawbacks
  By A14LJMZYZRQCL1 on 2006-12-11
  Its been a month since I bought this, have used it for two long trips recently. The map interface is pretty good, however the voice prompt got corrupt for some reason during the trip and asked for reinstall of the product. Obviously I wasn't carrying the DVD with me to reinstall. Its really tough to look at the laptop while driving without companion and without voice prompts.
  The compact USB GPS receiver in the box is really handy and easy to use. Works great too, very sensitive and notifies immediately when you miss route.
  
  Some issues that I noticed:
  1) As someone else pointed out it doesn't give NSEW after the highway/route/streets. Simply says turn left or right which is not very helpful. It obviously should not be difficult to say take I-95 North, instead of saying take left on ramp etc.
  2) Software is fragile - hangs or crashes pretty easily and then some functions doesn't work like voice prompts and would need re-install.
  3) It doesn't have the option to find an alternate route for the destination, say if you want to avoid highways/toll roads etc. It just seems to know only one way to get to a place and forces you to take that.
  4) As someone pointed out, it would be great if Microsoft can include some of the extra routing options, which the free mapping sites on the web(mapquest, yahoo, google etc) provide, like shortest distance, shortest time, avoid toll, avoid highway etc..!!
  5) Map data is probably not very accurate/up to date though, still seems to try and drive you to old roads instead of the new ones which may have replaced it.
  6) One last and very important thing that I noticed is that when you reach your destination, it doesn't tell you if the destination is on your right or left. This really irritates sometimes when you are driving alone and in the heavy traffic u can't afford to drive slow & look around to find your destination or take easy turns or prepare to take the turn.
  
  Overall a great product that you can find anywhere for the price with the GPS receiver, again with the reduced prize from amazon, nothing can beat it.
  
  
  
• A new splash screen
  By AY4NGD8A73OT5 on 2007-01-31
  A new splash screen...that's about all I could tell that is different between this and the 2004 version. I'm sure there are a few other things that have changed, but nothing that affects how I use it. If you are thinking of upgrading, don't bother...because Microsoft certainly didn't bother to make any worthwhile improvements.
  
  
• Microsoft Refuses/Fails to Correct Data Base Errors
  By A1KMK33R0X7AMI on 2007-02-05
  I have been using Microsoft's Streets & Trips for a number of years now and had always thought it was one of, if not, the best map/trip planner programs on the market------BOY WAS I WRONG.
  
  Over a year & a half ago I moved into a housing development under construction. The first phase had been started approx (then) 5 years earlier. When I moved in there was still homes being built but all of the streets were in. When I looked on my Streets & Trips 2005 none of the streets in the development were shown and, in fact, the streets shown were never configured as shown on the map.
  
  I used the map feedback feature and advised Microsoft of the errors over a year before Streets & Trips 2007 came out. When I loaded S & T 2007 the first thing I noted was the area where I live was un-changed from the 2005 verison. It appears that Microsoft is unwilling/unable/doesn't-care to update their map data base----I guess it is cheaper to just keep reusing the old (& inaccurate) data base.
  
  As it now stands I must give Streets & Trips 2007 1 star because there is no "zero star" rating. I can only wonder now many other data base corrects Microsoft refused make.
  
  
• great software
  By A1LCO3C4LIJANB on 2007-03-24
  if you don't have this software, it is a must. I travel on business a lot, and could not live without it.
  However, if you have the 2006 version, don't bother with this. I still haven't found any real upgrades with noting. It does update roadways and locations if you need that.
  
  
  
• Surprisingly clumsy software
  By ATLXEXN1Z3WJJ on 2007-04-09
  Several years ago I used DeLorme's Street Atlas with a USB GPS receiver. The software worked but the interface was lousy. This year I tried Microsoft's Streets and Trips 2007 and was surprised to find that it has an interface that is smoother in some ways than the Delorme software, but still surprisingly clumsy. And the help is possibly the worst I have seen in a Microsoft product (that's saying a lot). Here are some of the problems:
  
  1. Street & Trips is expecting a GPS receiver that uses a **COM PORT**. Are you kidding me? In 2007??? The Delorme Earthmate 20 (usb) will work if you use the delorme com port emulation software, but why is this necessary??? (And it was not trivial to get it to work.)
  
  2. The handling of pushpins (identifying spots on the map), favorite places, and the like, is extremely clumsy. (Although, contrary to another review, you don't to re-enter the information each time. You just save the file and reload it.)
  
  3. Directions are sometimes not so great. Why would you instruct someone to "turn left" if you don't know which direction they're pointing (e.g., when you're stationary in a parking lot)? Much better in such cases to say "head NE" or some such. Freeway exits (at least in So. California) were often not handled well. (One freeway entrance was identified as a "local road", which at the time proved quite confusing.)
  
  4. Why doesn't the software automatically recalculate directions to put you "on-route" once you're off-route? You can push F3, but why is this necessary?
  
  5. I never got the voice providing driving guidance to work. The online help was useless. I'm sure someone can jump in and tell me how to do it, but it should be trivial.
  
  6. In general, the software has the feel of a bunch of modules written independently and thrown together. I'm not a reflexive anti-microsoft bigot (I bought this software after all), but I find that much MS software is bad precisely because it feels like it's cobbled together without much attention given to integration. It's shiny on the surface but the shine vanishes once you really start to use it.
  
  Given this experience, I will probably give the Delorme software another try next time around.
  
  
  
• No longer includes Pocket Streets
  By A2027BYP2XSYBH on 2007-05-02
  I purchased Streets and Trips to use with a Windows Mobile 5 PDA and Bluetooth GPS reciever. As I was looking around at various gps software and maps, I decided on Streets and Trips intending to use Pocket Streets even without the ability to give turn by turn routing due to some reviews of Street Atlas claiming the maps were often inaccurate causing mistakes in it's routing.
  
  I was quite shocked when I installed Streets and trips 2007 and found it no longer included Pocket Streets.
  
  If you are not using a laptop, pass on this.
  
  
• No pocket Streets!
  By A3D507V3QLDJNA on 2007-05-15
  You can't tell from anything in the description, but Microsoft very quietly decided to drop Pocket Streets from this edition. If you hadn't purchased any version of Streets and Trips before, you wouldn't be any the wiser, or if you didn't care about using it on a PDA, then this software might be OK, but since I bought it to update my PDA software (from Streets & Trips 2005), this package was pretty worthless to me. BTW, it turns out that Streets & Trips 2006 really only had Pocket Streets 2005, although they called it 2006. (This from Microsoft's tech support).
  
  The one map segment I looked at wasn't very up-to-date: The street that our hotel was on hadn't made it into the database, and it's been there a while.
  
  Also, when you try to install, it complains about an incompatible version of Windows Media Player. The folks at Microsoft also verified this, but had no solution other than to just continue on with the install.
  
  At some point, Microsoft is going to come out with a separate Pocket Streets, which they will sell separately. Until then, you'll have to look elsewhere for a PDA solution.
  
  
• Not quite as good
  By A1ZEYHKM366AU2 on 2007-01-21
  After using it for a few months, I don't believe that the 2007 version is as good as the 2006 version was. There may have been some minor bug fixes, but I cannot see that in actual use. I do know that the new features -- Windows live and Windows Live Local are not as useful to me as the old "web search" (gone) and "info" buttons (now grayed out most of the time) were. My biggest complaint, though, is in the data. Some of it is inaccurate, like the Pennsylvania campground where we stayed last year suddenly being "moved" to Arctic Canada. A number of places that we had planned to stop using the 2006 version simply do not exist in 2007.
  
  We still have the problem that "landmarks" includes ( what seems like all) auto dealerships, yet excludes some, but not all, of certain useful things like parks, public gardens, monuments and tourist attractions. Sometimes these things appear on the (very close up) map, but do not seem to be found when you "search for nearby places."
  
  Just like the instructions say about the route, however, you need to "verify the output" of the program against good maps, tourist guides, and common sense. Overall it does an excellent job of routing, planning and, with the GPS attached, actually getting you where you want to go. Call it 95% right first time, and nearly 100% after checking. That's pretty good. There are a few enhancements that would make planning even more convenient, like actual dates instead of "day 1, day 2 ..." and the ability to specify actual average speeds rather than "compared to average," but those can be worked around while you let the program do 95% of the work.
  
  
• Microsoft, you're no Mapquest
  By A25JG7LO32W20C on 2007-02-12
  Made a mess of my maps I made with its predecessor, adding false addresses to existing ones. It does not interface with outlook, and it still can't find about 30% of the exact addresses I put in it- it just puts a 'pushpin' randomly someplace on the road. I mainly bought it because they swapped names on two highways (J and 164) that I use regularly, and there are a lot of new roads that my old version didn't have. I use it mainly as a visual address book, so it does do that. But I don't see any significant improvements/features over previous versions.
  
  
• microsoft streets and trips 2007
  By A22DXT6CX0ZV70 on 2007-03-19
  I have been in my house for 9 years and the current issue of streets and trips still dosen't have my street connected to the main road! It makes me wonder how acurate the rest of the program is ?
  
  
• A poor product from Microsoft
  By A3RWKMNSHQC66Y on 2007-06-09
  I had the DeLorme Earthmate GPS LT-20, however, its user interface is poor and the voice guidance sounds annoying, gives unnecessary information and causes confusion. I thought the Streets and Trips 2007 from Microsoft might be good cause it's from the software giant until I bought it and found it's another poor designed product, can't believe it's from Microsoft.
  
  I use this on my laptop. Here's what I don't like the most:
  1. It doesn't support USB port. Can't believe this happens in 2007. I have to download the serial port emulator driver from DeLorme to get it work;
  2. It doesn't have address book. So I have to type the address everytime whenever I need to create a route. This feature is so basic, don't know why Microsoft doesn't add it;
  3. The voice guidance is bad. While in the voice guidance panel, it doesn't display the complete message, the voice only speaks part of it.
  
  However, comparing to DeLorme, I do like the following:
  1. The interface is simpler;
  2. The voice guidance gives simpler information, less annoying and confusing than DeLorme. e.g. Streets and Trips 2007 will say "bear right on the ramp", "exit at exit7 east" etc instead of saying "take the south east south ramp" in DeLorme which is very annoying and confusing.
  3. The message in the GPS pane is clear, the font is big so easy to read and the info is simple and complete.
  
  I think Microsoft should do better in this product, because its name, I think the product only deserves two stars.
  
  
• great search & GPS
  By AIDQSLM6P2Z80 on 2006-11-07
  Integration with MSN search is great,and you can carry this search offline by saving the results.
  GPS is great with the compact puck.
  Its a great product to have.
  GO GET IT
  
  
• Keep the packaging - you may want to return this product
  By A680RUE1FDO8B on 2007-02-15
  Microsoft itself offers a 30 day money back guaranty on this product. Keep all the packaging because you may want to return this product.
  
  I'm a long-time user of Streets & Trips.
  
  This release is very disappointing.
  
  I use the Points Of Interest function often when I travel to find restaurants near my hotel and such. Earlier editions have been very good in this regard: this edition - in one word - stinks.
  
  I looked up the hotel I stay at in Washington. Not only was the hotel grossly mislocated, but so were many of the restaurants and other points of interest in the area. There is no excuse for this. Streets & Trips would have me lost.
  
  As a double-checked, I mapped the area around my home. A restaurant that closed two years is still on the map. Another local restaurant is located on the map a full block away from its actual location.
  
  I haven't tried it for routing yet and probably won't. If it can't locate a restaurant with a known, fixed address correctly, how will it map my route to a destination with a known fixed address accurately?
  
  This item is going back.
  
  Jerry
  
  
• Good utility for $35
  By A11EYMH9UV9XG7 on 2007-02-22
  I've been buying Streets and Trips annually since 2003 and have always been satisfied using it as a backup mapping source. I first rely on my car navi. However, I'm too cheap to update the mapping DVD, so it isn't always up-to-date. I wish I could access Mapquest on the road, but I don't always have an Internet connection and am too poor to afford a connection card ;p This is Streets and Trips comes in. All the maps are saved on my hard drive and the maps have been pretty accurate and up-to-date for me. The only problems I've had are with new housing developments. But other than that, this really comes in handy. It also only costs $35. Not bad.
  
  
• No instructions, poor help function
  By A3M491OH2V1XWT on 2007-03-11
  This might be the greatest mapping program in existance, but I would never know. Very user unfriendly. There is no instruction book provided with it (or available that I can find.) The help function is very poor and doesn't provide adequate instructions. If you just need basic mapping functions save your money and use one of the free online websites.
  
  
• Excellent
  By A3AAYWJ9SGPMUC on 2007-03-29
  I've been using Streets & Trips for years. I'm a real estate broker and use it every day. great product. Not as up-to-date as yahoo maps but easier and faster to use, particularly the route planner, gps, live local links, etc.
  
  
• DVD/CD 2007 Streets and Maps
  By A3JY7PKTKGAD3T on 2007-05-08
  I have used Microsoft Streets and Maps for several years. It is a great program. The only problem with the 2007 edition is it is in DVD format only, which means you have to have a DVD drive. I couldn't use it on my the computer with a CD drive. If you have a CD drive only, the 2006 will work fine.
  
  
• Location Errors
  By A1ZVL7GCV4ET1M on 2007-05-17
  I travel on an RV and have found many errors in the campground locations that were correct in the 2006 version. I will go back to the 2006 version.
  
  
• Excellent Product for its price
  By ARDN9Q3CGPXSI on 2007-01-09
  Microsoft Streets and Trips 2007 is an excellent product considering its low price tag. Personally I use it for its (fairly recent) GPS capabilities. I already had a laptop, bought a $45 usb gps unit last year. So $35 instead of the $500 it costs for a standalone device is a steal.
  
  The software allows updates on the internet to get (planned) construction information for all across the country. There is a voice to talk you through your turns which is useful if you are alone in the car. The full screen full color map provides a wealth of information at a quick glance. There is even a night color mode which turns the display black and green so you don't hurt your night vision.
  
  Streets and Trips has saved me a lot of time. When on vacation it allows me to explore my surrounding area at a whim, find a local grocery store, or the closest Greek restaurant. Not having to ask for directions or plan things on a map is a big relief.
  
  Speaking of relief, this software has helped me many a time in cities. The most notable would be D.C. With unmarked streets & exits, roundabouts, and random road closings, it is extremely helpful to have MS Streets & Trips at your side. If I miss a street, the software notifies me that I'm "off route". I click a button and it remaps from my current location to my destination. What I really like about this feature is that it doesn't ask me to try and make any U-turns. It plots a new natural course and I'm on my way.
  
  One thing I would like to see in future versions is automatically rerouting if "off route." An improved search function for destinations would be nice. Also, there is a nice feature built in to the software where you can tell it to avoid a certain area. I find this useful for marking roads I know are laden with speed traps or are usually congested. I would like Microsoft to make this easier to use. Really, I'm just nit picking here, but those types of improvements are what will convince me to upgrade to the 2008 version next year.
  
  
• Great Mapping
  By A3IMJ2G4TJI7W1 on 2007-01-11
  I have been using MS Streets for 4 years. It is a must for me to assist with planning my sales calls. In addition, the link to MSN Virtual Earth is helpful (and fun)to see aerial pictures of jobsites.
  
  

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