Streets and Trips 2009

[Go4Lo]

Anyone on here using this software on their laptop, netbook, tablet, etc..? The 09' version is supposed to be better? What do you think?

I'm thinking about buying the combo pack that includes the USB GPS receiver for my laptop to use as road navigation.

[hattrik21]

I've used it before. It has a cleaner look to the interface compared to 2007 but other than that, they run about the same. I'm sure it has more current maps as well as POI's.

[olympiccop2002]

I ordered this package:

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Street-Trips-2009-GlobalSat/dp/B001HC7S9G/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1242923303&sr=8-5

It arrived yesterday so I'll be able to play around with it this weekend. I had streets and trips from 2001 or 2003 so this should be a bit better. :)

[TheAlmightySam]

I've been using it. It's pretty clunky - none of the smooth UI polish that Google Earth has, for example, but it is completely functional, and pretty useful.

Some notes:
- The refueling warnings are less than useless. There's no way to tell the system you've refueled at a given point, so it bases its warnings on when you started. After a day or two of refueling when it's convenient, rather than exactly when Streets and Trips tells you to, and the warnings are completely out of sync. Pleh.
- The Nav voice is your default Windows one, so it's absolutely awful and impossible to understand. I just have my girlfriend read me directions instead.
- The software seems to run well on my Mac in VMWare Fusion. I've not extensively tested the GPS receiver, though.

It's useful software, but it lacks a lot of polish, in my opinion.

[olympiccop2002]

I've been using it. It's pretty clunky - none of the smooth UI polish that Google Earth has, for example, but it is completely functional, and pretty useful.

Looks like you have to purchase Google Earth ($400) if you want to use the GPS features. Is that the case or is there a work around to get the GPS to work on the free version?

[geoffff]

Looks like you have to purchase Google Earth ($400) if you want to use the GPS features.

How would that work out in the field? Google Earth needs an internet connection for its map (satellite) image data. A cellphone modem isn't going to help you when you're in the outback.

[olympiccop2002]

How would that work out in the field? Google Earth needs an internet connection for its map (satellite) image data. A cellphone modem isn't going to help you when you're in the outback.

I don't know how it would work. I can't afford the $400 to find out... :sombrero:

It says that Google Earth Pro ($400) will do:

GPS data import ** ** verified support for Magellan and Garmin devices only

Real-time GPS tracking

On the website...

http://earth.google.com/enterprise/earth_pro.html#comparison

[geoffff]

Not to get too far off topic here, but the closest I've come to using Google Satellite image data in field is to download imagery from Google Maps with Google Maps for OziExplorer (http://www.zubak.sk/GoogleOzi/) (http://www.zubak.sk/GoogleOzi/) and then use them with my GPS (with OziExplorer (http://www.oziexplorer.com/), of course). I've used this for street maps of some Mexican towns, and for satellite imagery of trails. It is such a thrill when out there on a trail to be able to pop up into the sky and see where all those unmapped tracks actually go!

One problem with this approach is having to guess ahead of time where you'll actually be (to download the right data while you're still at home).

But the big issue is that Google doesn't like it! They'll cut you off once you've consumed 100 MB of data -- which is pretty easy to do with the satellite imagery. Oh well...

Oh, and Overland Navigator (http://spatialminds.com/Overland-Navigator-Map-Pack-Satellite-Imagery/M/B001TRINMA.htm) also sells satellite imagery of the whole world, but (for now) only at fairly low zoom levels http://spatialminds.com/Overland-Navigator-Map-Pack-Satellite-Imagery/M/B001TRINMA.htm It's still helpful for large features like dry lakebeds.

http://octopup.org/img/misc/maps/m/google-maps-for-oziexplorer.jpg (http://www.zubak.sk/GoogleOzi/) http://octopup.org/img/misc/maps/m/overland-navigator-satellite.jpg (http://spatialminds.com/Overland-Navigator-Map-Pack-Satellite-Imagery/M/B001TRINMA.htm)

-- Geoff

[EricGagne]

I use MS S&T 2009 to plan long trips, I like the fact that for each stop you can specify how long you're gonna stay there. Google Maps, GPS Navigation and the likes tell you the driving time of a trip but not the total time.

With S&T you can specify how long you're gonna stop at a point either in minutes or days. For each point you can also specify departure time which makes it easier to plan for trips when you have to meet ferry schedules and things like that.

In about a month I'll be going on a one week trip that will take me from Montreal to James Bay and back via the North Road and I used S&T to plan it.

I also like that it allows you to save it as a web page to share with friends. However if you're gonna publish on a linux web server you're gonna have to edit the html files because by default it uses windows file paths for images and links and puts backslashes instead of slashes in the file paths. (http://ericgagne.info/voyages/BaieJames-20092_files/BaieJames-20092.htm)

That said, I would never rely on S&T for navigation, I never go anywhere without my Garmin GPS and that's the device I use to plot routes and navigate.

Things I don't like in S&T:

1: As previously mentioned, the refuling alerts, there's no way to add a point to your route and say "Refuel Here" so as the route progresses these refueling alertes become totally useless.

2: These alerts about fuel dont' actually use the information in the maps. All it does it put a mark on your route that says "Refuel before here". I think it should have been taken a step further and highlight the gas stations on the last 100 kilometers of that point and allow you to specify where you're gonna take fuel.

3: When your trip will take you between timezones, S&T only tells you on the beginning of the day to check your departure time because the arrival time is in a different time zone but shows that time in the departure time zone. I agree that GPS' don't do it either but at least they don't annoy you with a useless warning.

[off-roader]

Im using streets & trips 09. Came w/ the gps receiver. Not sure if it's any better than the 08 version since I didn't have that version.

I'm a long time GPS user and I find this not as intuitive as the current crop of GPS's including my older Mio 310 and my TomTom Go 730 & am actually considering just using my 730 through my PC instead of using S&T.

Trip planning is a complicated affair when there's only one leg because I find you can't simply tell it an address then press a 'go there from current location' button. You actually have to enter your current address.:Wow1:

Also, I don't like the birds eye view point of view but that's all you have with this software as far as I can tell.

I should also add that alot of GPS features we take for granted (changing screen colors for night viewing, etc.) aren't there with S&T. :(

HTH:ylsmoke:

[dzzz]

I like topo USA for off blacktop. Streets and Trips has better in town info, however. Even with Topo USA, I still buy a Delorme Atlas for any state I'm interested in.

[Go4Lo]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad I haven't purchased it yet. I think I'll save my coins and buy a Nuvi 500.

[WickedZJ]

Anyone ever used DeLorme Street Atlas USA? I used to travel for work and used this and it got me everywhere I had to go. I use this and Topo USA.

[RocTrac]

Anyone ever used DeLorme Street Atlas USA? I used to travel for work and used this and it got me everywhere I had to go. I use this and Topo USA.

I am using Street Atlas and am looking for something else. The interface is not driver friendly. I have been looking at the Garmin mobile pc. I have used the garmin stuff (Nuvi etc...) for a while and can usually get around in them pretty quickly. I am hoping that it will continue on with the mobile pc. On the same UMPC (Advent 3500PC) I am running the stuff from horizonnav.com. I am not really happy with it but it does look cool.

[fishbum]

What version of Street Atlas do you have?
The newer versions have a Navmode which is definitely driver friendly...

[RocTrac]

What version of Street Atlas do you have?
The newer versions have a Navmode which is definitely driver friendly...

I disagree, It was purchased 2 months ago so it has the navmode and also I made sure that all updates were installed before making a trip. In navemode you have some touchscreen features but to enter in a favorite or any other change in your route is very difficult when on the fly. For example you need fuel. You cant pay attention and do a search for nearby stations nor can you do a search just along your route. Also they never did fix the streetnames, which if you can read upside down when your headed south that is okay. Overall I was disapointed in the latest offering. There are better programs out there. I personally am leaning to the Garmin Mobile PC due to the fact that is similar to the Nuvi series but with extras. :smiley_drive:

[Antichrist]

Anyone ever used DeLorme Street Atlas USA? I used to travel for work and used this and it got me everywhere I had to go. I use this and Topo USA.I've been using Street Atlas for 7 or 8 years, currently using SA 2007. I use it a lot and the only thing I've found that I don't like about it is that sometimes it routes me off on to a side street from a main road, even though there is no need to.
I use it for both trips, and for geocaching. For geocaching I use GSAK to export the waypoint to SA format, import it to SA, then use SA to get me close to the geocache, and use my handheld from there.
So overall it gets a lot of use by me. I run it on a Thinkpad 600x, which is getting a bit slow for the newer versions, but once loaded it's fine.