Topo USA 3.0

by DeLorme US Software

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005AUGP
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 5, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,780 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #92 in Software > Education & Reference > Mapping
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

How low can you go? Find out with DeLorme's revised Topo USA 3.0, packed with stunning new features. With 43 national park and 120 national forest trail networks, the latest version of this innovative software lets you create high-detail maps of trails, roads, and wilderness for the entire U.S.

New users will find Topo USA 3.0 easy to install and learn, quickly creating and printing finely detailed topological maps for hiking or hunting trips. Those familiar with older versions will thrill to the new automatic trail and road routing, land-cover data that integrates trees and other features into maps, and especially the large format (11 by 17) and mural printing. If the graphics are a little creaky on a particular computer, it's easy to switch from the intense 3-D mode to the simpler 2-D--this should speed up performance for those who need their maps in a hurry.

Maps can be ported to Palm-running PDAs and a wide range of GPS devices--just make sure to bring spare batteries, or, failing that, a compass. The data is current as of early 2001, including more than 300,000 miles of trails, from America's deepest trenches to its highest peaks. Even users who don't spend most of their time outdoors will find the added dimensions a neat twist to their virtual explorations. --Rob Lightner

Amazon.com Product Description

Topo USA allows you to create your own topographic maps for the entire U.S., with automatic trail and road routing. You can scout terrain with realistic shaded relief or 3-D views, and upload or download points to or from the most popular GPS receivers. View UTM coordinates, GPS grids, and instant elevation profiles for any road or trail. Flexible tools allow freehand drawing, GPS point conversion, automatic trail tracing, and customizable symbols. Discover 300,000 miles of trails, including 43 national park and 120 national forest trail networks. Print 11-by-17-inch maps or tiled 8-by-11-inch mural maps while maintaining map data on your hard drive, letting you conveniently travel disc-free.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

99 of 102 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice, but misleading advertising, April 23, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Topo USA 3.0 (CD-ROM)

This is a very nice product, functionally speaking. In addition to Topo USA, I have tried both TOPO! and MapTech which are also excellent products. But beware! Delorme tries to contrast this product with the others based on price. In their own comparisons you will see dollar figures for the price of the map data covering the entire US for each product and, based on this figure, it is an obvious choice to pick Topo USA. What they don't tell you is that they are doing an apples to oranges comparison. The "Full USA" maps that come with Topo USA are essentially Delorme Atlas type maps. Fine for road navigation, but almost useless for hiking, backpacking, or any serious off road naviation. Delorme offers the USGS 7.5 minute series maps that most of us use in the "wilds" as add-ons to Topo USA in their "3-D TopoQuads" products, but at huge prices for each state on par with the other two products. DON'T BE MISLEAD BY PRICE. Topo USA, TOPO!, and Maptech will all cost about the same to get the same product. It comes down to software features you like best. Unfortunately, it is not an easy choice as they all do some things better than the others ...

I will probably stick with Topo USA as I like the interface and the 3D view (MapTech does this also). It also looks like Delorme has more of the US covered with the USGS 7.5 series than the other companies, but it will hit your wallet big to get the upgraded maps!

36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delorme cranks out another Winner!, April 16, 2001

By 

Joe Bartels "Author/Photographer HikeArizona.COM" (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Topo USA 3.0 (CD-ROM)

The new 3.0 version of Delorme's Topo USA is definitely a step above the 2.0 favorite. As webmaster of HikeArizona.COM I've used the 2.0 version a thousand times over. I could never under why anybody would use the National Geographic brand TOPO! which is a pain to navigate with limited tools. Delorme didn't need to improve Topo USA but they did!

3.0 boast a new shaded relief look to the maps. This means the average view has a 3D look making it easier to understand the terrain. Delorme didn't stop there! They cranked up the power on the 3D rendering maps too. Now the horizon extends when you rotate. This feature is awesome. Beware though; it's a power hog! Running on a loaded P4 it gives Intel reason to progress. Actually, a good 3D video card is more important. It runs faster on my 850 with a screamin' video card. Luckily you can turn these features off and only use when needed. Still useable on slower laptops with the features turned off.

Landmark mistakes I noticed on the 2.0 version have been corrected. Compatibility with Windows 2000 is now reality. Elevation quirks have been cleared up. It's tough thinking how they will improve on this version in the future. Maybe a 3D walk through of the profiles. Give it a whirl Delorme! Speaking of profiles. It's now possible to profile roads, rivers and trails. You can even combine them; just press the shift key while combining. A new reversing feature is nice too. Plotting trails is still a breeze. Start/stop features have been incorporated from Delorme's Street Atlas USA software. Big improvements have been made to printing the maps too!

This is the kind of software where a computer is really used. The value is incredible. I must say, Delorme did a big favor for hikers! Thanks - joe bartels Webmaster HikeArizona.COM

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Poor customer support, July 29, 2001

By 

Roy W. Davis (Columbia, Mo) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Topo USA 3.0 (CD-ROM)

Can't get it to print maps. Keeps crashing my computer. Can't get any help from Delorme. Put on hold for 30 to 40 ninutes. Maps have little detail.