Microsoft Street & Trips 2008 GPS with Connected Services [Old Version]

by Microsoft

Product Features

• Turn your laptop PC into the ultimate GPS navigation system
• The #1 best-selling travel and map software
• Includes a GPS locator plus an MSN Direct receiver
• Free 1-year subscription to MSN Direct service
• Get back on track with automatic re-routing

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000PHNSA2
• Item model number: 9RJ-00007
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 25, 2007
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,315 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #3 in Software > Education & Reference > Mapping
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com

Microsoft Streets & Trips 2008 with Connected Services combines the #1 best-selling travel and map software with a sleek GPS locator--plus an MSN Direct receiver and a 1-year trial subscription to the MSN Direct service for traffic updates and gas prices. This unique synergy provides traffic conditions and gas station locations and fuel prices from the road without an Internet connection!

Navigation Mode makes it easier than ever to know where you are.

Avoid congestion, accidents, and disabled vehicles.

Customizable trip planning options allow you to plan stops, scenic detours, and fuel stops; add multiple destinations; and quickly alter your route.

Turn your laptop PC into the ultimate GPS navigation system

New Product, Robust Features

• Includes an MSN Direct receiver that enables traffic and gas price updates over the FM band, without an Internet connection, and then works with Streets & Trips 2008 to help you navigate to where you want to go.
• Includes 1-year trial subscription to MSN Direct for gas prices and traffic updates. Gas prices are available in 100 of the largest cities across the U.S.; traffic information is available in a subset of these cities--so whether you travel across town or across the country, if you're in an MSN Direct coverage area, the service stays with you.
• Avoid congestion, accidents, and disabled vehicles. Receive traffic updates through the MSN Direct receiver, and then use Streets & Trips with Connected Services to navigate around trouble spots. Internet connection not needed for MSN Direct traffic updates and gas prices.
• Save at the pump by obtaining and comparing recent gas prices. MSN Direct sends updated local gas prices to the receiver, which then works with Streets & Trips 2008 to route you to the savings!
• For service areas, please visit streets.msndirect.com/coverage.
• Also, includes everything in Streets & Trips 2008 with GPS Locator.
• Use the perspective map view to get a road view more like you would see through your windshield.
• Hear spoken driving directions as you go.
• Full Screen Navigation Mode makes it easier than ever to know where you are.
• Keyword search helps you quickly find local business listings near your location. Search results automatically refresh as you move around the map.

Microsoft Streets & Tips: The #1 best-selling travel and map software
Microsoft Streets & Trips gives you accurate driving directions to just about anywhere in the United States and Canada. It also shows you more than 1.6 million points of interest to choose from--plus additional listings that you can download from the Web. With updated maps and extensive trip planning features, Streets & Trips will help you plan your trip, your way.

New & Enhanced Features

• Includes updated maps of routable roads and highways throughout the United States and Canada.
• Identify one-way streets at a glance.
• Optimize your trip by calculating mileage, time, and expenses in advance.
• Includes 1.6 million points of interest such as ATMs, hotels, landmarks, and more that you can easily add to your route without the need to be online.
• Find current business listings when you're online, then take them with you!
• Keyword search helps you quickly find listings near your location by entering words such as "coffee." Search results automatically refresh as you move around the map, so you have the most relevant information.
• Navigation Mode makes it easier than ever to know where you are. Estimated drive time helps ensure you know how far you are from your destination.
• Customizable trip planning options allow you to plan stops, scenic detours, and fuel stops; add multiple destinations; and quickly alter your route.
• Avoid potential delays with free construction updates from the Web.
• Enhanced support for your GPS receiver:
• Use the new perspective map view to get a road view like the one you would see through your windshield.
• Automatic re-routing gets you back on track, even when you miss a turn!

Product Description

Microsoft Streets Trips Connected Svcs 2008 Win32 English US Only DVD Mini Box

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars An annoying curiosity, October 21, 2007

By 

James Preston "Jim Preston" (Santa Clara, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microsoft Street & Trips 2008 GPS with Connected Services [Old Version] (DVD-ROM)

I've owned several of the earlier versions of S&T including 2007 and have used them extensively on road trips throughout the Western US. While my previous reviews have had issues with S&T I still really like S&T. I just wish that the development team owned cars and tried their product.

Then along comes 2008 with Connected Services. I tried it out in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. The traffic information is completely unreliable. I was stuck in stop and go traffic in green zones in S&T. A zone is a traffic direction on each side of a freeway on the map. The red and yellow zones rarely show at all. Instead you have to guess what may be happening when there is a gap in a green zone. Is it supposed to be red, yellow, or no data? So the strategy is to look out the window and figure it out as you drive along. That may sound similar to what you do now without S&T CS.

The incident markers are consistently outdated. Rarely is there any sign that an accident ever occurred there. Don't bother re-routing away from accidents because so far they don't exist and usually traffic is flowing as well as could be expected for the time of day.

The GPS unit is a pain and loses the connection somewhat frequently, like twice in a six hour drive or more. The 2007 model is much more reliable and I've switched back to that unit except when I want to test my humor. Hint: You have to reboot not just the computer to get the 2008 CS GPS unit to work again, but you have to pull the cable from the unit and switch it on and off with a pocket knife point. Try that on an LA freeway late in the afternoon.

I do recommend S&T but pass on Connected Services for at least this version unless you are an early adapter who loves self-abuse with innovations.

- jim

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Think twice before purchasing this version, October 30, 2007

By 

Van Driver "Van Driver" (San Diego) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft Street & Trips 2008 GPS with Connected Services [Old Version] (DVD-ROM)

I drive an airport shuttle van in San Diego. I've used earlier editions for three years, I've purchased the new programs as they are released as new features are added and I've been delighted with the upgrades. I was (past tense) looking forward to the addition of real-time traffic input. Sadly, I was unable to use the "Connectwed Services" aspect. I followed the instructions in the installation guide to no avail. It seems as if you have to "activate" the receiver on at least three different sites, none of which tell you that you are actually activated and none of which seemed to activate the receiver. I could not find ANY technical support anywhere. I gave it 4 stars as the basic program is still a delight to use and extremely useful for my application.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Streets and Trips 2008, November 4, 2007

By 

mickie "mickie" (Osteen, Fl United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft Street & Trips 2008 GPS with Connected Services [Old Version] (DVD-ROM)

Microsoft Street & Trips 2008 GPS with Connected Services

This product is very good at drawing maps to where you are going or finding where you are with the GPS. The connected services which are

for 100 large cities did not appear to be live. There was traffic delay on our trip which did not show up. As I mainly got it for a trip to Canada I am giving it to then to get better. The software did not have a loud enough voice to overcome the highway noise. I purchased small speakers hoping that will help on my next trip. Would really like an update for that. It does not have a choose of voices. It only has one women's voice. It could be that a man's voice would have been a little better. I like it over the smaller GPS's as I like to see details that my laptop can provide. I wish it had software to answer my telephone on my laptop as the GPS stand alone systems have. I'm not sure if I rated it

correctly based on the above. You can decide for yourself. I like drawing out the maps, printing them for planning ahead, knowing where I am at a given momement and the big screen. Of coarse I'm not the driver. If there is only one person in the automobile or mobile home a GPS would be better.