Microsoft Streets & Trips 2004 North America (CD-ROM) [Old Version]

by Microsoft

Product Features

• All-in-one travel and mapping resource for the USA and Canada
• Over 6.7 million miles of routable local, city, state, and highway roads
• Comprehensive array of maps, points of interest, routes, and driving directions
• GDT and NavTech data; Real-time GPS support; Pocket PC compatibility
• Automatically recalculates map and driving directions with Snap Route technology

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• 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: B00009Q6KO
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 11, 2003
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,608 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #25 in Software > Education & Reference > Mapping
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Map Software, Improvements over S&T 2003, September 18, 2003

By 

P. Scott Pope "Scott Pope" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microsoft Streets & Trips 2004 North America (CD-ROM) [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

Streets and Trips 2004 is the third version of Microsoft's popular map software that I have owned and reviewed. This latest edition offers both major and incremental improvements over its predecessor. It is vastly superior to online map offerings and other map software that I have owned. For more information on how S&T compares to competing products, please look at my previous reviews for 2002 and 2003.

Specific Improvements for 2004 include:

1) Real-time GPS
2) Drive-time zones (show me where I can go in X minutes)
3) Arrows showing one-way streets on maps
4) Markers representing exists on major highways

Apart from these improvements, there appears to be an increase in accuracy. However, Microsoft doesn't seem to have a good method of removing long-defunct restaurants from its points of interest database.

What it is lacking:

1) Integration with real-time traffic
2) Map and location data updates via the Internet
3) Paths for pedestrian and bicycle travel
4) Coordination with other online map services, such as municipal door-to-door public transportation travel planners
5) Better integration and standardization of imported data so data sets like health clubs and WiFi hotspots could be included in the points-of-interest database at the user's choosing.

In general, the absence of connectivity is my biggest complaint. However, I would guess there is no business model for this as it would have to be supported by user subscriptions or advertisements, neither of which would be accepted in the marketplace.

As a final note, I recently tested the real-time GPS as a passenger with my Deluo USB GPS receiver. It is operates smoothly and with [apparent] great accuracy. Unlike OEM navigation systems, it doesn't include real-time direction, speed and travel status. Perhaps this is intended as watching the screen as a driver would be extremely dangerous. Nonetheless, it was helpful for finding obscure locations in rural areas.

69 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good program, but don't bother upgrading, August 26, 2003

By 

TG - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft Streets & Trips 2004 North America (CD-ROM) [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

Streets and Trips is the best mapping software I've used - and I make a lot of maps. It's easy to use, generally gives good driving directions, and makes great printed maps. I much prefer it to using online maps such as Mapquest or Yahoo.

That being said, there isn't much new in the 2004 version. I upgraded from 2001, and there are really no new useful features to speak of (a few small things, but come on, it's been *three* releases since 2001!). The only major improvement I've seen is that the maps have been updated with some road changes around here and I would assume some of the business listings have been updated as well.

Bottom line: if you don't have Streets & Trips, this is a good version to buy. If you have S&T 2001 or later, don't bother upgrading.

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Same old, same old, August 24, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Microsoft Streets & Trips 2004 North America (CD-ROM) [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

Do you ever feel that buying upgrades are a waste of money. Well, this one is a waste of your money. I bought into the hype that you can locate ATM's anywhere in the country and the maps were updated.

If your looking for an ATM in Maine, Alabama, Vermont, Wisconsin, and other states, don't bother. Streets and Trips show there are no ATM's in most of the United States. Canada has a few.

The Maps are not updated as well. A seven year old neighborhood still isn't showing up in Streets and Trips. Other programs and the internet map sites have had our neighborhood for a few years.

If you have an old copy of Street and Trips or MapPoint, continue to use and save your money. I guess this is how a company can continue making a billion dollars a month without creating anything new. Lets hope in a few years Streets and Trips will be brought up to date and include what the marketing guys tell us.