Customer Reviews

Microsoft Streets and Trips 2005 [Old Version]

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

I upgraded from S&T 2002 and have found features I relied upon, missing! You can no-longer enter specific speeds for specific types of roads. I used this for creating bicycle routes for my bike club. I could enter 16 mph for all roads and the 2002 version would calculate the correct time for the ride. Now there are slider controls with no mph numbers. Totally useless!

I have also noticed that major rivers and lakes are missing! Excuse me, but this is a map. These water features are needed to help you determine where you are!

I am going to search for a 2004 version and hope that that version is not as goofed-up as 2005!

Be warned: by Microsoft's own admission, there is no way to update the maps provided with this product and Microsoft doesn't much care about them anyway (deferring to an unnamed "third party" when confronted with inaccuracies). That wouldn't be a problem if care had been taken in ensuring that the product ships with accurate maps, but it doesn't. Though this is a recent release, its map data (again by Microsoft's own admission) is almost a year old. Worse than that, it contains fatal inaccuracies that are older: for example, the I-95, I-295, and I-405 in Maine are in the wrong places and don't reflect a "redesignation" of exit numbers that took place there last year.

There's really nothing here that one of the many online map sources can't provide for free -- except interstates in the wrong place! (MapQuest gets Maine right.)

As an enthusiastic user and reviewer of Streets and Trips 2001-2004, I felt compelled to purchase the 2005 edition as soon as it became available. Unlike the previous versions, there were no dramatic improvements that inspired me to purchase this product. However, I am happy that Microsoft is continually improving Streets and Trips' accuracy and functionality. Yet, the latter has a long way to go if Microsoft wants users to fully realize the power of software based maps. In fact, the fundamental business model needs to change so as to allow dynamic data, including that from third parties.

The biggest enhancement in 2005 is delivered in the form of a GPS pane, which now includes a rotating compass and velocity. It is a nice feature, albeit one that will be a bit difficult to use, especially on a laptop. I have used the GPS function with my Deluo USB GPS receiver in S&T 2004 with some success. As a driver, it is quite dangerous to use as there is no easy way to view the screen. As a passenger, it is still a bit cumbersome. I don't see any laptop-based map software providing a legitimate replacement for the OEM navigation systems nor the high-end aftermarket offerings from companies like Pioneer.

There are some incremental improvements in the display capabilities. For example, pushpin labels can be reoriented into one of four positions (upper right, lower right, etc). However, this is still not a robust as it should be. The labels need to be fully adjustable, including the length of pointer to the location on the map. The Route options have been modified in a way that is a step back. Instead of allowing designation of specific speeds for the different type of roads, such as 90 mph for Interstate highways, there are now slider bars going from slowest to fastest for each of the five road categories. Clearly, these won't work for the extreme lead foot or for emulating rush hour traffic.

While it is hard to determine the accuracy of the map and POI data without extensive testing, I did identify some corrections. In one instance, a very new development within the city of Chicago had roads that did not appear in S&T 2004 but now show up correctly in the 2005 version. My research indicates that the roads in question were built between 2001 and 2002.

One of my favorite restaurants in the Old Town area of Chicago, Bistro Margot, was listed as "Margot Bistro" and was not in the correct restaurant category (French) in 2004. In now appears spelled correctly and is categorized as a French restaurant. Without dynamic connectivity to both Microsoft and third-party data sources, POI data will always be a catch up game. Wouldn't it be nice to have a Citysearch or Metromix plug-in for Streets and Trips 2005 with new POI's appearing weekly?

My primary complaint with the application is its lack of robust functionality for getting data in and out of S&T. Microsoft should provide online updates for the map and POI data. Moreover, there should be better information on public transportation systems, such as overlays of Chicago's CTA and New York's MTA.

Interestingly, Microsoft does offer the ability to update construction information. Why not take it a step further? There probably isn't an easily supported business model for data import and updates. This unfortunate reality will restrict further development of the tool and its larger community. Yet, with the growth of mobile device enabled with location based technologies, Microsoft could benefit from fostering a developer community. In fact, location-based services (LBS) is one of the hottest areas in the wireless industry.

As I have mentioned in my previous reviews of Streets and Trips 2004, 2003, and 2002, there is no comparison between Streets and Trips and online map offerings. Not only is it faster while providing far better map quality, the functionality in areas like trip planning and annotation is vastly superior. Moreover, there are no advertisements, which appear when one prints the online maps!

In summary, Streets and Trips 2005 is a great tool for travel and local navigation. It is one of the most useful products you never thought you could use so frequently.

Pro's
1) Excellent map quality
2) Extremely fast zooming and panning
3) Powerful route planning
4) Real-Time GPS


What it is lacking (still!)
1) Integration with real-time traffic
2) Map and POI data updates via the Internet
3) Paths/routing for pedestrian and bicycle travel
4) Coordination with public transportation systems
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
6) Ability to save and categorize bookmarks
7) Map data for other countries available for an additional fee

Like in previous years a few more streets and points of interest from previous year, but nothing else new.

One signifigant change is something that is a big negative - the driving times are now now based on "Average", "Slower", or "Faster" for different roads types rather than an actual speed. Since the program doesn't tell you how fast that is, who knows what the drivings times really mean. Guess they dumbed it down to people who can't read their speedometer.

I bought the 2005 version after online reviews recommended it over the DeLorme product. Big mistake. Microsoft Streets & Trips is cumbersome to use and lacks accuracy. Some problems I've encountered:

-Program selects odd routing that doesn't follow common sense. In several cases, the prograqm chose a route that went many miles out of the way for no obvious reason. This included routing onto obscure and even long-closed roads.

-Finding locations using "Find Nearby Places" feature is difficult to use and lacks accuracy. For example, my kids wanted to eat at McDonalds on a road trip. I searched nearby places and got a huge, non-alphebetized list of restaurants. To find a McDonalds, I had to look under "Other Restaurants" and scan through the huge list. In the end, it came up with what it thought was the closest one. When we headed for it, we immediately passed another McDonalds that wasn't on the list.

-Screen navigation is not intuitive and very cumbersome. While driving, you have to use multiple manipulations to bring up useful info. I would expect to zoom in/out on my GPS position by doing something like right-clicking or using the arrow keys or the +/- keys. Nope. I had to find the little zoom button, highlight a box using the mouse, zoom in on the box (it automatically zooms all the way in), and then find the little zoom button again to zoom out a little to a useful view. To get details on a place, construction zone, etc. is difficult/impossible.

-The most updated road construction information is woefully out of date and inaccurate. Even huge contruction problems seem to be missed.

I'd recommend Street Atlas over this product.

How can I get my money back? Inaccuracies galore. I am a telecommunications tech in Lubbock, TX. I only use Streets and Trips to map out all of my stops I need to make. It allows me to take the most direct route and save time.
The first problem I found is that new streets in new parts of the city that are up to 3 years old are not even shown in the maps.
The second problem I found is that the map program can't even correctly find addresses on main streets. It leaves out whole blocks worth of addresses. For example 50th ST in Lubbock is a main street in Lubbock. The hundred blocks are off by a full city block and at about Slide Rd it skips from 5000 on one side of the street to 5200 on the other.
The funny part is that the problem didn't exist in the 2003 version. I wouldn't recommend you buy this product unless you like much frustration..

I upgraded from 2002 (fortunately they allow you to have both on your computer) and was very disappointed with the inaccuracy of the information. My house was moved half a mile from where it is located. Also in this area street names which are on street signs have been replaced by useless information like county road numbers which are posted nowhere.
I fear that there is a new environment at Microsoft, as in the past I upgraded most products every year or two and they improved each year. This year I upgraded 5 products and 4 were bitter disappointments. I certainly will wait until at least several months after any new releases in the future and not only read reviews here, but search the internet for problem postings before I upgrade another Microsoft product. It is too bad they drove so many competing products off the market or took away so much business they weren't able to keep their products upgraded as there generally aren't other products to switch to.

Although the GPS function is I guess useful if you like driving your car with a laptop on the seat next to you, Microsoft has updated some of the city streets but removed most of the previously mapped dirt roads and other features that made the 2004 version useful. If you used 2004 to find roads that may have been not paved surfaces don't get this program. I ended up installing it but keeping the 2004 version installed as well. Very disapointing move by Microsoft to take out much of the detail that made the program good.

I had an earlier version and as bad as it was, I had hopes that Microsoft would have greatly improved the upgrade, Wrong! My farm road is no longer in the program, my street address is in the middle of the bridge 1/2 mile from my mail box. Yesterday, it lead me to the middle of no where in North Carolina and onto a dirt road in the rain in my new Corvette. My destination, Shatley Springs Inn wasn't even close to what the program showed. A kind farmer lead me back to a main road. It routes you on improved cow trails instead of faster state roads just because it might be shorter. It shows the House of Ribs in Johnson City, Tn 3/4 miles north of SR381 and it's 1/4 mile south. Information on road signs don't match the programs directions, different towns are used. Every time I've used it, I've missed turns because mileage was wrong and/or local road names are used instead of state highway numbers. It isn't current on restaurants or places of interest. Planning a trip to Bowling Green, Ky to the Corvette museum and a factory tour? Not listed under places of interest. No more color on the maps, black and white only, including your route high light. My experience has been in Virginia, North/South Carolinas and Tennessee. My interstate trips to Florida have been alright but how can you get lost on I-75? Don't waste your money on this software package until it gets fixed, unless you enjoy getting lost. As an ex fighter pilot and retired Pan Am Captain, I'm no stranger to maps and navigation.

I bought this because it was supposedly an upgrade. It has the same old routes for the Eastern US as my 2001 version and has yet to internet update (big feature, right?) any of the many construction projects underway here. It has misdirected us to several locations, mostly because it can't tell left from right if it has anything but a east/west - north/south grid to work with. It won't work with GPS. The refund offered by Amazon and Microsoft never appeared despite full documentation. Ripoff! Amazon, are you accountable?