Customer Reviews

Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008 [OLD VERSION]

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(24)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(32)

 

 

Unless you really need the updated maps, I would not upgrade from Streets and Trips 2007.
* The 2008 version is the first one with a product key that needs to be registered. I assume this means I can no longer sell or give away the old version when I buy the new one. So I won't be upgrading every year anymore.
* After I did the install, it corrupted a dll that Money 2007 uses. I had to reinstall Money to get it working again.

I've used S&T for many years, updating every year or two as useful new features were added. I updated to the 2008 version to get updated maps. After a lengthy install process, I found that MS had "updated" my street address out of existence. I live along a major road in Essex County in a substantial NJ Township with a 20K+ population and my street address and those of my neighbors had always shown up in prior versions of S&T. S&T 2008 not only elminated my street address but all street addresses on nearby major roads (i.e. those appearing in yellow). Other street addresses are shown. I did not have the time and inclination to see if this problem exists for street addresses in other areas of NJ or in other states. This fault in mapping street addresses makes this program untrustworthy and, essentially, useless.

When I called MS Technical support to see if I'd missed an option that would enable it to show street addresses on major roads, I was told that there was no such option and that another company provided the mapping technology and that I could provide map feedback about the error. He offered a refund but I will be able to return it to the place I bought it.

At this point, I've removed this new software garbage from my machine and reinstalled the old version. Now that Google Earth and other free mapping software exists and good GPS devices are readily available at decent prices, the need to pay for updated versions of S&T, especially dismally executed updates like this inexcusible 2008 version, makes no sense.

Having purchased the latest release of Streets and Trips for each of the past seven years, I have been generally quite happy with the product. Streets and Trips 2008 is a very slight improvement over the 2007 version with updated map data. As with previous versions, I am happy with the speed and accuracy of the product and still somewhat disappointed there is no real-time map data updating or dynamic point-of-interest data available for purchase.

To evaluate the merits of the product like this, it is very important to understand that the actual data for the maps is not created by Microsoft. It would be foolish to fault them for the lack of a new street or an incorrectly marked highway exist. Map data creation and refinement is a multi-billion dollar industry provided by companies like Chicago-based Navteq, which recently was acquired by Nokia for $8 billion dollars. These companies create the data, often with initial information from the government, refine it, and then sell it to other entities like Microsoft, Garmin and Ford.

People often ask why would one pay for map software when web-based applications are provided by services like Mapquest for free. The answer is that there are several reasons to consider this product over "free" alternatives. These include:

1) SPEED ....
Streets and Trips is incredibly fast and does not require an Internet connection. This is great for road warriors who are on the go and need to determine their destination in airports and on airplanes.

2) FLEXIBILITY...
Streets and Trips allows you to change cosmetic items like font size and map style. Maps can also be saved as files for future access and modification. So, even if you need to map a local trip like a home shopping outing, you can map out your travels in granular detail. As you research your house hunting treks, your saved map can be updated with your new finds. Additionally, you can draw on top of the map and various notations.

3) NO ADVERTISEMENTS & WASTED INK...
Unlike Mapquest, there is no extraneous information on printed maps. You can control what appears on the paper.

4) POWER USER FUNCTIONALITY...
Streets and Trips contains features found on sophisticated logistics software. For example, there is a route optimization function that identifies the most efficient route based on a collection of stops. Also, you can adjust the estimated driving speed for different segment based on your particular knowledge of the roads (i.e. slower for rush hour). Oddly, Microsoft took away specific driving speeds in mph for different types of roads starting in 2007, which I feel was a huge mistake. Rather, there are sliders that say "slower-average-faster".

But there are downsides...

While there is some there is connectivity with the outside world in this version of Streets and Trips, it is limited. Basically, it does provide updated construction information over the Internet for free. In the "connected services" version of Streets and Trips, you can obtain traffic and gas price information through a MSN direct, which obtains data through an FM receiver. Such connectivity is for navigation on the go. Yet, this doesn't make any sense as Streets and Trips can't be safely used as an in-vehicle navigation device. Even on a PDA or ultramobile PC, the proper touchscreen interface is not available. Moreover, there are so many well-designed PND (personal navigation devices) such as Dash's networked PND (i.e. the PND actually uploads the subscriber's speed and location), that Microsoft has no hope of competing in this market.

So, where does this leave Streets and Trips 2008? It is about halfway to where it needs to be. I am sure the concept of dynamically updated map and point-of-interest data hasn't escaped Microsoft engineers. The question still remains as to how they can provide this valuable information at price point where the average consumer will pay for it.

I have had versions of MS streets and trips since they began years ago. I try to upgrade every year or two. I use it on my desktop and two laptops. When I recently upgraded, I was told that was not a problem. When I received the software, and tried to install it, I would not allow me to install it the third time. I called support and was promised they would find a way and get back to me in an hour. Four hours later, I called again, and was told they could not get back to me and had not found how I could install again. I was referred to a supervisor who again told me he would help and get back to me in an hour or two. That was a week ago. I have made repeated calls and e-mails to this person who never gets back to me. I wish I had gone with there competitors this time around. I can no longer recommend Streets and Trips over the compitition.

Tried to install the software on my desktop computer. All went well until it came time to activate the software (over the Internet). The attempt returned a network error, and continued to do so on every subsequent attempt. I then spent hours on the phone to Microsoft without any success activating it. The case was elevated and I was told that they (Microsoft) would be in touch. That was two weeks ago and I have not heard another peep from Microsoft. In the meantime, I have discovered that this is a "known problem" with Streets & Trips 2008. But, unfortunately, the solution to the problem is apparently still unknown. Bottom line? Inexcusable crap. I would give this software no stars if I could.

I'm a wrecker dispatcher outside the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I've been using Streets and Trips since 03 or 04. I use the program all day long. The program itself is great. I can map several addresses in seconds. The problem I have is ,Every year the map gets worse. It's good at finding the road but finding the numerics on the road sticks. I cannot pull up the numerics on My business on the Main Street in this town of over 30,000. I've been in my house for 3 years. I know the house has been there for 2 years before that. I can still not pull up my own street and I live just outside of Fort Worth. I think microsoft thinks its more important to know where every hole in the wall resturant is than pulling up an exact address. I do think this program is better than the other maps I've seen and I think Microsoft is a great company. I hope Microsoft reads this and decides to fix their numeric problems. Unless some one builds a better map, I'll be buying Streets & Trips 2009.

Streets & Trips program scores A+
Tech Support scores F-

I have been using Streets & Trips for several years. I am a professional person, now retired and leading a full time RV lifestyle. I change locations frequently and use Streets & Trips daily. I am mature, mild mannered, kind, thoughtful, and very patient. I am not a computer expert, but I have been using computers since the days of DOS. I use and maintain two computers and a network.

I purchased and installed Streets & Trips 2008 in October 2007. In April 2008, for no apparent reason, it quit working. It would not load. With any other program, I would suspect that a file had become corrupted; I could uninstall and reinstall the program, insert the product ID, and be up and running again in a few minutes. I uninstalled and reinstalled Streets & Trips twice; oddly, it did not ask for product ID and it still would not load. [ONE HOUR] I went online to Microsoft Help, found my problem clearly defined with advice to call tech support at [800] 936-5700 5AM to 9PM Pacific Time Monday through Friday.

I called Tech Support; it appears to be OUTSOURCED. Over the years I have had consistently poor to disastrous (computer crashes) results from outsourced support and will not knowingly buy a program with outsourced support if there is an alternative.

MICROSOFT IS NOT AN IMPOVERISHED COMPANY AND COULD WELL AFFORD 24/7 AMERICAN TECH SUPPORT.

I was assigned a case number, 1066295656, and began a tortuous journey. The task was to go to www.support.microsoft.com/ea which would access a Microsoft program called Easy Assist which would allow tech support to take control of my computer and secretively solve the problem without allowing me to know how it was done.

Following technician's instructions, I was not able to access Easy Assist. Technician frequently put me on hold, then returned to give additional instructions to disable programs running on my computer until only Microsoft programs were running. We worked this way for 2 hours on the first day, 2 hours on the second day, and 2 hours on the third day. [SIX HOURS] Technician then declared that he had exhausted all options and that he would need to refer me to a Microsoft Server tech support. I related my sad story to the clerk who answered the phone; she transferred me to the Server tech where I related the sad story again. Server tech then informed me that there was nothing wrong with my computer. THE SERVER IS DOWN - ITS JUST SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS - THERE IS NOTHING TO DO BUT WAIT.

MICROSOFT IS NOT AN IMPOVERISHED COMPANY AND COULD WELL AFFORD TO FIELD RELIABLE SERVERS AS GOOGLE DOES.

IT ALSO SEEMS TO ME THAT THE SUPPORT TECH SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THE SERVER WAS DOWN BEFORE THE HOURS OF UNSUCCESSFUL REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO REACH THE SERVER.

A Microsoft representative then telephoned me to inquire whether I was satisfied with the tech support; I complained energetically. I was informed that my complaint was being given "Red Alert" status and that a Microsoft executive would call me within two business days - didn't happen.

After several days recuperation I made another call to tech support, got a new case number, 1068747744, and a new technician. This time the process proceeded as planned and the problem was solved; my phone timer revealed that the uncomplicated and successful process had still consumed 48 minutes! I was then transferred to the technician's supervisor who inquired about my level of satisfaction; I replied that I was satisfied with that particular technician but that I was extremely angry with the Microsoft policies and procedures and servers that had wasted many hours of my time. I was again informed that a Microsoft executive would call me within two business days - I did get a call from a Team Manager for Microsoft Home Products.

I was then faced with the task of enabling all the programs that had been disabled. [TWO HOURS]

So Microsoft squandered 9 HOURS of my time and caused me to suffer overwhelming stress and frustration. In my professional life I bill $100 an hour, so Microsoft owes me $900 in compensatory damages for wasting my time, and $500,000 for punitive damages to compensate for my newly acquired Tech Support Phobia which will haunt me until the end of my days. I suffer extreme anxiety by just contemplating Microsoft Tech Support.

My take on this (which may be biased) is that Microsoft responded to its paranoia about persons misusing Streets & Trips by attempting to thwart dishonest persons, utilizing a combination of the worst characteristics of the Gestapo, the KGB, the CIA, the IRS, and the Bush White House to field a complicated, clandestine, circuitous tech support process which punishes and tortures both honest and dishonest persons.

READERS MAY BE ABLE TO DISCERN THAT I AM REALLY MAD ABOUT THIS.

Although the connected services create a cluttered map and are not completely thought out yet I was enjoying this product until it deactivated itself in the middle of a road trip. Yes, it wanted reactivation or it would not work. I had no internet connection in my vehicle and I was not carrying my product key with me. Result a worse than useless product. The idea of activation of a product that only functions with microsoft provided hardware is ridiculous. I am angry and will not buy again.

I have installed this software every year for the last 6 years.
However, this is the first upgrade requiring activation. I could not activate it, either on-line or by phone despite numerous attempts over four hours.
So I just chucked it and went back to using Streets & Trips 2007!
A complete waste of money!

Product won't activate on my desktop machine. Won't run, won't register, nothing. MS says they are working on the problem and will have a solution on 7-10 days. Meanwhile my $$ spent are worth nothing. I wouldn't buy this product if you need to use it right now, it won't work.