Customer Reviews

Microsoft Streets & Trips with GPS Locator 2010

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(41)
3 star:		(29)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I purchased this program with GPS recently to use with my laptop as a navigator on road trips. I have used it on a couple short trips so far, and it works great. Getting ready to use it on a long, 7,000+ mile road trip. Easy to use, easy to change course for side trips. I like the display of all restaurants and motels at any given spot. Great price - approximately $50. I saw this same product at Office Depot for $75. I like it better than a Garmin GPS I purchased a couple years ago for $500.

Only a couple of complaints. First, the documentation and help for this are horribly inadequate, causing a serious learning curve in order to figure out all the features. Be prepared for a lot of trial and error before you can quickly and easily navigate with this thing. You're on your own.

Second, the audio is VERY low. I have my laptop volume as far up as it can possibly go, and I still cannot understand the navigation voice over highway noise. And I drive a brand new car that is quite quiet. They definitely need to put a volume control on the program itself. I mean seriously, this is made to use in a car! What was MS thinking?

Third, the database of sites that can be displayed on the map is terribly inadequate. If you set it to display schools, you won't see many schools. I realise that new schools are being built all the time, but even old schools are commonly not shown. Same with many other sites. It would also be nice if fire and police stations were in the database to be shown as an option.

Now the good stuff. The program was incredibly easy to install, set up, and get started using. No problems at all quickly getting on the road with it, albeit very basically.

Not sure what everyone is complaining about with the GPS hardware. It has worked just fine for me. During the several interstate trips I have taken since buying this, I have only a couple of times lost GPS contact. But I had the GPS module attached directly to the laptop. The problem was very quickly remedied by putting the GPS module on the dashboard, using the extension cable.

I am amazed at how many streets that I would never expect to see appear on this product. Even the streets on some military bases and many private roads. It is also very good about showing all names for a road when multiple names are used locally. There are obviously some inaccuracies found in all maps, and this one is no exception. Some long closed streets still show up, and some newer ones still do not. But overall, the accuracy is extremely impressive. I have used Delorme, and this program is definitely more accurate and easier to use.

I installed Microsoft Streets and Trips on my ASUS Eee PC 1000HE netbook.
Software installed easily and quickly using an external DVD drive. The computer recognized the GPS unit, however it could not find any satellites (in comparison the Garmin sitting next to it was finding 10 satellites).

I contacted Microsoft and through remote access the tech did the following. I asked him to send it in an email to me so I could provide it here.
*******
Following are the steps we did

Step 1: Click on START and then click on RUN. In the RUN box, type MSCONFIG and click on OK.

Step 2: Under System Configuration, click on Selective Startup, and uncheck the following items...

Process System.ini file
Process Win.ini file
Load Startup Items

Then click on the tab SERVICES and check the option - Hide all Microsoft Services. Then click on DISABLE ALL and the click on APPLY and CLOSE.

When prompted to, restart the PC and try Streets and Trips with the GPS, it should work. Once it Starts working, repeat Step 1 above, and then switch back to Normal Startup, apply that change and click on CLOSE. That will get the computer back to normal. Now, try Streets and Trips with the GPS again, and it should be working, with the PC in normal mode.

********

Once this was done the GPS did pick up satellites. However, when actually using it on the road the connection was dropped and picked up once every few minutes, then every time it would pick it up it would recalculate the trip again. After speaking again to the tech he told me that it might be that the USB ports are not powered enough. He got this information from another tech and sounded unsure about it. I myself do not know if this is true. Perhaps someone who does can comment on it. I learned also from the tech that there are two different GPS units provided with this software. I got a Navation GPS 168 with mine.
The software is great and intuitive. My 13 year old son quickly figured out how to use it. Great for finding restaurants, gas stations ect. You do need someone else to run it, it would be dangerous to be making adjustments while driving yourself.
I am giving it 3 stars, five stars for the software and one for the GPS receiver to average 3 overall. The only downside I have found to the software is that sometimes it knows the street name (displays it on the map) but still calls it a "local road" when speaking directions. I think it should work with a netbook, or if it does not they should tell you so in the description. Tech support was very helpful and even called me back to see if it was still working a few days later.


****UPDATE

We bought a longer USB cord for the GPS so it could be right up in the windshield and now it works much better. The cord supplied did not have a very tight connection and the short length made it hard to get it near a window. I am upgrading it to two stars, since now it works pretty well but Microsoft should have sprung for a slightly better USB cord that holds the GPS securely and reaches far enough to go into the window.

When using MS Streets with the GPS Doggle it allows 2D Map view rather than the 3D tunnel view that the Garmin/TomTom family of windshield GPS units offer. Have already found streets (that have been built for years) missing and 1 incorrect in a small area. There mapping company needs help. A co-worker with a TomTom that is a year older has the (missing) streets. Good program, but the data needs more updates sooner.

I've had four previous versions of this product before online mapping sites made the pre-trip-planning portion of this software mostly obsolete. It has had a good run. It still offers something to those who want to plan long road-trips in legs, I guess, but even that use is fading with more compact GPS systems. The mapping system does what it says it does, so that's fine....

What bothers me is how poorly the GPS hardware works. Upon first installation, I was right next to a window, and it could not pick up any satellites at all and asked if I had a clear view of the sky -- well, no, and unless you're driving in a convertible....

Finally, as a passenger in a mini-van, I was able to obtain "constant-intermittent" service. "Huh?" you might well ask. Well, at least every mile, the hardware would lose satellite tracking, reacquire it, and then squelch out in its chirpy/brittle voice (even my old GPS has 6 smooth voice-choices for English) that it was re-routing and tell me again and again and again what the next turn is. That became extremely annoying after about 3 minutes, as it was impossible to have a conversation in the vehicle, even when the next turn is in 51 miles.

I tried the male-to-famale USB cord they included to enhance the signal. It's 28" long (not including the connectors). This is just long enough to be too long to rest the receiver on your lap(top) and too short to tape it to the windshield or a window, which might actually be useful. Another loser component.

There's no traffic notification system designed into this system, which is something even my 2-year-old Garmin has. That feature saves me a LOT of time sitting in traffic, and I can't see going backwards to this MS offering.

Also, you can't just type in a destination while driving. You have to set up a complete "trip" before-hand. This is just silly. What you must do is create and plan a "trip" to your destination from some place you recently passed, while driving (disclaimer....), from whence it will re-route your "trip," just to make the unit function using the same approach it did years ago before the GPS component was introduced. It's almost as if the MS designers knew this was a dying breed and didn't bother to fix such obvious flaws, such as the passenger (or driver) trying to manage a laptop while driving....

There is a lengthy list of system requirements so I wanted to warn you of what they were so you would know before you choose to buy it.

System Requirements from their website:
PC with 300 megahertz or higher processor clock speed
One of the following operating systems: Windows Vista® with Service Pack 1, Windows® XP with Service Pack 3, or Windows Server® 2003 with Service Pack 2 (64-bit versions of Windows XP and Windows Server excluded)
Internet Explorer® 5.5 browser software or later, Internet Explorer 7.0 included (will not displace your primary browser)
For Windows Vista: 1 GB of RAM
For Windows XP: 128 MB of RAM (256 MB recommended)
For Windows Server 2003: 256 MB of RAM
Running additional applications simultaneously may require additional memory
Available hard-disk space: 1.8 GB. Some users may require up to an extra 100 MB for System Files Update (hard disk usage will vary depending on configuration)
DVD-ROM drive
Super VGA (1024 × 768) or higher resolution monitor with 256 colors
Microsoft Mouse, Microsoft IntelliMouse®, or a compatible pointing device
Additional items or services required to use certain features:
For Voice Output: any of the operating systems listed in the system requirements and a compatible soundcard
Microsoft Exchange Server, Internet SMTP/POP3, IMAP4, or MAPI-compliant messaging software required to use Send to Mobile and Send To as attachment
Microsoft Office Outlook® 2003 or Office Outlook 2007 required to use "Send To as picture"
14,400-baud or higher recommended
Broadband Internet service strongly recommended for online search
Some Internet functionality may require Internet access and payment of a separate fee to an Internet service provider; local and/or long-distance telephone toll charges may apply
An available USB port


I used this device to plan a family trip to Niagara Falls, which I figured would be a good test as we had never been there before and we wanted to know about as many family-friendly things as possible and find a quick and safe route to and from there. We also have a Magellan 3000 and have used it for trips to places we have never been to. I have also had a good bit of experience working with in-vehicle mobile data systems.

Now the de-bunking:
Depending on which product description you read, you might come across the statement: "NEW-compact, cable-free GPS Locator." Which might lead you to believe that said device connects wirelessly to your PC, which it does NOT. It has a USB GPS receiver that is not wireless. You may have difficulty placing your laptop in a safe location that is also able to receive the GPS satellite broadcasts, so you might need to use a cable to place it where it will pick up the satellite broadcasts. The length of the included cable is very short, I would suggest you get a three foot USB extension cable (male to female -- NOT the kind you would use for a printer) and use that instead. In addition to that, you will want to put it some where that the screen will be visible / out of direct sunlight, usually, if you intend to glance at it during en-route navigation. You might also need a screen shade if sunlight is a problem. Another thing that might be distracting is the flashing `Microsoft' on the receiver.
[Also, when I say safe, you need to be able to attach you laptop to something that will hold it securely in case you have a crash and the airbags deploy and to prevent the laptop from slamming into your body.]

If you want to use it in your vehicle for extended periods, you will ALSO need a power supply for your laptop, which would be a DC to AC inverter for your regular power supply / battery charger or a DC to DC adapter so you can do without your power brick. Having the inverter may be a more versatile, but have the other one might be a little more efficient.

There is value in having a bigger screen, as long as it is not distracting while you are trying to drive.
The GPS receiver worked well, and fast, even inside my house, which has a very wide overhanging roof.
It seems to be able to search for and update construction information (which most cheaper, stand-alone units cannot) as long as you do that while online.

I think the real value of it is the planning side of things. It does not seem to have more data than the Magellan GPS we have, but it would be easier to update the software and data than with a stand-alone unit. I would like to be able to search for places we like along the way by name (like Cracker Barrel, for instance).

It seems to me like it would be useful if you are making sales calls and need to update where you are going once or twice a day.
It nags you that you are off route frequently if you are going slowly and changing lanes on a multi-lane roadway, so that can become annoying.
It is helpful to be able to print out the maps so you can become familiar with the route. Be sure to have your computer online BEFORE you install it, just in case you need a component that you do not already have installed.

All in all, I think this is a good tool for route planning, but it may not a safe or easy option for you to use for navigation.

Background:

I have been using Streets & Trips 2006 (ST2006) for several years with a Bluetooth SiRF star III receiver, mostly to get from point A to point B when I am driving in unfamiliar cities. I don't actually use its trip planning feature but I do use it to locate near-by gas stations. (That's the only point-of-interest that really interests me when I am on the road.) When I use ST2006, I always rely on a navigator, aka my gf in the passenger seat.

New features when compared to ST2006:

1. This version does Text-to-Speech on street names and I finally consider S&T a respectable product for drivers. But as other reviewers have noted, it doesn't actually understand "US 1" should be read as "you acts one". Instead it reads "us one" which is bearable but not desirable. But since I don't drive alone, the T-to-S feature has not been very useful.

2. Automatic reroute works great. In the past, if I miss an exit, it always keeps looping with "off route" until my navigator presses F3 to reroute (and demand the reason why I didn't follow her instructions... urr, maybe because there is a truck on the right lane just 20 yards behind us and it's too late to approach the exit?). This version will quickly supply us with new instructions. Now everyone is happy when I miss a turn, well, almost.

3. A new minor feature is the navigation view, which is a more natural projection of the map. We don't mind the old style "flat projection" though.

4. The toolbar is now black, and along with the full screen mode (F11), it's very friendly when driving at night.

5. The status bar actually shows how many GPS sats it can lock. In the past you just wait in the blank and wonder what's going on. Now at least you know you only have 1 sat visible and thus there is no lock.

Map quality:

Clearly, this is city specific. Although I don't need a GPS in my hometown, I did try to check the accuracy of the map. I live in Pittsburgh and the city area is very well mapped. The suburb is reasonable too and it even has some roads that were just opened in 2008. And speaking as a tourist, I can say that it works well for us in Philly and DC.

GPS Receiver:

One of the selling points of this particular product is the bundled GPS receiver, which is based on the u-blox 5 chipset. Overall the receiver has great locking performance and the white blanking Microsoft signs looks elegant (to me). In my experience, it is also about as accurate as it gets when you have a lot of high-rises near-by. (This is the one super annoying thing about driving in big cities and I don't think any GPS works really well in this situation, yet.) Thankfully, it does re-lock fast when the signal strength picks up again and so far we have been happy with the performance. In fact, we are using this in place of our older SiRF one. (Yes, most GPS softwares, including S&T, are based on a standard known as NEMA when talking to GPS devices. So you can do mix and match.)

Bottomline:

If I were to start today, I won't mind having this overall package at all. For the price, which is less than half of what I paid for my older solution back in 2006, you get a pretty decent routing software, good-to-great maps (at least for cities), and a terrific receiver that locks fast. This makes it a great gift for starters who do not have a high requirement (i.e., non-commercial drivers). I will seriously consider this when Christmas comes.

I've used Streets & Trips for several years now and have been pretty satisfied with the software itself. I decided to update to 2009 and get the GPS receiver with it this time. Being familiar with how a GOOD GPS works (I have both a Garmin auto and hand-held) I should have known better than to spend the extra money to get the Pharos receiver in the package. A wire coathanger could pick up satellites as good as this thing does.

For less than a hundred $$$ and my eeemachine I have a great GPS unit. Works great and will last a long time....... and much better than my mother-in-law giving me directions from the back seat!!!!

This product is not as easy to use as I thought it would be. I tried entering multiple stops and where streets were not marked and I missed the turn, it would tell me I was "off route" and direct me back to my last stop and start over. It had me going in circles. One set of directions provided wanted me to drive through a hospital. This was a very frustrating day. I should have purchased a Garmin.