Customer Reviews

National Geographic Back Roads Explorer 3D

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

While this software installed easily on my iMacG5, the map data CD's zoom and travel very slowly. Also no roads are named and routing is rudimentary at best. My dvd rom also burnt the yellow dye off the first data CD I put in the machine. None of these things has ever happened with my other mapping software. One could get better and more detailed mapping info online for free than with this. Finally, when the zoom is eventually accomplished, it is not at a very close scale. All in all, a very disappointing product.

Don't bother with this - I don't know how they managed to get the National Geographic name on this product. It's almost as if someone said "Let's scan a whole bunch of maps from USGS and put the worst interface in the world on the program."

Google maps and Google Earth have better maps, better road detail, and a better interface. Plus they have satellite photos. And they are free!

Don't waste your money. If i could rate it 0 or negative I would since it uses time and money and gives nothing in return.

As an owner of two different full state versions of Topo programs I have found the only way to really use the software is to do your thing and then save it as a pdf. If you load the whole program (all the CDs) on to a hard drive so it works seamlessly. This you can't do with Back Roads Explorer. If you want do do a search for a place that data is on CD1 along with the maps for California, where there is no way to know which files those are, and if you copy the whole file to a drive into the topo data folder, the program can't find it. Then once you find a place and picking one of several you have to go to the state CD. If that is not the place you are looking for it is back to CD1 and start all over again.

I tried to load the state CD and not all of it would copy to the Hard Drive. Cleaning the new disc didn't seem to have any effect, but it seems to work OK off the CD drive. I've had the same trouble with the state programs, but fooling around with cleaning and different computers it could eventually be accomplished and the moved by a flash disc.

The 18 CDs come with a half sheet instructions. The operating help is a simple 48 page pdf that is only slightly more detailed.

Having said all that, you get most of the full state versions (to level 4 of 5) and it is interesting to be able to follow the roads within a topographic relief and gps data. For the price it is a pretty good deal, but if you are just looking for general topo maps, satellite and aerial photos, and trace your own maps that is available online for free.

Could not believe that this product is from Nat. Geo. It is so bad

There is no detail whatsoever. Delorme Topo is way way by far better

Do not wast your money on this as I did.

My husband was looking for a topo program for the Adirondacks. Not exactly what he wanted. Ended up returning the product. Topography on this program is very basic.

I'm a long-distance bicyclist and this program is a lot of help--and a lot of fun!--in mapping out rides I have done, do regularly, or want to do. The maps come up quickly and the detail is fantastic, very accurate; click the proper button and street/road names come up to help you orient yourself. Clicks easily between detail levels of mapping. The elevation profiles are really helpful for a cyclist or hiker. There's a learning curve that could be easier, but all in all, it by far beats the online mapping programs I have used. Makes me wish I had a GPS so I could use all those features, as well. Highly recommended for people who have time and inclination to learn the program.

When I bought this the scale quoted for detail on the maps was the same for the state product as it was for the national product... so I bough the naional product. Now I've installed it and - SURPRISE! - when you click to zoom in, it takes you to a Nat Geo web site that asks you to buy the state map! The road I live on is NOT EVEN on the map.

kind of a cheesy review, but true. Its not all its written up to be, but it does have a few features that are worthy. The map detail is not very detail, and the 3d feature is not very useful, but if you looking for a simple topo mapping software without investing much cash, this might be for you.

I gave the Back Roads Explorer Computer Program as a gift, and he loved it! It really is perfect for the outdoorsman/fisherman/hunter/hiker who is interested in TOPO maps, elevation, and location. It also has a ton of "extras" like route planners, flag labels to list where you've been or where you're going, and upload capability for personal photos and notes. Maps are easy to download on your GPS system, too!

Well I Finally have both versions of Back Roads, non 3d and 3d. It ia a usable software but the supposed "high resolution" is just that at 24k level it is "OK" but when magnified they get fuzzy. The problem with this whole segment of the market is that almost all of them offer the same thing, and then charge $$$$ to get state by state, EXPENSIVE!!!!!, at least I have tried Garmin Magellan and others and the detial is the same at 24k same detail?!?!!?. So if you spend $20 or$120, you get the same, so save your money and just keep it simple and cheap. I have load Pocket topo into my PDA, same result as a $300 handheld, small screen and limited maps on expensive SD cards. Pocket Topo has a limited range of space it seems, so you need a SD card. Until screens get into the 7 inch region, they are just to small to be really readable. I have taken to downloading the new for 2011 photo/topo maps from USGS store for free, but like always the quads are large and have to be downloaded one at a time. I am loading areas that I hope to vacation near soon, and as a backup I have installed Back Roads in my laptop, Yes LAPTOP, and I can print what I need for local use. I will do it this way as chart maps and trial maps etc etc can become expensive fast if yuo have to use more then half a dozen. This program is ok, not bad for what it does, but until you get better screens on devices and massive memory to hold all the maps this will have to so......:)