Best mapping / trip-planning software?

[NTB]

I got a copy of MS Streets & Trips with my laptop a few years back, but I seem to have lost it. I've got a couple of giftcards for BestBuy, so I was thinking about picking up an updated copy of the program, or something similar - there are a couple of different ones. If you've used any of them before, which one did you like best and why? Or, if they're all more or less equal, what are the biggest weakspots you've found for them? Any opinions one way or the other will be appreciated!

Nate

 

[KLin]

you can get the newest version of streets and trips with a GPS for around 100 bucks.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: KLin
you can get the newest version of streets and trips with a GPS for around 100 bucks.

with purchase of a GPS or with an included GPS?

if latter, link?

 

[HN]

http://www.delorme.com/earthmate/
(though Street Atlas 2005, not streets and trips)

 

[KLin]

Text

The GPS connects to your laptop via USB. it's not a standalone GPS

 

[stan394]

for the record, google maps sucks. I use AAA maps, hardcopy

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: stan394
for the record, google maps sucks. I use AAA maps, hardcopy

How so? I've never had a problem with it, but then I've never used it for anything bigger than a 1- or 2-hour drive.

Nate

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: KLin
Text

The GPS connects to your laptop via USB. it's not a standalone GPS

Saaaawwweeettt. I've never even see anything like this before. I'm gonna have to research this a little...

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: KLin
Text

The GPS connects to your laptop via USB. it's not a standalone GPS

Saaaawwweeettt. I've never even see anything like this before. I'm gonna have to research this a little...

same here.

Nate

 

[stan394]

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: stan394
for the record, google maps sucks. I use AAA maps, hardcopy

How so? I've never had a problem with it, but then I've never used it for anything bigger than a 1- or 2-hour drive.

Nate

Gmaps' interface was indeed very cool, but the direction still needs a lot of improvement/bug fixing. A number of tests in San Francisco either gives me a wrong direction (blocked street, tunnels), or inefficient directions. Mapquest seems to at least doing a better job overall.

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: KLin
Text

The GPS connects to your laptop via USB. it's not a standalone GPS

Saaaawwweeettt. I've never even see anything like this before. I'm gonna have to research this a little...

A co-worker of mine has this and we used it in Pittsburgh. It worked very well, except for driving in tunnels.

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: stan394

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: stan394
for the record, google maps sucks. I use AAA maps, hardcopy

How so? I've never had a problem with it, but then I've never used it for anything bigger than a 1- or 2-hour drive.

Nate

Gmaps' interface was indeed very cool, but the direction still needs a lot of improvement/bug fixing. A number of tests in San Francisco either gives me a wrong direction (blocked street, tunnels), or inefficient directions. Mapquest seems to at least doing a better job overall.

Ah, I guess in a bigger city it might not work so well. St. Louis isn't quite on par with anything out on the West Coast

Nate

 

[stan394]

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: stan394

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: stan394
for the record, google maps sucks. I use AAA maps, hardcopy

How so? I've never had a problem with it, but then I've never used it for anything bigger than a 1- or 2-hour drive.

Nate

Gmaps' interface was indeed very cool, but the direction still needs a lot of improvement/bug fixing. A number of tests in San Francisco either gives me a wrong direction (blocked street, tunnels), or inefficient directions. Mapquest seems to at least doing a better job overall.

Ah, I guess in a bigger city it might not work so well. St. Louis isn't quite on par with anything out on the West Coast

Nate

maybe it's just me. I like to just spread the AAA map on the floor and just look at it for hours. Then when i visit places where I have never been to before, I would have felt I have been there before. who needs GPS?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: stan394

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: stan394
for the record, google maps sucks. I use AAA maps, hardcopy

How so? I've never had a problem with it, but then I've never used it for anything bigger than a 1- or 2-hour drive.

Nate

Gmaps' interface was indeed very cool, but the direction still needs a lot of improvement/bug fixing. A number of tests in San Francisco either gives me a wrong direction (blocked street, tunnels), or inefficient directions. Mapquest seems to at least doing a better job overall.

Yea Gmaps is not that good for SF. I noticed that too. MSN Mappoint works VERY well for Oakland/Berkeley and SF.

ANd in the end AAA maps do rule. I carry like about 10 of them to cover the entire Bay Area. However, I got lost in Mtn View downtown the other day cuz I only had Palo Alto and Cupertino/Sunnyvale maps >< (well the other like 8 were irrelevant), but nothing in the middle

 

[DaWhim]

i use mappoint, it is good

 

[stan394]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Yea Gmaps is not that good for SF. I noticed that too.

Try this:

Start: stockton st and bush st, san francisco
End: Stockton St & Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94108

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: stan394

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Yea Gmaps is not that good for SF. I noticed that too.

Try this:

Start: stockton st and bush st, san francisco
End: Stockton St & Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94108

wrong way up a 1-way street. Nice

Nate

 

[stan394]

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: stan394

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Yea Gmaps is not that good for SF. I noticed that too.

Try this:

Start: stockton st and bush st, san francisco
End: Stockton St & Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94108

wrong way up a 1-way street. Nice

Nate

actually no. Stockton street, starting from Sutter going north, is a tunnel. Stockton & Bush is at a higher level (above the tunnel) than Stockton & Sutter. so there is no direct way to get between these 2 corners

 

[NTB]

well, after looking at Amazon and Epinions, it looks like all of them are piss poor and I get the impression that Streets and Trips has actually gone downhill (pardon the pun) since the '01 or '02 version that I had.

Nate

 

[Otaking]

Originally posted by: stan394
for the record, google maps sucks. I use AAA maps, hardcopy

I concur. Google Maps got me lost in the boonies.

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: Otaking

Originally posted by: stan394
for the record, google maps sucks. I use AAA maps, hardcopy

I concur. Google Maps got me lost in the boonies.

lol :laugh: Hate it when that happens.

Nate

 

[thehstrybean]

Originally posted by: NTB
well, after looking at Amazon and Epinions, it looks like all of them are piss poor and I get the impression that Streets and Trips has actually gone downhill (pardon the pun) since the '01 or '02 version that I had.

Nate

Yeah, Best Buy had the Steets & Trips on sale with the GPS for $99...Looked at CNet for reviews, and everything said that it sucked...I'd get a Pharos GPS and find some software...

 

[rh71]

I use Mappoint.

 

[mercanucaribe]

I use Magellan Mapsend with my Sportrak Color since it does turn by turn directions. The screen is tiny since it's a handheld unit, but it's a lot more convenient than lugging around a laptop.