Microsoft Streets and Trips.

Does anyone else here have this GPS system on their laptop?

I wasn't sure it was something I wanted so instead of buying the latest greatest version I bought an older version that came with the gps module. I must say I love it. I'm in the process now of getting a laptop mount for my truck so I can use it easier and safer. It of course has the bigger screen and voice prompts. Best thing I like is I can plan a route down to the last detail at home then go through the trip and not have to enter the next destination every time we finish with the first.

For all intents and purposes the older version is fine. I downloaded the new version late friday night and took it with me to Kansas City to try it out and there were still a lot of roads that weren't updated. I think your going to find this with any GPS system and I know that the updated Streets and trips is only about 30 bucks but to update my Garmin c550 is about 70.00

Streets and Trips is an excellent GPS system for laptops. I have both the 2007 and the 2008 version. The only things I don’t like about S&T are that the voice prompts are a bit weak and hard to hear when traveling on a highway at 65 MPH. I wish they would make “Microsoft Annie’s” voice louder. The other negative is that if you do a search for nearby “points of interest” they MAY or MAY NOT be positioned in the right place on the map. This was especially true of campground POI’s in the 2007 version. Many corrections were made in the 2008 version but errors still exist.

I use Streets and Trips for our trip planning, but I use my TomTom GPS for actual navigation when driving. I usually have to adjust TomTom to match the route I’ve laid out using S&T.

This year for Christmas I have asked for Delorme Street Atlas 2009 so that I can compare that software to Microsoft S&T.

I also have CoPilot 10 for Laptops and after testing it out in 2007 I never used it again. I found the maps to be incredibly out of date. My part of the subdivision where I live is over 15 years old and none of the streets were on CoPilot’s map.

I use my GPS and navigation software as an AID for driving and planning. NEVER put your complete trust in any GPS system. The driver of the bus in the photo below blamed his GPS for navigating him into this low overpass.

Thanks for your observations. There were more problems with the bus driver other than him trusting his GPS. You have to be alert and use your head for things other than holding your ears apart.

I use POI Factory to download points of interest into both my Garmin and my Streets and Trips.

Just last night I downloaded all the campgrounds. You should have seen the map. Completely covered in pushpins and I checked several and they were very close to or at the actual location of the campground.

Worst part is you can't turn the push pins on or off so you have to make and save a map with the different sets of push pins and bring them up as you need them.

Here is a link to POI Factory. http://www.poi-factory.com/

That is good information. I had the Trailer Life CD's in '05 and then purchased Street Atlas in '07. I found Street Atlas to be combersom and am looking for something more user friendly that will allow stops along the way without getting complicated. I use a street pilot in the truck, but the software for planning.

Big Dave wrote:
Here is a link to POI Factory. [url=http://www.poi-factory.com/

http://www.poi-factory.com/[/quote[/url]]

Dave, this is a GREAT site isn't it? I've been going to it for many months, I even downloaded the program to change the words in the Garmin, no more RECALCULATING, more like hey dummy, you missed the turn.

It is a great site. I haven't changed the voice yet, I just turn it down so I can't hear it. It gets annoying after a while.

I love Streets & Trips. The big screen on a lap top is much better than any handheld GPS.

I have a GPS on my Motorola Q9H phone. I used it in Hawaii and it helped immensely. You have to have a signal for the maps to down load. There is a program that stores the maps on the SD card on the phone. It is a free service on the Live Search Mobile website (MSN?). It gives turn by turn beeps. I found out after you travel over 150mph the phone's CPU can't calculate/triangulate the location even with 7-8 satellites in view. I was experimenting on take-off back to the mainland (shhh. don't tell).

I have a GPS on my Motorola Q9H phone. I used it in Hawaii and it helped immensely. You have to have mobile service for the maps to download. There is a program that stores the maps on the SD card on the phone. It is a free service on the Live Search Mobile website (MSN?). It gives turn by turn beeps. I found out after you travel over 150mph the phone's CPU can't calculate/triangulate the location even with 7-8 satellites in view. I was experimenting on take-off back to the mainland (shhh. don't tell).