5 of 5 customers found the following review helpful:
 The Last Gasp of a Once-Great Company, 2003-09-15
Version 9.0 is still the best mapping software I have used, and I have tried many. Yes, it is now dated, and it's maps are dated, it being 2003 as I write this. I notice a bad review just above mine that mentions tabbed interface which is the later (and IMHO inferior) SA 200x versions, someone posted that review under v9 by mistake. This version is not MAXIMUM CAPABILITY, it is clean simple and trim, like mapping software should be. It does a limited number of things, but figuring out how to do the basics is largely intuitive to a Windows user. It doesn't have the atrocious tabbed interface Delorme adopted later.V9 has many good things:
1) FAST and efficient!
I run my V9 on an old ThinkPad 560X (Pentium 233MMX) and it runs just great! Try that with newer mapping software. I like that I can leave my cheapo laptop in the trunk and not worry if it gets stolen after all it only cost me a hundred bucks off EBay.
2) SIMPLE
Using the classic Windows interface it's easy to operate. It may not have the new features of 2004 like voice commands or radar serch but then again it's not bloatware. It does the limited set of things it does, very well.
3) Back-on-track!
I love this feature if I overshoot the exit it will recalc and tell me how to recover.
4) Map extraction
You can run the map extractor and install only the states you need if you don't have enough space for the whole US. Nice! My 560X doesn't even have a CD-ROM so I installed the states I needed over the network and never have to refer to CD's again.
5) Voice navigation
Okay, voice is not the best and not changeable, but it does give me audible cue I need to exit soon or whatever
6) Quick keys. There are quick keys like page-up/page-down to zoom and arrow keys to recenter that are easy to find in the dark on most keyboards or in my case a slimline IBM numeric keypad. Yes it has some issues and I have a wishlist of items I wish it had like select the voice to use, etc. but still the best out there! I just wish Delorme would sell map updates for this veteran. Ah well... Unfortunately Delorme has become fixated on it's new tabbed product and discontinued this excellent product. Avoid SA 2003 and 2004. Find a copy of V9 on Ebay or in the bargain bin and use it for a few more years until something better comes along.
Better than in car GPS systems., 2003-05-27
I use this product all the time. I have used a variety of GPS systems in different cars. This system, is by far, much better than all the rest. It even tells you radio stations in your area.
6 of 6 customers found the following review helpful:
Great Product Wrong Seller, 2002-10-22
...This product works excellent, especially when integrated with DeLorme's 8 channel GPS ReceiverI have used their product for years staring with version 5.0 through version 9.0 and in terms of usability and accuracey you won't find a better piece of equipment for your money. This product will operate through most Palm/Handheld devices or for the over the road traveler like myself integrating both the hardware and software is easy and effective with the use of my laptop. I have used a variety of other brands like TravRoute in addition to the weak handheld GPS units like Garmon, Magellan and nothing in my "opinion" gives you more bang for the buck than DeLorme. Word to the wise don't be too quick to get their latest version; Street Atals 2003. It's very new and very different and resembles their X-Map Business software which I found to be much more cumbersome and less functional in many ways.
1 of 1 customers found the following review helpful:
 Yipes! I Snipe About This Tripe! I REALLY Wanted to Like It., 2002-09-20
I had a problem with Microsoft Streets & Trips and when I reported the missing address - not just the library at the address, but the entire section of a major street in a county seat - and I got a "Mailbox Full" error from Microsoft, I figured what the heck, go with the map specialists, and they have a 30 day money back guarantee. Hey, how bad can it be. How can they go wrong. Boy, was I wrong! Step 1 - In the installation, they don't ask you if you want to install the data in addition to the program. With modern mega-gigabyte drives, that is a no-brainer. Step 2 - I track down how to load the data disk, following the steps to the letter. Step 3 - I start the program and I am told that the data disk is missing. Duh, guys, you just told me how to load it. Esc, esc, esc... ad nauseaum.. I get to the program. Step 4 - I will be doing a lot of local travel researching a book so I'm not worried about hotels, restaurants, ATMs, etc. so I want to know how to find libraries. Oh... that's not in our standard list of interesting places. I'll admit that they do have beautiful maps and it was pretty cool to just choose Public Libraries when I did find the search feature. Step 4 - My God, what kind of interface is this?? I thought the tabs at the bottom would be cool, but as much I as I used to hate Windows, sometimes I flipped through all the tabs and did not have a clue, not a clue where to find things beyond the first level of menu. As someone mentioned earlier about not being a computer dummy, I have been a PC software analyst since the late 70s covering packages in CP/M, DOS, W3.1, Win98 and Win2k. I have frequently had to pick up packages with no manual and no instruction. This is one of the clumsiest interfaces I have ever seen. Within 30 minutes of installing this package, I was packing it up for return. I don't mind paying the shipping and handling and tracking fees just to get this piece of tripe off my computer. I hate to be mean to these guys so I won't call them and say "WHAT were you thinking??"
4 of 4 customers found the following review helpful:
Yipes! I Snipe About This Tripe! I REALLY Wanted to Like It., 2002-09-20
I had a problem with Microsoft Streets & Trips and when I reported the missing address - not just the library at the address, but the entire section of a major street in a county seat - and I got a "Mailbox Full" error from Microsoft, I figured what the heck, go with the map specialists, and they have a 30 day money back guarantee. Hey, how bad can it be. How can they go wrong. Boy, was I wrong! Step 1 - In the installation, they don't ask you if you want to install the data in addition to the program. With modern mega-gigabyte drives, that is a no-brainer. Step 2 - I track down how to load the data disk, following the steps to the letter. Step 3 - I start the program and I am told that the data disk is missing. Duh, guys, you just told me how to load it. Esc, esc, esc... ad nauseaum.. I get to the program. Step 4 - I will be doing a lot of local travel researching a book so I'm not worried about hotels, restaurants, ATMs, etc. so I want to know how to find libraries. Oh... that's not in our standard list of interesting places. I'll admit that they do have beautiful maps and it was pretty cool to just choose Public Libraries when I did find the search feature. Step 4 - My God, what kind of interface is this?? I thought the tabs at the bottom would be cool, but as much I as I used to hate Windows, sometimes I flipped through all the tabs and did not have a clue, not a clue where to find things beyond the first level of menu. As someone mentioned earlier about not being a computer dummy, I have been a PC software analyst since the late 70s covering packages in CP/M, DOS, W3.1, Win98 and Win2k. I have frequently had to pick up packages with no manual and no instruction. This is one of the clumsiest interfaces I have ever seen. Within 30 minutes of installing this package, I was packing it up for return. I don't mind paying the shipping and handling and tracking fees just to get this piece of tripe off my computer. I hate to be mean to these guys so I won't call them and say "WHAT were you thinking??"
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Amazon Sales Rank:#11708