What other people say about Microsoft Streets and Trips 2006 With GPS Locator[Old Version]

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Microsoft Streets and Trips 2006 With GPS Locator[Old Version] From:Microsoft , Microsoft Software ,
See Product Page	User Rating:Amazon Sales Rank:#1383

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24 of 24 customers found the following review helpful: You need a better GPS than this, sometimes, 2005-12-16 Why do I say this? It's because when you're stopped or near an intersection, the software can get totally confused and send you, with the voice navigation, 90 (or 180) degrees in the wrong direction. Then you have to stop and get directions again, or turn around if you discover in time. U-turns are frequent enough to cause it to lose 1 star. However, I like the software because it greatly helped me during a cross-country drive to move to Syracuse, NY, with no navigator to help, and it fit every need at least fairly, including trip planning from start to finish. I was able to estimate my trip costs, plan for hotel stays, and know exactly how many days it takes to get from the West Coast to Central New York (depends on how many hours you drive, sightseeing, etc), as well as how much driving I would have to do each day. Also, the one time I missed a freeway exit, I was able to take the next exit and find a quick short cut to the correct route that I may not have found (at least without panicing), to get me back on track. The reason the software doesn't know where you're going is that when you're stopped, it is not able to sense the direction the sensor is pointing, because the sensor has no specified orientation within the vehicle. Also, it doesn't know about which way you're steering or anything like that (as with some in-car models). This is ok for a GPS which is as cheap as this one. However, it is worth noting this, and you can expect to make a few wrong turns now and then, even after you get used to this software. It really helps if you have another person to tell you what you'll be doing next, and if you don't, this software will substitute for that, but not do as good of a job as you wish, on some occasions. However, it will do it for cheap, and this is not normal for a GPS unit. (There is an equivalent, almost as cheap, but it suffers from many of the same flaws) Also, it doesn't know every street and in some cases will not be able to find streets when searching, even when you enter the name in correctly. Mapquest or Google Maps is much better in this regard. Sometimes it does not accurately point to the ending location, especially where there is an overpass, or change in street numbering. This flaw is known to all of the different map programs, including more expensive systems. You just have to rely on the locals (or your cell phone) to get you to the final destination, sometimes. Features include: 1) The ability to plot your directions based on your current location, even if you do not know your current location. 2) The ability to search for nearby gas stations (saved me one time), hotels, ATMs, and restaurants. 3) The ability to give vocal prompts when you need to turn or when it thinks you need gas or need to take a break. (The gas mileage and time between breaks, when you start and end the driving day, etc., is all easy to configure.) 4) The ability to replot your directions if you go off-route, with a single click of the mouse. 5) The ability to plan trips, including where to stay overnight, where to get gas, etc. Or, the ability, if you are "winging" it, to get to the nearest gas station if you are about to run out of gas. (The ability to search for almost every meaningful landmark within a 35 mile radius.) 6) USB plug-in GPS sensor unit keeps your position most of the time, even if the unit falls off the dash (see below). 7) The ability to synch with a more expensive GPSs (although I'm not sure if it's compatible with the majority or not); ones that will sense direction as well as position. Cons: Sometimes the software tells you to do something that sends you in the wrong direction. Related: often it says "off route" without you being off-route. This can be very confusing at times. Sometimes the software will tell you "Turn in 2 tenths of a mile", but you are at a point where you can't tell which block to turn on, even if you do happen to look at the odometer. It won't say, "turn now", or "turn in 50 yards", as with some more expensive systems. The suction cup on the GPS unit will not stick to anything, and will not stay stuck to glass for very long, either. You may lose your signal if it falls off. This can be remedied by not using the suction cup and just putting it on the seat or with your passenger. It will not lose the signal there, unless it falls under the seat, at which point you may have to stop to get it back. You are unable to pick the "fastest route" vs. the "slowest route", as with some GPS systems, and it is very difficult to change the route without adding artificial stops or using the sub-menu which doesn't always list the segment you need to avoid. Also: sometimes it's just easier to memorize the directions and not worry about having a laptop to tell you which way to go. Mapquest (or whatever) will do that for you just fine. However, if you get lost, then having a GPS can really help. Just don't rely on this every time you need to find something, as it will let you down. 12 of 47 customers found the following review helpful: VERY SLOW SHIPPING!!!!, 2005-12-15 I really can not rate item itself, I HAVE NOT RECIEVED IT YET!! I AM VERY DISSATISFIED with Amazon's shipping. I Ordered on 12/5/05 Item said it would ship in 2 days it has now been 10 days and is still waiting to be shipped. I was origianly quoted as it being delivered between the 12-14th. Now they say 21-23. 10 DAYS AND ITS NOT EVEN LEFT AMAZON YET!!!! This is NOT GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE!!! 15 of 15 customers found the following review helpful: A Life-Saver, 2005-12-11 As a Federal Law Enforcement Agent with a lot of unfamiliar territory to patrol, this product paid off many times over. I first began using Streets & Trips 2005 w/GPS Locator on a trip to Washington DC. There was not a street in DC that it did not know, leading to a much more enjoyable vacation than those of straining to read paper maps. This version is much improved with the voice prompts and night driving maps. I work the night shifts and the brightness from the previous day maps was straining my night vision. The night driving maps allow me to see where I am going much easier. The new GPS prompts allow me to get places fast, allowing me to drive and not watch the screen. I can easily see when I have to make my next turn, which direction, and how far, allowing me to focus on driving to emergencies. My only complaint is that it does take some interesting ways of getting you to your destination. Just take some time when planning the route and make sure it is taking you the way you want. If not, just click on the route and drag it to the street you want to take. It is that easy! Overall, this outstanding product has allowed me to be very efficient in many unfamiliar cities, responding to areas I have never been like a pro. 18 of 20 customers found the following review helpful: Excellent product, 2005-12-07 I'm new to GPS world but I think this peoduct is great. Installing the software and the GPS locator was very very easy. It worked right away. I took my laptop for a spin in my car and I was impressed. the GPS maintained its lock in all considtions. There are a couple of things that I would like to see changed though 1- I didn't like the synthetic voice. I couldn't get it loud enough to hear over my radio. A solution is to hockup one of those signal transmitters and listen to the audio through your car radio. I havn't tried it yet but I will soon 2- When I'm off route, The program didn't try to calculate another route unless I'm closer to a new exit in the street that the one I missed. Instead it insisted that I turn back. I wish they could fix this. Other than that. Its a great deal (software + GPS), good price. I highly recommend it 27 of 36 customers found the following review helpful: Great to have a GPS, but not without quirks, 2005-12-04 Pros : 1. A mapping software that I have used for 5 years... same Streets and Trips. No learning curve there 2. Nice auto pan and zoom Cons: 1. The audio directions occur only just before the turn I need to make, does not give me enough time to change lanes etc (this could be big issue in NY and NY area :). In other s/ws Delrome, Tom Tom etc you get more than one prompts. But Streets & Trips gives only one announcement and that too only about .1 - .2 miles before you gotta make the turn or take an exit. 2. Voice prompts are text-to-speech, and not the pre-recorded voice, which I think is better to understand 3. Voice volume is very low, even though I have changed and played with all my Windows XP as well as laptop volume settings. 4. No indication of 'miles to destination' - it shoul be in bif bolds.
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