Microsoft Street & Trips 2008 GPS with Connected Services
List Price: $129.99 Our Price: $102.49 You Save: $27.50 (21.2%) Availability: | Usually ships in 24 hours (as of 4:22 PM CT - detail) |
Turn your laptop PC into the ultimate GPS navigation systemThe #1 best-selling travel and map softwareIncludes a GPS locator plus an MSN Direct receiverFree 1-year subscription to MSN Direct serviceGet back on track with automatic re-routing
Product Description
Microsoft Streets & Trips 2008 with Connected Services combines the #1 best-selling travel and map software with a sleek GPS locator--plus an MSN Direct receiver and a 1-year trial subscription to the MSN Direct service for traffic updates and gas prices. This unique synergy provides traffic conditions and gas station locations and fuel prices from the road without an Internet connection!  Navigation Mode makes it easier than ever to know where you are. |  Avoid congestion, accidents, and disabled vehicles. |  Customizable trip planning options allow you to plan stops, scenic detours, and fuel stops; add multiple destinations; and quickly alter your route. | Turn your laptop PC into the ultimate GPS navigation system
New Product, Robust Features
- Includes an MSN Direct receiver that enables traffic and gas price updates over the FM band, without an Internet connection, and then works with Streets & Trips 2008 to help you navigate to where you want to go.
- Includes 1-year trial subscription to MSN Direct for gas prices and traffic updates. Gas prices are available in 100 of the largest cities across the U.S.; traffic information is available in a subset of these cities--so whether you travel across town or across the country, if you're in an MSN Direct coverage area, the service stays with you.
- Avoid congestion, accidents, and disabled vehicles. Receive traffic updates through the MSN Direct receiver, and then use Streets & Trips with Connected Services to navigate around trouble spots. Internet connection not needed for MSN Direct traffic updates and gas prices.
- Save at the pump by obtaining and comparing recent gas prices. MSN Direct sends updated local gas prices to the receiver, which then works with Streets & Trips 2008 to route you to the savings!
- For service areas, please visit streets.msndirect.com/coverage.
- Also, includes everything in Streets & Trips 2008 with GPS Locator.
- Use the perspective map view to get a road view more like you would see through your windshield.
- Hear spoken driving directions as you go.
- Full Screen Navigation Mode makes it easier than ever to know where you are.
- Keyword search helps you quickly find local business listings near your location. Search results automatically refresh as you move around the map.
Microsoft Streets & Tips: The #1 best-selling travel and map software
Microsoft Streets & Trips gives you accurate driving directions to just about anywhere in the United States and Canada. It also shows you more than 1.6 million points of interest to choose from--plus additional listings that you can download from the Web. With updated maps and extensive trip planning features, Streets & Trips will help you plan your trip, your way. New & Enhanced Features
- Includes updated maps of routable roads and highways throughout the United States and Canada.
- Identify one-way streets at a glance.
- Optimize your trip by calculating mileage, time, and expenses in advance.
- Includes 1.6 million points of interest such as ATMs, hotels, landmarks, and more that you can easily add to your route without the need to be online.
- Find current business listings when you're online, then take them with you!
- Keyword search helps you quickly find listings near your location by entering words such as "coffee." Search results automatically refresh as you move around the map, so you have the most relevant information.
- Navigation Mode makes it easier than ever to know where you are. Estimated drive time helps ensure you know how far you are from your destination.
- Customizable trip planning options allow you to plan stops, scenic detours, and fuel stops; add multiple destinations; and quickly alter your route.
- Avoid potential delays with free construction updates from the Web.
- Enhanced support for your GPS receiver:
- Use the new perspective map view to get a road view like the one you would see through your windshield.
- Automatic re-routing gets you back on track, even when you miss a turn!
Spotlight Customer Reviews:
Summary:
Not Happy
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Comment:
On a two thousand mile trip I was not once able to use the Connected Services. Basically I would say it is worthless.
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Summary:
Mixed bag
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Comment:
I've had S&T connected for about a week now and will probably keep it. Til now I've been using DeLorme software, which I like a lot but it doesn't have the connected features I wanted to try.
The downsides to S&T:
1. I bought it for use on a car computer installed in my vehicle. It's probably not up to the task but is easier to use than DeLorme. One major drawback for S&T is that DeLorme has voice input which makes for a nice hands off experience. So far S&T is easier to use, has a better display but is distracting if I have to use the mouse.
2. So far it's on a par with DeLorme for accuracy of maps. However, DeLorme provides regular updates (for a year) but Microsoft does not. Doesn't seem fair for Microsoft to aske for error reports when the only benefit to the customer is to get fixes when they buy the next version. Shame on you Microsoft! See if you get any error reports from me!
3. Connected services seems to work fine. Two major drawbacks though. Services are very limited. Here in Oregon only the Portland area is covered. If I go south to California I have over 600 miles of uncovered area! At least DeLorme has good coverage on services across the country, albeit not real time. Second is price. First year is free, but after that you pay; I'm not sure it's worth it.
4. I'm concerned about more than just the map updates. What about 2009? Will I have to buy the connected version to retain those services? Does that mean I have to pay for another GPS and connected device? You've really got to do better Microsoft on cleaning up your upgrade path for this product Microsoft or I won't be buying it again.
5. The GPS device and connected services weren't easy to install. Connected took more work than was necessary for this device. GPS was a royal pain. I'm an old hand system administrator and did all my tricks to get it working. You would think with S&T being Microsofts product, the hardware being Microsoft, and the operating system Microsoft's as well it would be a snap. DeLorme took a little work to get a 3rd party Bluetooth GPS to work (which is potentially a riskier proposition). Ironically the 3rd party GPS worked fine on S&T and it took hours playing with drivers to find the problem. Not very positive Microsoft!
6. S&T has crashed twice now. DeLorme never gave me a problem in over a year.
7. The install offered to create a link to Outlook, which would be a really nice feature. Unfortunately this part of the install failed. It gave instructions on where to find more information but I've been unable yet to find them.
The positives? Easier to use than others. Connected services has huge potential. Support responded fairly quickly. (However, by the time they responded I had already gone through most of the steps and fixed the problem. Their suggestions were not for the faint hearted and were the right steps to take. Unfortunately, the problem was one that would have taken them another step to find. I know what the problem is, but I'm not telling them! When they give me updates during the life of the product I will!)
Bottom line - better than before, still not a threat to Garmin.
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Summary:
No Updates.
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Comment:
This product is amazing for the price ($150): the features that it has and the fact that it turns your laptop into a GPS map with a very large screen. The GPS locater is extremely accurate. I did not find the software features intuitive but they worked well once I figured them out. However, the mapping software(ie names of streets) was not up to date and I discovered to my distress that it is not updatable until the next version (2009) is released. Microsoft has this in common with several other GPS mapping hardware and software systems. I returned it to Microsoft.
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Summary:
Connected?
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Comment:
A nice upgrade to the older versions. The Connected service needs work. You lose signals traveling between (San Antonio to Dallas for example)coverage areas and the system doesn't automatically reconnect. The renewal fee after the first year is not worth the money if vast improvements are not made soon.
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Summary:
Not Happy
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Comment:
Microsoft Streets and Trips is a very good product,but i can see no difference in 2008 than in 2007,and as far as the msn direct it is worthless unless you are right in their coverage area,and unless you travel a lot in their area what is the point..
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