MS streets and Trips Review

stevenator65 · 08-05-05, 05:12 PM

I just got this program and am posting a quick review. I got it so I can make maps of where my customers are. I want the maps to show many customers at once so I know how to route my trip. I want to download maps to my pda. I want to find addresses on my pda. Can this program do all that?:

1.installation is easy. It installs to the desktop then to the ppc. I installed it to my sd card. The maps you download to the ppc can be 5mb, so you need some room if you put alot in.

2.On the desktop you'll see a map section on the right and a section for "legend and overview".

3.the legend and overview includes points of interest and pushpins among other things

4.Pushpins are marks you make on the map to track points of interest, customers or whatever. You can make different color pushpins or use different symbols. The pushpins display address, name and notes. This makes them very handy. I made a map of the south side of Chicago and the North side, and each has a different pushpin color. These pushpins are my customers.

5.you can make different pushpin "sets". I have Chicago North Side, Chicago South Side, and I could make one title, "Friends who live in Chicago" if I wanted to. You can print the map out w/the pushpins and the pushpin notes. However, it seems you have to manually open each note to do so. The pushpins look like pushpins, but if you right click you get the option to display a note, which includes name, address, and notes. One of my maps has 80 pushpins. Ouch.

6.Addresses are easy to find on desktop and pda. Just type them into the search bar. I showed one of our dock workers my pda and he asked if I could find his address. Sure enough it popped right up. He still doesn't think I'm cool.

7.The route planner asks you to add each address to the route and configures the route when you're done adding them. This only works on the desktop, so traveling salesmen must bring a laptop or do your homework first. This would be a great future feature for a pda.

8.You can turn the cursor on the desktop into a hand and move the map, or zoom just like you'd expect. You can do this on the pda as well. The pda responds a bit slower than the desktop.

9.points of interest are well populated on both desktop and pda, so you can find an ATM to go to the nearest McDonalds if you want. I think having better golf course support would be a benefit. BTW, when I asked my dock worker if I pulled his correct address up, he noticed a familiar restaurant that's right by his house. So POI seems to have plenty of choices.

10.importing contacts is easy and this is one of the main reasons I got this program. I recently went to Florida to meet customers. It took me hours on yahoo maps to print a map for each customer, then cut and paste all the maps together to see where they were in relation to each other so I could make a route. Whoo, glad those days are gone. Now you simply import from excel in seconds. Each map has about 80 contacts, or pushpins, and I could probably put more. This program will pay for itself quickly.

11.exporting maps to your pda is simple as well. Everything has a wizard. I had only one problem. One of the maps I made was too big and wouldn't work. I don't know what the size limit is. Anyway, after you put your pushpins on the map (or just import them), you export the file to your PC (not pda yet). Then you make sure you have a "my documents" folder on your pda memory card folder. You will find 2 map files on your desktop, one is the map, one is the pushpins. In your Active sync, go to explore, find the 2 files, and copy them to your "my documents" folder on your storage card. Currently I have 2 maps to choose from and will add more. That's it, it's that simple. When you open up Streets on your pda you can choose which map to open.

12.GPS capability is included, and you can get this w/or w/out a gps receiver. I haven't tried this yet, though I do have tomtom for navigation. So why did I get this program if I have navigation? Because it's cool and different. This will tell me who to see based upon where everyone is on the map, my gps will take me to that person.

Things that I would like to see that are missing:
1.I would like to see map boundries by zip code. This would be helpful for big cities.

2.PDA routing capability would be cool.

3.better golf course support. The 9 hole executive course 2 blocks from my house doesn't display.

4.If I look at a different part of the map it's hard to get back to the view I started with. I believe you can save a map and I probably should've done that first.

In conclusion...
Sorry I don't have screen shots, but this is a short review, after all. I find this program to be useful and intuitive. I found my way thru everything w/relative ease. Everything is well laid out. I really like it so far.

Competitors?
I have no idea.

Price: $40 minus $10 rebate = $30. If you plan the route for just one trip this pays for itself.

Let me know if this review was helpful so I may better serve you in the future (as if I'm going to do this again!)

08-05-05, 05:43 PM

Good review.I have the same program and agree with all you said.I use it in my laptop hooked up to a Garmin Etrex Legend and it works great.I also put the maps on my Axim and thats real handy.I just purchased a Garmin 2610 and that's the best solution for me.Thanks for the review as it will help others.

gary duncan · 08-05-05, 05:52 PM

I use MS Streets & trips in & around Kansas City. On days that I run several service calls, I enter my addresses into the route and use the feature "optimize stops" to order them into the most effecient route. I am just now starting to learn about GPS systems so I can comparison shop. Do you use your gps with your axim? Does it work on the axim with pocket streets? I have seen it in action on a laptop, but don't want to have to drag mine with me.

Gary

stevenator65 · 08-05-05, 06:03 PM

Thanks for your comments TBLove and Gary. I just got this program so I haven't tried it w/my gps yet, but I will. Thanks for adding info that only a user would know. When I first was looking to buy this prog there was not much posted anywhere, so hopefully this thread will help others. Let's not forget that competitors may have good products as well.

Caddychunk · 08-05-05, 07:39 PM

Great review. I think I'll use Streets and Trips with the pushpins just like you did.

quack · 08-05-05, 08:14 PM

Does it work with Bluetooth GPS on Windows XP notebook?

Caddychunk · 08-05-05, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by quack

Does it work with Bluetooth GPS on Windows XP notebook?

Absolutely, assuming your notebook has bluetooth. I've had the same notebook for five years, so I'm not too up-to-date on notebooks lately. I don't think many of them have bluetooth; I could be wrong. But yes, Streets and Trips works with GPS and notebooks.
If you have the program, go to... Tools=>GPS. It will fix you up automatically.
I almost bought a USB GPS device for my laptop, but I finally ordered and X50v last week with that great $270 deal. So I've been following threads like this lately.

gary duncan · 08-05-05, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by quack

Does it work with Bluetooth GPS on Windows XP notebook?

I have a friend that is using it with his windows xp laptop in the truck. It works great. I just don't want to lug the laptop when I have a new shiny x50V that will be here Monday! :)

stevenator65 · 08-05-05, 09:34 PM

I use my x30 when I'm on the road. Sometime next week I'll try it w/my gps and see how it goes. Using a laptop for gps would be awkward, and the idea that you make a stop, get back in your car and reboot is not compatible w/my lifestyle.

gary duncan · 08-05-05, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by stevenator65

I use my x30 when I'm on the road. Sometime next week I'll try it w/my gps and see how it goes. Using a laptop for gps would be awkward, and the idea that you make a stop, get back in your car and reboot is not compatible w/my lifestyle.

My friend that uses the laptop in the truck has it sitting on a pedistal base made for this purpose. 400 watt power inverter hard wired to the battery, T-Mobile wireless connection, he's got it all, including the laser printer in the back seat. He said the only problem is he has to hold the laptop if he corners too hard so it won't slide off. It's supposed to strap down, but he doesn't like where the straps come across his particular machine.

Gary

baldrn · 08-06-05, 08:32 AM

I just bought MS Streets and Maps recently. It does "ok" but,
it's not for me. We travel long distance and camp. I'm not sure if it's kewl to post for sale, but if anyone wants it, PM me. $20.00 USA only. I take paypal.

08-07-05, 12:38 AM

stevenator65: Nice overview! I'm glad you are finding it useful. I was afraid my comments in the other thread didn't fit your situation. BTW, I too agree in the disappointment over recreational info like golf courses and lakes.

stevenator65 · 08-07-05, 11:53 AM

Great feedback from everyone. There are some definite things I missed in my review. User JPG private messaged me w/a great one. In your pda you can go to contacts, then hold the stylus over a particular contact and a menu pops up as always, but a new option pops up, "map contact". When you choose that option the map opens w/your contact as a pushpin. The only thing I didn't like about that is that it shows the contact's name, not the company name. The company name is what counts. However, the ability to map on your pda like that is cool.

Akretsch, thanks for bringing up the above as well, now that I played w/the prog I understand what you're saying. Especially how you can use PI instead of just the built in contacts to map someone.

What other features did I miss? Who are the competitors?

08-07-05, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by stevenator65

Great feedback from everyone. There are some definite things I missed in my review. User JPG private messaged me w/a great one. In your pda you can go to contacts, then hold the stylus over a particular contact and a menu pops up as always, but a new option pops up, "map contact". When you choose that option the map opens w/your contact as a pushpin. The only thing I didn't like about that is that it shows the contact's name, not the company name. The company name is what counts. However, the ability to map on your pda like that is cool.

Akretsch, thanks for bringing up the above as well, now that I played w/the prog I understand what you're saying. Especially how you can use PI instead of just the built in contacts to map someone.

What other features did I miss? Who are the competitors?

Thanks to JPG and Steve for the contacts map thing,didn't know that,will come in handy. :approve:

Rob83 · 08-07-05, 04:28 PM

I'm a little uneasy of purchasing expensive GPS Software for my needs. I won't always be using GPS, and if I do, it's just for local streets in my area or state.

I think MS Streets and Trips is what I need. Does it work with all GPS systems?