I am Donna's husband and I got Microsoft Streets & Trips 2011 with the USB GPS receiver a few days ago. I didn't really notice any changes between the 2009 version and the 2011 version of Streets & Trips. Just newer maps. I give the software 5 stars.
The GPS receiver that comes with Streets & Trips is the "u-blox 5 GPS and GALILEO Receiver" by ublox. [...] I downloaded the "u-center GPS evaluation software" [...] and installed in on my desktop computer and my Acer netbook computer. I then plugged the USB GPS receiver into each computer and, using the u-center software, monitored the GPS receiver's performance. Here is what I found:
The GPS receiver would not lock up when plugged directly into the netbook no matter how long I left it. It would find one or two satellites but that was all. When I connected it to the netbook using the included USB extension cable, it would lock up in 5 - 10 minutes. After it got a lock, it's performance seemed about as good as the other GPS receivers that I have. When I plugged the GPS receiver into my desktop computer it took 5 - 10 minutes to lock up and again, it's performance seemed about as good as the other GPS receivers that I have. The GPS receiver does not have any type of battery or super-capacitor backup so every time it is unplugged it forgets all of the satellite almanac data and has to do a cold start each time it is plugged in.
I also have a GlobalSat BU-353 GlobalSat BU-353 Waterproof USB GPS Receiver. It is a much better GPS receiver. Because it has a super-capacitor backup, it retains the satellite almanac data and is able to do a warm start when it's plugged in. It is able to acquire a lock in less than a minute. It also works fine with the Streets & Trips software. I recommend you buy Streets & Trips WITHOUT the USB GPS receiver and get the GlobalSat BU-353 GPS receiver instead. Microsoft Streets & Trips with GPS Locator 2011
As a general mapping software, Streets & Trips doesn't do a bad job, though apparently Microsoft doesn't allow their programmers out of their cubicles to understand the real world. After the number of years this program has been out, and with all the new releases, this should be an incredibly good program by now. You can find locations a number of ways...by street address, intersection, and even GPS coordinates (don't forget to add the minus symbol for longitude if you're in the U.S.). Streets & Trips adds some great capabilities over your portable GPS devices. You can see a large screen version of your route and, where you have a stop planned, you can see the mapped locations of a variety of different businesses and points of interest based on your selections. They leave a lot of businesses out, unfortunately, but, still, it provides a fair amount of information. One of the unique features, and a saving grace in the face of other design buffoonery, is the ability to alter the automated route by clicking and dragging the route. Let's say that Streets & Trips sends you one way because it's the shortest route, but it takes you through an area you want to avoid. Simply click and drag the route as necessary to get it to use the route you want to go. Usually this works without a hitch, but occasionally you have to fight the programming.
I just upgraded...strike that...UPDATED from the 2008 version and was shocked that they did away with the selection tool that allowed you to draw a box around a general area and then zoom to that selection. That was a great tool for when you're looking for a location that you know to be in a general area, but you're not sure of the street name...or you need to see an area to look for routing options. Typical Microsoft...if it's working, let's take it out of the program.
Streets & Trips provides you with the travel distance of the route and, based on a fuel cost option setting, will tell you how much the trip will cost. Valuable information. Information basic to planning a trip is how long it will take to arrive at your destination. Thanks to Microsoft's programmers ignoring the user feedback on their design issues for years, the time figure they give is arbitrary. They'll tell you in the Help area that the travel time calculations are based on "average speeds" for different roads. Whose average that may be is anyone's guess because they don't tell you what theirs are. Speeds on different roads can vary significantly from state to state, and even from one area to the next. There is an option where you can vary the speed calculation for different road types via slider controls, but the control labels simply say `faster' and `slower'. You have to go into the Help area to find out that the slider alters the calculation speed in increments of 5%, but it still doesn't tell you 5% of what speed. Unfortunately, this results in you having to get your calculator out if you want any travel time figures that you can rely on.
If you use an external GPS receiver, you can keep yourself located on the map. If you're traveling unknown territory, that's a great feature. The Microsoft GPS receiver is mediocre at best. It doesn't do well unless it is exposed to unrestricted open sky. The USGlobalSat BU-353 is a good receiver choice, but its cord is very short. For my application (operating the laptop in a car in the center console area), the cord was so short that I had to use a USB extension cable to reach the USB port, but then there was TOO much cable. The Holux GR-213 USB receiver was the best of both worlds. It provided excellent reception inside my house and under trees, and had a fast start-up time while the cable length was perfect.
I purchased Street & Trips 2011 and Microsoft GPS receiver separately and installed 15.6" laptop and connect 3.5mm mini cable to Ford Escape speaker system to use next 6,000mile trip.
Installation is very easy and GPS receiver is very good and trip planning is very easy except some street number are in-correct.
Microsoft Navigation program need much improvement as bellow:
1) Speech engine is very poor, very difficult to understand voiced instruction, need another speech engine like AT&T natural voice, Real Speak or Acapela speech engine.
2)Instruction for off ramp on the freeway is too late to change lanes, need warning at least one mile before off ramp.
3)Need instruction which way to enter the freeway, like " Enter Interstate 5 north"
4)Need instruction of destination is which side of the street, Left or right side.
I purchased and installed AT&T Natural voice speech engine and much easier to understand voiced instruction.
Installed on Windows 7 64 bits - Maps'
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