Do NOT buy MS Streets & Trips 2008

btolle · Dec 10, 2007

The thing that really irritates me about Microsoft is the way they take a perfectly good program and screw it up with bloatware.

I have been a fan of MS Streets & Trips software for several years and have been happy with it. Other than having to reinstall it about every 6 months for no apparent reason it has served me well.

I bought the new version Streets & Trips 2008:

It is now on a DVD instead of 2 CD's.

It wanted to install MS .NET framework (which I don't want) and 'Text to Speech' programs (which I also don't want).

After the third time I installed it, it finally tried to start and then threw an error message about me not having enough memory on my computer. Since I already have 2GB of RAM I am not inclined to believe the problem is my computer.

When I did a search on files installed today at the time I was installing it I found hundreds of entries which I deleted.

Fortunately I use WinRescueXP (which I highly recommend) and back up the registry every morning. That little program has saved my bacon many times when Windows blew up on me. Once again it saved me from MS bloat of my registry when trying to install Streets & Trips 2008.

I would recommend that anyone stay away from this version. The 2006 version is great but the 2008 version stinks.

TheDingy · Dec 11, 2007

Google maps rock!

The best all around solution that I have found, is a hacked iPhone with Navizon, it isn't quite gps, but you get the google maps and they are useable all the time. I absolutly love this system. I have tried the Streets & Trips with the Treo/Bluetooth gps and the iPhone is much better.

If you are on the road or something just print a map from google maps to a PDF so you can read it while away from an internet connection.

Skyco · Dec 11, 2007

I'd always been a big fan of Delorme....up until they discontinued SA9

They switched map engine providers then and the newer versions are full of errors that had mostly been weeded out in previous versions.
The newer versions are also constantly checking the net for updates..except I'm frequently dialed in through a VPN that blocks access outside the company so I get error messages every time it tries..AAARGHHH

Seems there is no great solution to accurate map software....

Bird · Dec 11, 2007

I'd always been a big fan of Delorme

I used their maps in the early '90s when we were full time RVers traveling and hadn't even thought about Internet service, but not in recent years.

Mapquest ain't bad, but I'm with TheDingy; Google Maps is the best I've used, even though it isn't always perfect.

Phils · Dec 11, 2007

Thanks for the heads-up Bill!

I am still using M$ Streets 2001 and had been giving serious consideration to buying a newer version. I'm putting that thought back at the rear of the "to-do" line now.

Phil

xlr82v2 · Dec 11, 2007

I'vegot MS Streets & Trips 2008 on this laptop that I'm using right now. No problems whatsoever.

btolle · Dec 12, 2007

xlr82v2 said:
I'vegot MS Streets & Trips 2008 on this laptop that I'm using right now. No problems whatsoever.

The problem could be that I am running WinXP Professional, maybe it didn't like that but I am not interested in upgrading to Vista.

Actually Streets & Trips 2006 works great for trip planning and that is all I use it for anyway.

And the new Google maps is really impressive. I can't believe how fast it is!

xlr82v2 · Dec 12, 2007

Yep, could be something with XP Pro... I'm running it on XP Homey edition. My previous MSS&T was the 2002 edition, so I figured it was time to upgrade finally.

The only reason I got the MSS&T is because not all of the hotels that the company puts us up at give free internet access... and I just refuse to pay $12-13 a night for internet. So, it comes in handy to have something on my laptop that can operate without internet access.

My brother bought a new desktop computer back probably in August that came with Vista installed on it. He hated it so much that he went out and bought a copy of XP and reformatted/installed XP on his new machine. He's happy now.

Ever notice that you don't see all the "Vista" hype anymore? It must really be a flop...(Windoze ME Part Deux???) I haven't even seen it except at BestBuy, etc... but my brother HATED Vista. I'll take his word for it. He's pretty tight, and won't buy any software that he doesn't have to. So for him to take it off and buy and install XP is saying something about Vista.