When you buy a portable GPS device like those offered by Garmin and TomTom, what you get is a compact package that will send you in the right direction and let you know where you are. If you’re not prepared to spend $300 or more on a GPS navigation device, however, you can choose to spend a third of that on something called Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008.
Retailing for about $100, Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008 comes with its own compact SiRFStar III GPS receiver that plugs into your computer’s USB port. The provided software is preloaded with maps of the United States and Canada, including information about points of interest and the ability to give you turn-by-turn driving instructions. It’s arguably just as good, if not better than the standalone units. The biggest drawback, of course, is that you’re lugging a laptop around instead of a little handheld device.
What’s in the Box?
The packaging for Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008 is much like any other piece of productivity software that you would purchase from Adobe, Microsoft, or whoever. It’s a box about the size of a paperback book, and it opens up to reveal all sorts of sales copy that tries to convince you just how great this product is.
Opening the box, you receive the following:
- DVD-ROM containing the Streets and Trips 2008 software
- Compact GPS locator
- USB adapter for the GPS locator (with two end caps)
- USB extension cable for the USB adapter
- Instruction manual
The actual GPS locator is remarkably small, having a footprint that isn’t much bigger than a CompactFlash memory card. It’s very thin as well, measuring a hair thicker than 10mm. Unfortunately, it cannot be used directly in this form. Instead, you’ve got to make use of a USB adapter that’s about the same size as a standard USB flash drive. The GPS receiver plugs into this, which in turn can plug into your notebook’s USB port. For optimal reception, you’ll want to make use of the USB extension cable as well, suction-cupping the GPS locator onto the windshield of your car.
Installation and Setup
To get going with the Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008 is surprisingly easy. They remind you that you should install the software, including the drivers, before you plug the GPS locator into your computer. All you need to do is insert the provided DVD-ROM into your computer and it will automatically launch the installation wizard, walking you through every step of the way. It really couldn’t be easier.
After Streets and Trips has been installed, you can boot up the program. At this point, you insert the GPS locator into an available USB port on your laptop. Bring up the GPS Pane through an icon in the taskbar and then click on configure GPS. You will then need to scan your computer’s ports until it finds the Microsoft GPS device. Select the appropriate port and then you’re on your way to getting navigated. This configuration process only needs to be done one time. Subsequent GPS tracking sessions can be started from the get-go.
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GPS Receiver Sensitivity
The first day that I tried using the GPS locator, it was bright and sunny. I attempted to get the tracking going while at home, right in the middle of my house. After about a minute or so, the locator locked onto a satellite signal and it told me that I was at home.
The second time that I tried using the GPS locator, it was quite cloudy. Attempting a connection from the exact same location, it failed to find any available satellites, even after searching for a solid 10 minutes. A dialog box popped up to inform me of this and to remind me that the receiver needs clear sight to the sky. Moving to an available window, the GPS signal was acquired and locked in less than a minute.
After the initial lockdown, the GPS location would be updated every second or two. This is in line with most standalone GPS navigation devices on the market.
Don’t Use While Driving
I realize that it sounds counter-intuitive, but using Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008 while driving is a very bad idea unless you have a passenger who can run the software on your behalf. There are already too many things that you must be aware of as a driver; you can be glancing at your laptop and typing in commands at the same time. I tried and it was a nerve-racking experience.
Standalone GPS devices can be mounted on your windshield and many of them have touchscreen controls. While it’s not the brightest idea to be adjusting the settings while driving, it is doable without taking your eyes off the road for too long. The on-screen controls (or the physical buttons on the unit) can be accessed without paying attention to too much detail. On the laptop, the details are too intricate and it takes you a few moments to orient yourself, let alone move your mouse pointer and/or type in the appropriate commands.
The interface in the software looks like most other desktop software, meaning that there is a pull-down menu system at the top and a taskbar beneath it with quick access buttons. It would be perfectly usable while sitting at your desk, but not exactly usable when you have your hands on a steering wheel.
Turn Right in 2.2 Kilometers
The maps themselves are very well-designed and I particularly like the “perspective view”, because the 3D map that results mimics what you would actually see in front of your car. There are voiced turn-by-turn directions, but the female voice is not capable of reading out the street names. As such, you may have to glance at the screen to see where you should actually be turning, especially in urban areas where the streets are particularly dense.
The points of interest are highlighted as well and if you double-click on their names, information like the phone number and address will pop up. When seeking driving instructions, you can search by business name, as well as address and latitude/longitude. The business listings can be a little outdated, though.
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Conclusion
Microsoft certainly has a solid package here with Streets and Trips 2008. The absolutely tiny GPS receiver is ultra accurate, thanks to the SiRFStar III receiver found inside. The software is comprehensive with all sorts of points of interest and I like its ability to reroute your directions with a simple click of F3.
It would be very useful if there were more “quick commands” for drivers, like having more common commands mapped to the function keys. However, you really should be stationary when you access any features of this product on the road, as we cover our ass here. All this said, Streets and Trips 2008 is an excellent value at $100.
Pros
- Compact GPS locator is very accurate
- Reasonably fast signal acquisition given favorable conditions
- Comprehensive maps of Canada and the United States, including POIs
- Perspective view is a nice touch
- Excellent value for the price
Cons
- GPS locator can be finicky under cloudy conditions
- Software can be quite complicated
- No street names for voiced turn-by-turn directions
- Automatic re-routing doesn’t always work
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