Street Atlas USA 8.0

The program's searching options are a standout, as is the detail of its street maps. You can search by street address, ZIP code, longitude and latitude, or names of places. (The product also hooks into DeLorme's Phone Search USA 5.0--sold separately--to allow searches by personal names and phone numbers.)

Street Atlas USA also makes it simple to connect to a GPS device, with a wizard that automatically detects compatible products. You can even download map information to many wireless devices. (This option requires installing additional files on your handheld, but it puts map information at your fingertips when on the road, or anywhere you might need street-level details.) The application can even speak directions and map information aloud, leaving your hands free to hold the wheel.

The basic map-navigation interface here is good as well, though it took us a minute or two to get used to panning and zooming with the mouse. (You can zoom in very easily, actually, by dragging over an area with the left side of the mouse.) The program supports making annotations to maps with a handful of objects, including text.

When it comes to planning a road trip, Street Atlas USA makes it easy with a variety of trip-planning options, like the quickest and/or most scenic routes. In testing, the program generated a cross-country route in just a few seconds. The application also connects to DeLorme's Web site to download timely road-construction information, weather reports, and even reservations. We especially liked the ability to mark favorite roads for inclusion in travel routes, a useful feature not always available in competing products.

In all, Street Atlas USA delivers a solid package for planning your next drive, whether across the state or across the country. With its capable interface and rich level of map detail, you'll always know where you are and where you're going when you take to America's highways and byways. --Rich Dragan