Description:
We were initially skeptical of the necessity of a program like this, given the availability of free online maps. But we soon realized that, along with the ability to take it with you in the car and to scroll and zoom much more quickly than with online maps, DeLorme's Street Atlas USA 2003 has numerous advantages over any sort of mapping solutions found on the Internet. It can show local businesses and points of interest in any given neighborhood, which can be very useful when navigating around a city--the program can show that you should turn right when you pass the hardware store, for example, rather than relying on street names. The maps are revamped for 2003, but since city roadscapes are constantly changing, the program offers a variety of tools to let you add and name your own points of interest and even new roads. We found the trip-panning features to be especially useful--you can calculate where you'll need to stop for gas based on your car's fuel efficiency, estimate overnight stops, and more. But for short trips within a city, we found that the directions often took us on zigzagging routes on side streets. The program's interface takes some getting used to. It doesn't appear to use standard Windows commands, so there is a learning curve, but once you get past that, you can enjoy access to all the tools you need to plan your next trip efficiently and accurately. --Peter Moksha
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