Microsoft MapPoint 2002

Rating:
Summary: MapPoint 2002 in VB.NET development environment
Review: .
"Drag and drop" windows form control is great for VB6, but (deliberately ?) does not work as a web form control in VB.NET

Microsoft seems to want to encourage use of the MapPoint.NET web service, their first available (pay-per-use) public web service.

However, that web service does not (yet ?) provide data overlay capabilities which many businesses require.

[ P.S. ... as a developer, how am I supposed to test this in a secure test environment which doesn't permit internet connectivity ? ]

Summary/Conclusion: MapPoint 2002 is a great product, but if you want to use it with Microsoft's latest and best .NET framework, it still has some serious gaps.
.

Rating:
Summary: missing and / or bad data
Review: As with Microsoft's other trip planning software the data supporting places is both missing in many cases or just bad data. I had hoped that in their high end product that they would have improved the data supporting their product. They should leave the mapping software to Rand McNally and similar professionals.

As a business professional I can't afford to use Microsoft's product and arrive at the wrong site.

Rating:
Summary: Map Point 2002 is a tumor
Review: For no reason, Map Point went into a reinstallation seizure in much the way that Office 2000 was notorious for doing.

Every time we tried to load Outlook 2002, there would go the Map Point installation and configuration engine taking over our computer. When clicking on the cancel button, it would just start over again. Only by madly clicking away on the cancel button could we get it to stop so that we could use the PC.

We have uninstalled Map Point 2002 until Microsoft fixes its highly defective installation system.

We are also disgusted with the Microsoft registration system. It presupposes that their operating systems and the computers that they run on are totally stable and never have to be reinstalled. If you are not that exceptionally lucky, you get to waste 15-20 minutes on the phone justifying the installation of the software that you already own with a Microsoft inquisitor.

If you already have Visio 2000, Office 2000, and/or Office 97, just say NO! to this upgrade and the Microsoft invasiveness that comes with it.

Rating:
Summary: I give it 4 stars
Review: I am a sales director and after one month of use, I can't imagine how I have been operating without this terrific program. It is intuitive, informative, and fluid. Applications are easily transferable to other programs and I look forward to singing its praises to others within our organization. There are a few features, such as number of layers that can be folded into a particular map, but it's overall performance is top notch. Bottom line is that this program paid for itself after one business trip.

Rating:
Summary: Unbelieveable! worth every penny
Review: I am a sales director and after one month of use, I can't imagine how I have been operating without this terrific program. It is intuitive, informative, and fluid. Applications are easily transferable to other programs and I look forward to singing its praises to others within our organization. There are a few features, such as number of layers that can be folded into a particular map, but it's overall performance is top notch. Bottom line is that this program paid for itself after one business trip.

Rating:
Summary: Microsoft helps you find your way!
Review: I am very impressed with Microsoft's newest MapPoint edition. We have been able to illustrate office locations, insert maps onto our website, and send directions/maps as attachments via e-mail.

A terrific product for the consumer market.

Rating:
Summary: I give it 4 stars
Review: I give it four stars. It's nice to be able to print detailed directions and maps without having to log on to Yahoo maps. However, I agree with the comments about it being too expensive (unless you're using it for business research). It's also nice to have the option of copying and pasting maps into other Office programs.

Rating:
Summary: MicroSoft Map Point 2002
Review: I have used De Lome and have their GPS etc. MS Map Point is far superior in my opinion. Easier to use, more features, ... , hands down better.

James J. Van Vooren

Rating:
Summary: Excellent mapping product but... with one exception.
Review: I have used MapPoint for about three years now and I just upgraded. Overall, it is an excellent, full-featured product that is very intuitive and easy to use.

I use MapPoint along with a full-blown professional ArcView-based GIS system. I find that MapPoint allows me to perform "quick and dirty" and relatively simple GIS tasks without having to get into the more complicated and time consuming - albeit more capable - ArcView GIS system.

Truth is, I could probably rely completely on MapPoint except for one shortfall in the program. You can only create customized boundaries based on the pre-existing included boundaries (Census Tracts, Zip Code areas, etc.).

For example, rather than being able to go in and create a boundary around a neighborhood, I have to conform this "custom" boundary to something like Zip code boundaries or census tracts, etc. that are inluded in MapPoint.

Microsoft, include this feature in MapPoint 2003 and you will get 10-stars!

Rating:
Summary: Awesome Mapping Software!!!
Review: I have used this software for the last 2 years for a major "Walk" in our school system. The features for entering addresses into Excel and importing them to MapPoint makes it wonderful. It's faster and offers many more functions than the online maps. Also, it has the capability to download updates on highway construction and street changes.