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Rating: 
Summary: Works great (with a working PC)
Review: Amending an earlier negative review to say this is a great product. All of the problems I experienced were eventually traced to PC driver or HW issues. SA works great - although the graphical 'finding' interface while driving can be cumbersome. I have found several 'errors' in the database regarding locations of Points of interest. Not sure if this is Delorme or a master DB problem but the POI's are not 100%.
Overall very helpful but not perfect
Rating:
Summary: no trouble with GPS interface
Review: I have used the various versions of Street Atlas for over 5 years with DeLorme's Earthmate GPS, and more recently with a Garmin III+ unit on two different laptops (both IBM Thinkpads) with no trouble whatsoever- and I'm the kind of guy who usually has trouble with everthing.The only fault I have with the Street Atlas is that it is sometimes difficult to force it to plot a route using streets it doesn't want to use. Sometimes it will plot a long, convuluted route to avoid a minor road that I know is perfectly OK.
Rating:
Summary: A nice product, despite some flaws.
Review: I own a Garmin ETREX GPS and was looking for software that I could use to load waypoints into it to create bicycling routes. The mapping software that Garmin sells can cost 2 to 3 times what Street Atlas charges. Overall, I've been satisfied with the product. Here's the lowdown. Installation: Went well up until the time that it tried to load "Points of Interest." I only asked it to load them for three states. After loading them for an hour it had only loaded about 10% of them. I had to let it run overnight to complete the install. Word to the wise: only pick the states you need and allow yourself plenty of time for the install. Use with GPS: I've used this to load waypoints and it has been very accurate (within 20 -30 feet). The software had no problem recognizing my Garmin GPS and loaded the route quickly. I marked major intersections or turns. One thing to point out is that it when the GPS created its route, it does it straight-line, point-to-point between waypoints. This is because Street Atlas only loads the waypoints, not the route in between. If you have a curving road and mark a waypoint at each end, the GPS will create a straight-line route between them. It does not create a "bread crumb" route. Consequently, it is very important that you place a waypoint (called a VIA in Street Atlas) at every major turn or intersection on your route on Street Atlas, before loading to the GPS. This caution only applies to loading from the PC to the GPS., then using the GPS as a stand-alone. It does not apply if you are taking your PC/Laptop with you as you travel. Ease of Use: There is no manual -- not even a "Getting Started" pamphlet. The interface is not very intuitive, but after you've played with it for a while it becomes easy to use. The online help is OK but could be improved -- I wasted a lot of time trying to find out how to do some simple things. Accuracy of Maps: I found that some streets were mislabeled. Example: I live on 43rd Place and it was labeled 43rd Street. Not a big deal unless you're not familiar with the area and are trying to find a location on 43rd place - then you'd be out of luck. Some streets that connect to each other (always have) are shown as not connecting. Overall though, the maps are accurate enough for most purposes and seem to be reasonably current. Generated Routes: I asked it to find a route to a location NW of my house.. It should have told me to take a nice, open highway that went NW and takes me directly there. Instead, it suggested that I go South for about 5 miles, then turn west for several miles, then head north. The road that it suggested has many traffic lights and the posted speed was lower. This occurred even if I selected "fastest" or "preferred" route. It only picked the correct route if I asked for the "shortest" one. The software will probably get you where you need to go, but it may not pick the best way to get there. Points of Interest: Most of the hotels, restaurants, and similar locations in my area were marked but some were missing and others that had closed years ago were still there. Some of the area codes in my state changed over a year ago but the old area codes were still shown on some of the phone numbers. In general, though, the "points of interest" database seemed to be reasonably accurate. Overall: None of these mapping programs is perfect and this one is actually better than another one that I tried a few years ago. Despite some of its flaws, I'm happy with this purchase and the pricing is reasonable.
Rating:
Summary: A nice product, despite some flaws.
Review: I own a Garmin ETREX GPS and was looking for software that I could use to load waypoints into it to create bicycling routes. The mapping software that Garmin sells can cost 2 to 3 times what Street Atlas charges. Overall, I've been satisfied with the product. Here's the lowdown. Installation: Went well up until the time that it tried to load "Points of Interest." I only asked it to load them for three states. After loading them for an hour it had only loaded about 10% of them. I had to let it run overnight to complete the install. Word to the wise: only pick the states you need and allow yourself plenty of time for the install. Use with GPS: I've used this to load waypoints and it has been very accurate (within 20 -30 feet). The software had no problem recognizing my Garmin GPS and loaded the route quickly. I marked major intersections or turns. One thing to point out is that it when the GPS created its route, it does it straight-line, point-to-point between waypoints. This is because Street Atlas only loads the waypoints, not the route in between. If you have a curving road and mark a waypoint at each end, the GPS will create a straight-line route between them. It does not create a "bread crumb" route. Consequently, it is very important that you place a waypoint (called a VIA in Street Atlas) at every major turn or intersection on your route on Street Atlas, before loading to the GPS. This caution only applies to loading from the PC to the GPS., then using the GPS as a stand-alone. It does not apply if you are taking your PC/Laptop with you as you travel. Ease of Use: There is no manual -- not even a "Getting Started" pamphlet. The interface is not very intuitive, but after you've played with it for a while it becomes easy to use. The online help is OK but could be improved -- I wasted a lot of time trying to find out how to do some simple things. Accuracy of Maps: I found that some streets were mislabeled. Example: I live on 43rd Place and it was labeled 43rd Street. Not a big deal unless you're not familiar with the area and are trying to find a location on 43rd place - then you'd be out of luck. Some streets that connect to each other (always have) are shown as not connecting. Overall though, the maps are accurate enough for most purposes and seem to be reasonably current. Generated Routes: I asked it to find a route to a location NW of my house.. It should have told me to take a nice, open highway that went NW and takes me directly there. Instead, it suggested that I go South for about 5 miles, then turn west for several miles, then head north. The road that it suggested has many traffic lights and the posted speed was lower. This occurred even if I selected "fastest" or "preferred" route. It only picked the correct route if I asked for the "shortest" one. The software will probably get you where you need to go, but it may not pick the best way to get there. Points of Interest: Most of the hotels, restaurants, and similar locations in my area were marked but some were missing and others that had closed years ago were still there. Some of the area codes in my state changed over a year ago but the old area codes were still shown on some of the phone numbers. In general, though, the "points of interest" database seemed to be reasonably accurate. Overall: None of these mapping programs is perfect and this one is actually better than another one that I tried a few years ago. Despite some of its flaws, I'm happy with this purchase and the pricing is reasonable.
Rating:
Summary: Godsend for road warriors
Review: I travel all over the Northeastern US for my company. I have gone fearlessly into some of the most remote corners imaginable. I dont use online products because they are of no use in the car. I dont use those silly map generators in airports by Hertz or Avis, they dont work. And I dont use paper atlases and maps, because I cant run searches or lookups. But Street Atlas makes my ventures from point A to point B simple exercises. The brief moments I take before a trip laying out a 400 mile drive with 6 waypoints in three states has saved me considerable time, and frustration. IT HAS NEVER FAILED ME. You cannot imagine what a relief it is to see some secondary route show up right when the product said it would, especially when its night and deep in the rural countryside. I have been happy with Street Atlas since my first copy release 5.0. I rated this 4 because on occasion, it gives incorrect exit information. However, send an email to DeLorme and they will revise it in the next release (I have seen this done personally).
Rating: 
Summary: carry compass all the time if you plan to use this
Review: if you try to get driving directions using this software, It will tell you to go northwest and west and southeast rather than make left and right.. very lousy software.. does not tell which exit to take and if you carry compass , then only you can figure out where to turn.. very disappointing.. I am returning this software.. rather use mapquest.com to get sensible directions..
Rating: 
Summary: It can change the way you travel
Review: This software, when combined with a laptop and a GPS, can truly set you free when vacationing. If your only need is for maps or routes, then you can probably get by with the various internet sites that provide point-to-point maps. But when loaded on a laptop and taken on the road, you can update your travel plans on the fly. Want to find out what types of restaurants can be found nearby along your route? Not going to make it to your hotel, and need to find another one closer by (with ratings, rates and phone numbers supplied)? Looking for interesting stops along the way? These are some of the ways we've used the software. Another nice thing is that you have good maps of nearly every city that you might end up driving through, including most residential neighborhoods. This can also be a Godsend, particularly if you find yourself lost in a strange city. But the real revelation is when you combine it with a GPS. We use it with a Garmond III+, and it has made such a great difference that we'll "never leave home without it" now (on vacation trips, anyway). It is such a freeing thing to be able to see your exact location on a map, especially when looking for a certain exit or hotel. It has honestly prevented quite a few arguments between my wife (navigator) and I. And everyone that I've traveled with while using the system has eventually agreed that it's a fantastic way to go. It's not perfect, however - you'll want a pretty powerful laptop (PIII preferably), or you'll find yourself waiting awhile for screen redraws, even if you're only zooming (the graphics are all vector-based). And the cities can include errors in the roads, either in route or in name. Finally, there's an option for audible directions (when used with a GPS) that is mostly just good for laughs. But overall the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
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