Which is better: Garmin Mobile PC or Microsoft Streets and Trips?

Hey Guys,

Well I'm curious as to which of the "Mobile PC" by Garmin or "Streets And Trips" by Microsoft is better. I bought S&T a while back and have really loved it but there are somethings that I really wish it had that it doesn't and am curious if switching is worth it. first of all how are the maps, being a canadian as I drive the transcan it says that I am actually in the feild beside the highway and that's not true, also, the gas station stops and other POI's aren't entirely accurate. I could go on for a while but lastly, the "GPS trail" only last per map file created and the userinterface isn't the most intuitive that I've ever seen, so would anyone be able to help me out? can I steal the maps from 2009 and put them into 2008? also garmin has speed notifications true? does S&T have this? and maybe there are ways of doing a lot of this stuff that I'm just not familiar with.

Lucas

Garmin Mobile PC and S&T 2009 use virtually the same vintage Navteq maps. They are quite good for Canada, probably for the first time since 2004. I think S&T is still better for route planning (and quite a bit faster) but Mobile PC has a much nicer display. It has big buttons so is very touch-screen friendly but most features also have shortcut keys.

I don't have many POIs in my area so can't really comment on that portion, however they appear to have about the same number.

Terry

thank you terry

if I were to put money out to get the software for one, should I get the garmin mobilepc 5.00.50 or S&T 2009... and is it worth it to upgrade from 2008? or should I wait a year? also, is there an upgrade discount if I already have purchased S&T 2008?

If you are already familiar with S&T, an update to 2009 will improve your Canadian maps. You might want to read the reviews to see what features have been updated or added.

The learning curve on Mobile PC in minimal but go with what you are comfortable with.

Terry

ok thanks, I see where you are going on that but I have downloaded a trial of mobilePC and it works with my set, I'm more familiar with the mobile units, and the OS on the mobile units and this software is very similar. ultimately I want to get the most "bang for my buck"

Mobile PC is basically a large Nuvi with some added features. The globe in the bottom left hand corner saves a lot of back button work and you get 4 data fields on the bottom of the screen instead of 2. Also, it will take addresses directly from Microsoft Outlook (2002 or better) if you use that product. Of course, it doesn't show pictures or play music but any laptop can do that better anyway.

You should download the S&T 2009 60 day trial too. That will let you compare them directly on your laptop.

What GPS receiver are you using? If you have Bluetooth, my personal favourite it the Garmin GPS 10x now available as a package deal with Mobile PC. I also like the i.Trek M7 and there are others. If no Bluetooth the S&T USB device is acceptable. Any of these works with either program.

Terry

You have a sort of unusual problem with respect to the Transcan because the Provinces are busy up-grading the highway which, unfortunately for you and your S&T traces, means that there are now highway lanes where it was recently just fields. Fortunately, this is not a serious problem since you won't, in reality, be tempted to go off-piste when driving the TC. Nor will there be alternative routes to tempt you.

Be happy you drive where there is still some dedication to improving the road system. There are plenty of places I can think of where the physical roads are precisely represented on S&T but they aren't much fun to drive.

Hi Lucas,

I won't get into it over whether S&T or Mobile PC are better because I don't use my laptop much for navigation ... not enough room to mount one in my Honda CR-V.

As you can see, I'm in Canada, too, and I can help you out with the question of map data quality. What you need to know is that the data that creates the map display in both Streets&Trips and in Mobile PC both come from a company called Navteq. I have Microsoft's Mappoint 2009, which I understand is the same maps as S&T 2009, and I have Garmin's Mobile PC, which has the City Navigator North America 2009 maps pre-installed in it.

As near as I can tell, they are identical.

I still use Garmin's Metroguide Canada (based on data supplied by DMTI Spatial, a Canadian company) for lots of places I travel in Canada because it has more complete and accurate data in the less heavily populated parts of the country. It also has excellent data for other coverage, like lakes and rivers and parks ... way more complete and far more accurate. However, the currently available version (4) is really outdated in the heavily populated urban areas and major highway corridors. City Navigator and S&T are both much more up to date in such areas.

I have placed an order for Metroguide Canada version 5 but the retailers are not having a lot of luck getting it from Garmin. And Garmin does not yet have it installed in their online map viewer so we can't check it out on their web site to see how it compares to the Navteq-based products for current data.

So if you want a North America map product, it's a total coin toss between Microsoft and Garmin because it's the same data (including, as far as I can tell, the POI data). You'll need to base your decision on other features of the two programs. That's probably a good thing to know.

If you want better Canadian data, you can wait until one of us finally receives our Metroguide Canada v5 update so we can report on how up to date it is.

...ken...