I just purchased Streets and Trips 2011 from the Microsoft Store!

Just stick a 2011 label on your 2010 box and save your money.

I did one better - I'm sticking with 2009.

I agree, I'm not going to be spending my money on 2011 unless someone finds a real upgrade/update buried in there someplace.

Let's put this into perspective.

Microsoft Streets & Trips with 2011 maps -- $39.95

Garmin City Navigator North America 2011 maps (just maps, no program) -- $79.99

...ken...

Well said, Ken.

Ken

... and that's the suggested retail price, or price you likely pay at the Microsoft store. But if you shop around, you should easily find it for much less. Perhaps not at the moment, because Streets & Trips is not in stores yet, but as soon as it is on retail shelves, we should see it discounted.

Agree that you may find it for less than $39.95 but I have to disagree with Ken on this one.

Microsoft Streets & Trips with 2011 maps -- $39.95 and then I need to spend another $39.95 next year and the year after that and the year after that.

Garmin City Navigator North America 2011 maps (just maps, no program) - program is free and updated regularly (Garmin's Mapsource or BaseCamp) and a single update is currently only $36.99 on Amazon.com. A lifetime update (up to 4 map updates per year for the life of your GPS or as long as Garmin buys map data from Navteq) is $73.73.

So for less than the $80.00 I'd pay for 2 S&T updates I'd get at least 8 map updates from Garmin.

The only way the Garmin offer is comparable is if you already have a version of Mobile PC and the included GPS. We still don't know if the map updates will apply to this combo as Garmin hasn't released a map update since they discontinued Mobile PC!

Terry

For the above reasons I debated buying the 2011 version, and considered waiting unitl I can get it for less from someone like Amazon. In the end, I obviously bought the download from the Microsoft Store. With them you have the added indignity of tax, too!

Is there any other source that offers Streets and Trips as a download? I like downloads- they're quicker, greener, and you don't have to worry about losing a DVD. I think a lot of us would appreciate knowing if anyone finds any other sources.

Not a good comparison at all. Mapsource and Basecamp have no navigation functions so they're only good for planning, nothing else. If you want navigation you need to buy a GPS. That's the price of three or four more Streets&Trips updates if you get a cheap GPS. More if you get better quality.

Same thing with the Garmin lifetime updates. You need a GPS or you can't get them. E.g. you can only buy a lifetime update by registering it to a Garmin GPS device.

By the way, this isn't a criticism of Mapsource or Basecamp. They are excellent programs for what they do. What they don't do is some of the stuff that Streets&Trips does, like realtime navigation.

It's not even a criticism of Garmin's map sales prices and policies. It's currently one of the few manufacturers that will sell just the maps, independent of the software. And about the only one where third-party tools and knowledge exist for other people to create maps either for sale or sharing for free.

My point is that for the price of even the cheapest source of a set of Garmin maps you get new maps and an [sometimes only slightly] updated version of a program that is one of the best planning programs available and a decent navigation program. No matter how you measure it, if you are a Streets&Trips user it's a decent deal.

...ken...

I received an e-mail offer today from Microsoft
Current customers $29.95 or $59.95 with GPS
That's probably as cheap as it will go
Are the minor changes even worth the bother?

That is hard to determine as the map updates may be valuable in the places you travel. Easist thing for you to do is download the free trial and see for yourself. Both versions (or as many as you have) can exist and run independently on the same computer so there is no downside!

Terry

Hi Dutchie, long-time reader, first-time poster? I see you joined in 2009, and posted now in 2011. :welcome: to the forums!

Map update is the most requested "feature" of any mapping product, and while many of us here at this forum would love to see some new and useful features, other users may not necessarily feel the same way.