Review: Microsoft AutoRoute

I have been using the trial version of AutoRoute 2010, and it works quite well. I have planned and saved an extensive road trip through Europe using the software. However, my trial subscription is about to end and I find that i am unable to purchase the product in the US. Does anyone have an idea where I can purchase it for download to the US?

Hi trhahn,

I believe Amazon carries Microsoft Autoroute 2010 in the US.

Good find! But rush, as of this minute there are only two left in stock.

Got it, thanks.

Will Autoroute 2010 work with Windows 7? The Amazon (USA) product listing doesn't include that platform.

Hi rkinkead11 and

No problem for me - just like XP.

I'm a UK trucker and I used AutoRoute 2007 with the USB GPS locator that came with it until that broke. So I bought a Bluetooth dongle with IVT Bluesoleil for £7.00 & a G-Sat BT238 locator for £15 which works just fine. It creates virtual com ports which AutoRoute uses to connect with no problems at all. Bluesoleil works just fine. I also used your excellent AR Keys utility. However, Autoroute maps were getting quite out of date with quite a lot of new UK roads are not on them. I then got Mappoint 2009 (expensive) and am still using it with the same Bluetooth locator, still working just fine. I miss AR Keys badly though. Any plans to revive it? Will the old version work with AR 2010?

Welcome to the forum, Anglian.

OF course, MisterMoonlight is the Keys Man so I shouldn't speak for him. But, from my experience, the 2007 Keys will not work well with AR 2010. However, I believe MM is working on that; you can see he has released a S&T Keys 2010 beta which is very good. I believe he wants to put an AR option on it and that would be welcome. I don't know what the time frame is.

I have used AutoRoute 2010 in the UK and I can tell you it is much better than 2007, which I had also used. I would get it but keep AR2007 and its Keys installed (you can do that) if you have uses where the Keys is absolutely essential.

AnglianSaxon said:
Unfortunatly, the old version AR Keys 2007 won't work correctly with AR 2010. There are too many differences and most of the functions would be buggy.

As soon as i am confident enough with the actual S&T Keys 2010 beta, i am planning to do some tests with a modified version that supports Autoroute 2010 as well. This should happen if there are no surprises in the first official release. This should happen in the following weeks if i am not too busy (before end of march i guess?)

That would be great I really miss the added functionality that AR Keys gave, can't think why MS hasn't implemented these shortcuts themselves One that leaps straight to mind is the 'delete waypoint' function. I now set up only an end point on multi-stop trips, and then a new end point after each stop. If you deviate at all from your route using multiple waypoints as stops, AR & Mappoint both calculate the new route with all the previous reached & passed waypoints, still in Yes, I for one would be more than appreciative if you do build an AR Keys 2010 In fact I would make a donation for it!

AnglianSaxon:

I totally agree with you about this function. It is a must while driving on a multi-stop routes...

It is a good idea for the future. Actually, i am not using AR myself, so i would rely on the trial, to do some tests. It is correct for initial testing, but limited for support later. I should think about a way to do this one day

Hi,

Does anybody know the difference between Mappoint 2010 and Autoroute 2010?

Currently I'm running Mappoint 2010, but if there are a lot of differences I might switch to Autoroute 2010

Autoroute 2010 is similar like Streets and trips 2010, but is for European countries maps. Streets and trips is for North american maps (Canada, US, Mexico).

Mappoint is more a professionnal version of those previous programs (with programming features, etc) and more expensive as well...

Plantje,

Autoroute would be considered a downgrade from Mappoint. The map and navigation functions are identical. Mappoint has the ability to work with other Microsoft Office programs. Autoroute can only import from an Excel spreadsheet. It cannot do any of the other things that Mappoint can do with Office.

...ken...

I have an MSDN subscription account, so there's no real need to worry about the cost. I was just wondering if it was worthwhile to test Autoroute 2010. But, I guess it's not.