From Shane McGlaun,
Your Guide to Computer Peripherals.
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Microsoft is now offering an updated version of Streets & Trips 2007 that comes bundled with a USB GPS antenna that allows you to turn a plain paper route into a fully functional moving map navigation system all at an MSRP of only $129 including the GPS receiver. Add your own laptop and you have one of the most functional and affordable navigation solutions around.

Typically, when I think of Microsoft Streets & Trips I think of printed sheets of instructions just like the ones I can get free form sites like Mapquest. However, Microsoft is changing that notion with the new Streets & Trips 2007 software that is bundled with a GPS antenna that is powered by the USB bus of your computer.

Couple the USB receiver with the software and your existing laptop and you have a fantastic and affordable GPS moving map navigation system. The antenna Microsoft uses is made by Pharos and uses SiRF star III technology making it ten times more sensitive than previous generations of GPS receivers.

The GPS receiver was able to pick up multiple satellite signals with ease in my testing and kept tracking even under moderate cloud and tree cover without issue. The map software is very detailed as well making Streets & Trips 2007 usable for both urban big city and rural travel.

In the very rural parts of Texas between my home and Austin the software was able to identify most every cross street I passed and told the names of many cross streets as I approached them out loud so I could be sure I was heading in the correct direction.

The GPS receiver was also able to lock onto my position very quickly, from a cold boot I was ready to travel in about five minutes. Once on the road the software speaks my travel rout aloud and tells me how far away my next turn is so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road.

When traveling in unfamiliar towns you can also get Streets & Trips 2007 to give you the locations of restaurants and gas stations near your route, and once your stop is done you can reroute to your original destination from your current location providing gapless coverage.

You also have the option of turning on GPS trail that shows where you have been allowing you to back track if needed. In addition to the turn-by-turn routing and out loud directions the system also notes your speed and altitude above sea level. When you travel at night you can also turn the color maps into a much easier to read green on black display.

Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS covers the entire USA on one DVD allowing you to travel any where you desire with one disk, so you never have to buy more. If you are in an area with Internet connection, you can also connect to the Microsoft servers for real-time information on road construction and closings.

Overall, Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS is a fantastic an affordable navigation system that will work as well or better than any purpose built navigation system around. At $129 if you already own a notebook computer getting set up with GPS, navigation has never been easier.