As you can see below, the interface is pretty straightforward and easy to use. You simply type in the address you want to find in the entry blank. When you push the enter key Streets and Trips shows your address on the map. You can zoom in or out to get a better ideal of your location. After you have added your start and destination points you simply click on the “Get Directions” button and your route is shown both in text and on the map.

You can print your directions in several formats. You have the option of setting your route preferences. You can tell Streets and Trips what type of roads you want to travel, how fast you want to go and set other preferences so that it can give you detailed information such as length of travel time and cost in gasoline.

Streets and trips is also good about giving you construction information which you can update online. I just updated mine and yes, Loop 410 is still under construction. Streets and Trips will even point out one way streets. Streets and Trips has many extras including the ability to assign symbols such as pushpins at different locations on your map. The text directions Streets and Trips gives are very concise, giving you a turn by turn detail. There is also an option to use a GPS device with Streets and Trips.

I especially like the option to use the Pocket PC version that comes with Streets and Trips, so I don’t have to leave home without it. I recently took a trip with my family to Washington DC and used the map that I had on my Pocket PC to find our way around. I was even able to find nearby place of interest with the click of a button. Streets and Trips also lets you change the given route by simply clicking your mouse on the roads you want to travel.

System Requirements:

• PC with Pentium II or higher processor; Pentium III recommended
• Microsoft Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me), Windows NT® 4.0 with Service Pack 6.0 or later, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP or later operating system
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 browser software; Internet Explorer 6, Service Pack 1 included
• For Windows 98, Windows Me and Windows NT 4.0: 64 MB of RAM
• For Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP:
• 128 MB of RAM (256 MB recommended). Running additional applications
• 1 GB of available hard disk space for standard installation (450 MB for minimum installation); some users may require up to an extra 100 MB for System Files Update (hard disk usage will vary depending on configuration)
• 4x or faster CD-ROM drive
• Super VGA (800x600) or higher-resolution monitor with 256 colors; a monitor with higher resolution and more colors recommended
• Microsoft Mouse, Microsoft IntelliMouse® or compatible pointing device

Streets and Trips 2004 is priced at $39.99 in most retail stores and can be purchased online for the same price.

I would not own a computer without Streets and Trips installed.