Most Helpful in Planning World Domination
Written: Aug 12 '01 (Updated Feb 20 '02)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Charting data onto geographic maps, Streets and Trips already integrated.
Cons: Confusing menu options, limited documentation.
The Bottom Line: MapPoint 2002 allows you to visualize your business data by plotting it onto geographic maps. MapPoint is an enhanced version of Street and Trips road planning software.
|
|
|
| soothsayer's Full Review: Microsoft MapPoint 2002 |
It was easy, a free copy of MapPoint 2002 for attendees of an Office XP launch party. I went because of it. The theater filled to capacity with people attending for the same reason, free software you do not have to download, but can actually resell on eBay!
The event was low-key, nothing too splashy, just a big auditorium where the captive audience sat and watched a presentation. Ever see Citizen Kane? Yes, big screens with big faces on them; pretty colors, nearly psychedelic if they only had spiked the free bottled water that was available for the taking. Microserfs and minions everywhere, turning cheap Office XP tricks for the audience.
Bill Gates was also there as part of the well-rehearsed cast. When the Man himself got on stage, he quickly delivered his lines, executed a few well-rehearsed moves, then quickly disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Smoke? Well, not really. But, truth-be-told, I thought I saw invisible wires! Everyone was held in a state of thrall. The room was silent just for a moment at their glimpse of this billionaire soon-one-day-to-be recluse holed away at his tech-rific mansion on the shores of Redmond. Yes, it happens to the best of them just like Howard Hughes, or Michael Jackson; now aren’t you glad that being part of the working poor has brought you sanity and peace of mind?
After a half hour of having my memory refreshed on why I still rely on Microsoft products, I left early and took away my grab bag of free stuff. In it was a full copy of MapPoint 2002.
First Impressions
MapPoint 2002 is no more than an extended version of Streets and Trips, the route mapping and travel software. It, however, is downplayed in the marketing of MapPoint. Only the business aspect of charting data is emphasized.
Installation and System Requirements
The minimum install of MapPoint requires 330Mb of HD space. This will install the base program files, but you will need the “Run CD” whenever you use the program. The full install requires 910Mb. This will copy the not only the base program files, but the entire contents of the “Run CD” onto your hard drive.
Unless you have a lot of hard drive space; or want to use MapPoint a lot; or just one among thousands in your company stingily sharing one copy of MapPoint; then go with the minimal install.
MapPoint requires a Pentium 133Mhz, and minimum 64Mb of RAM for adequate performance. Anything less will obviously cause great frustration, penis envy, and massive computer damage as you chuck the computer out the window.
Maps and Visualizing Data
Geographic and street data in MapPoint is pretty accurate and nicely drawn. Kudos for the serfs for labored, and subsequently got laid off, for the pleasing visuals.
Charting business data onto maps becomes easy should you follow the “Create map” wizard located under the “Data” submenu. It guides you through three easy steps it takes to create map. Step one, choose a map style selecting among pie charts, columns, push pins, or several others. Step two, import data. Step three, click “Finish” and let MapPoint do the rest.
It takes time fiddling around learning how to use the program without relying on the wizard. MapPoint does not include a software manual, not even “quick start instructions”. You must rely on the help files for documentation.
Importing Data
MapPoint 2002 comes with its own basic set of demographic data for the United States, Canada, and the world. The default data set is pretty good and is based on the census data of their respective countries. Did you know that North Dakota is filled with frigid women, and men? This little known fact is not part of any official census, but you heard it here first.
To import data, choose “Data” from the Menu bar, and click on “Import Data Wizard”. Data can be linked from, or imported from Excel, Access, Outlook, SQL, or tab delimited text file format. Importing data from text files is somewhat limited. Unlike in Excel where the data separation character can be anything you want, in MapPoint, you are limited either to a tab, comma, or semicolon. In some cases you must define your “Territory” (see below) before data can be imported.
There was a basic problem, however, in matching some of my data to MapPoint’s geographic variables. Should there be typos, or inconsistencies in your data, MapPoint will find the closest match, not necessarily the best match, for any misspelled location.
Exporting Maps
Once you create a map, you can copy it, and paste it into any paint or word processing program that can display bitmap graphics, known as bmp. Additionally, you can save the map as a web page, or email it through Outlook. Maps can also be downloaded into Pocket Streets for use in WinCE hand held devices. Naturally, no option exists for Palm OS users. Perhaps one day when Microsoft owns 20% of Mindspring, or Palm, will they redouble their efforts at accommodating these users.
Territories and Drivetime Zones
Perhaps the strong point of MapPoint is the territories option and drivetime zones. The Territories option allows you to create customized color coordinated maps based on state, zip code, country, city, etc. Whenever you restart MapPoint, only those territories previously selected will be shown.
Drivetime zones define the area in which a specific geographic location can be reached within a certain time limit. If you want to locate the 30-minute driving radius from your business, plot this out. The zones can sometimes be wildly inaccurate. One time, MapPoint calculated that New Jersey, and much of Queens was part of the 15-minute drivetime zone of midtown Manhattan. Fortunately, the options menu in MapPoint can be tweaked to reflect accurate road speeds.
Bottom Line
MapPoint is sexy tool for those who need to chart data onto maps in order to improve and visualize their business processes. Naturally, some companies are in the business of world domination, and this tool can help. If you own Starbucks, or a porn shop, for example, and want to locate a branch near concentrations of young, affluent youths, along with affordable rent locations, with trendy bars, and restaurants located nearby, then by all means, chart away.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.