| The younger you are, the easier it is to take | | | | almost anywhere as well. |
| technology for granted. Whether you are jaded or, | | | | Perhaps the most unique tool of mapping is the users |
| like me, more easily amused, I find mapping services | | | | ability to alter any route the service plots. If you |
| like G-Maps simply wonderful. The people who have | | | | want to go a different route all you have to do is |
| brought together these tools over the last 10 years | | | | drag and drop the route trail to a different spot. |
| are brilliant. | | | | Many times you want to go to alternate spots on |
| Check out Even though they got into the map | | | | your route... other sites won't let you do this, with |
| business just recently, they are now the 1,000 lb | | | | Google it's a breeze. |
| gorilla when it comes to maps and driving directions. | | | | Rand McNally has been publishing road atlases for a |
| Google Maps has been my choice for quite some | | | | very long time. Word has it that Fred Flintstone used |
| time now. The know-how in the geo-mapping field | | | | their atlas. They still favor the printed map or atlas |
| has advanced amazingly yielding wonderful immediate | | | | and sell lots of them. Next time you stop at a gas |
| maps of most of the earth and driving directions to | | | | station check by the register, I bet you'll find Rand |
| just about anywhere on planet Earth. MapQuest, | | | | McNally atlases for sale. Now, having said that, they |
| Google, and Rand McNally seem to lead the pack. | | | | have excellent e-maps and driving directions. I find |
| I'm going to do a quick overview of these three | | | | them especially effective for comparing routes with |
| services, which hopefully will save you some | | | | Google or MapQuest as a double check kind of thing. |
| exploration time when you enter the websites. | | | | MapQuest has been around since the good old days |
| I switched to G-Maps after using MapQuest for | | | | of the internet... 1996... so by e-standards, it's very |
| nearly 8 years (more about MapQuest below). What | | | | mature if not antique. AOL bought it in 2000 and still |
| killed my allegiance after all those years, was reading | | | | remains in charge. |
| the instructions at G-Maps. You know, when all else | | | | I have used Map Quest plenty of times and they |
| fails read the directions? | | | | always deliver. They have great maps for the US, |
| If Google keeps going like they have they'll rule the | | | | Canada and Europe but are weaker in the rest of the |
| world in no time. Google has outstanding | | | | planet in their quality and detail. US driving instructions |
| point-to-point mapping worldwide but their real | | | | are totally detailed and usually very accurate. In some |
| strength comes in their satellite mapping. | | | | growth areas they can be a little behind, simply |
| To try and cover all of G-Maps in this review would | | | | because of trying to stay current with new growth |
| fail, so let's look at the vital features of the web site | | | | can be challenging. |
| and you can discover the rest after you arrive there. | | | | The last chief goodie on MapQuest, is that it will |
| All of G-Maps is based on actual earth satellite | | | | search for the least expensive gas or diesel no |
| imagery. You can quickly locate Physical maps, Political | | | | matter where you are in the US. It's a good way to |
| maps, Road maps and Topographic maps anywhere | | | | keep an eye on your fuel budget and it only takes |
| on the planet. | | | | 30 seconds. |
| You can zoom into Westminster Abbey in London | | | | Between the three of these websites, you should be |
| and actually distinguish tourists wandering around or | | | | able to find your way around anywhere on the |
| see the traffic entering the on ramp of the Sydney | | | | planet. |
| Harbour Bridge. Map overlays can be added for | | | | |