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DeLorme Map Library Subscription Card for Topo USA 8.0 and Earthmate PN Series GPS Navigators Description:

The Map Library Subscription card provides unlimited downloads for one-year to the DeLorme Map Library using Topo USA 8.0 software (sold separately). This library lets you select U.S.geographic areas of interest and download USGS 7.5-minute topographic quad maps, color satellite maps, and NOAA nautical charts using the NetLink tab of Topo USA. Once downloaded, they’re yours to keep. Topo USA software is available separately or included with the DeLorme Earthmate PN-Series GPS. Topo USA contains the blended DeLorme vector street and topographic maps. The additional map types downloaded from the Map Library are yours to layer on the DeLorme PN GPS, enabling you to switch among map types of your GPS location. It’s amazing!

• Brand: Delorme
• Model: AS-8045-201
• Released on: 2008-12-08
• Platforms: Windows Vista, Windows 2000, Windows XP
• Format: CD-ROM
• Dimensions: 1.00″ h x 6.00″ w x 10.00″ l, 1.00 pounds

Features

• One-year unlimited access to the DeLorme Map Library online
• Download up-to-date USGS 7.5-min quads, satellite and aerial images, and NOAA nautical charts
• You can keep all downloaded materials after one-year subscription expires

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Deal!!!
I ordered the Map Library along with my PN-40 unit. This map library was one of the deal-makers that led to my buying the DeLorme GPSr. I mainly use the aerial images and the 1:24k topo quads. The color images for my area look to have been taken a couple of years ago, while the b&w’s look about 6-7 years old. This will vary by geographic area. You can layer the maps in any order, and view hybrids with the Topo 7 data over the aerial (or whichever view you choose).

This annual subscription is just an unbelievable deal. The downloads I’ve made already would cost hundreds (going on thousands) of dollars if I bought the maps individually.

The best value in mapping software, bar none!
I have used DeLorme TopoUSA products for going on a decade now, so I have lots of experience with it from it’s earlier days as a pioneering product in the consumer digital mapping field. Once I “got the hang of it”, it’s been an indispensable tool in the backcountry. Hook a GPS to the laptop, load up the DeLorme mapping software, and you get a dot on the map at the precise location you are at. During my backcountry adventures, I’ve found jeep trails using DeLorme mapping software that I couldn’t even see on the ground due to terrain conditions, nighttime, etc. The added benefit of handheld mapping GPS units from DeLorme has only made their mapping products even more useful. Maps downloaded through this subscription can also be downloaded into DeLorme’s handheld gps units.

This subscription to the DeLorme download service for added 7.5 minute USGA topo maps, charts, aerial, and satellite photography has been a wonderful addition to the product. I’ve been using it since around March, 2009. I have two different laptops, a Gateway that’s probably three years old, and an Acer that is going on two years old. Neither model is considered “top of the line” as far as speed goes. However, I’ve never had a problem downloading any maps into DeLorme 7.0 on either computer. The download speeds have been great through our DSL service and wireless home network. While I agree with some other reviewers that it would be nice to be able to download larger single files, I have never had a problem merely creating more files and downloading them back to back, which is done automatically once the maps are selected. I merely choose the maps, aerial, or satellite photography I want, let the software create the files, submit the order three or four files at a time, and often the first maps are ready to download before I’m done choosing the last maps for my map download session. After that, it’s all automatic. I have not experienced, on either of my computers, the types of problems others have had, so I can only suggest that the cause of their difficulties might be more due to their particular network issues rather than problems with the software itself. What’s more, I’ve learned that one can also copy map files from one computer to another, thus I only need to download the maps one time to one computer, then I can transfer them easily to the other computer as well. Additionally, when one of my computers “crashed” and needed to be restored, I had to have the keycode reactivated on that computer through DeLorme’s customer service line, which was handled by DeLorme’s UNITED STATES BASED SUPPORT PEOPLE in mere minutes.

Since I also own mapping products from both Garmin and National Geographic, and Wildflower before them, I can attest to the fact that all of them have a proprietary user interfaces which require some getting used to. None of them can be considered “standard”. There are a few features in each of the other products I like, some individual features even better than DeLorme. However, I always seem to come back to DeLorme for overall ease of use, available features in one package, and for the value received for my dollar spent in added maps and photography. I can attest to the fact that if one were to purchase from other vendors the volume of maps and photography equal to what is available for around $30 a year through the DeLorme subscription, one would indeed pay many hundreds, if not well over a thousand dollars.

When one also includes the potential for updated maps and photography through the DeLorme download service over time, it makes this subscription an incredible value that I have not been able to even come close to duplicating anywhere, and believe me, I look for the best deals I can find.

I have not been in the least bit disappointed, and I will most definitely renew this subscription.

is not what it pretends to be
A great idea: unlimited download of USGS Topo Qads, NOAA nautical charts, aerial imagery. And everything will be visible on the computer screen as well as on the handheld GPS unit. The problem is: Delorme makes every effort to prevent the valued customer from downloading their precious data. The selection process of maps to download is slow and tedious through their “flagship” software “TopUSA 8″. Once after dozends of clicks the maximum download size of about 50 MB is selected (corresponding to a 1000sqm area), one has to wait 20 minutes for an email with a download link to arrive. The download itself is painstakingly slow and crashes half of the time (this does not have to do with my connection speed). So be prepared to spend days and days clicking through menues and waiting and frustrating if you want to get some of your money’s worth on this product…

Magellan Maestro