Product Review - MapPoint 2001 -
About The Data
MapPoint 2001 comes bundled with a complete set of demographic and geographic data, enabling users to get up and running
immediately. This is a nice feature because it bypasses the usual "headaches" involved with costly and time consuming data conversion.
In the words
of Michael Graff, product manager for MapPoint at Microsoft, "MapPoint turns information into insight...
giving people an entirely different way of looking at data."
A Variety of Data Sources
Microsoft credits the following companies for supplying the data for MapPoint 2001:
- GDTNavtech
- Statistics Canada computer files
- Compusearch Micromarketing Data and Systems Ltd.
- Info USA
- University directory data provided courtesy of Princeton Review Publishing.
- Road construction information provided by Traffic Station Inc.
- Woodall's Campground Directory
Other cartographic data sources include: the National Imagery and Mapping Agency, United
States Geological Survey, United States Board of Geographic Names, National Transportation
Atlas Database, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, World Conservation Monitoring Center, CIA
World Data Base II, United States National Parks Service, United States Census Bureau, and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
MapPoint 2001 now contains more than 75 categories of data for areas in the US and Canada. The business listings and travel
planning resources contain hundreds of thousands of listings for businesses and points of interest
across the US. Most listings also include the feature name, mailing address and phone number.
Displaying Data
From the start, navigation and viewing data is a breeze. Simply click on the zoom icon to
zoom in or out, or click on the Find button and enter a place name.
For example, entering "Denver" will yield a number of results, Denver, Colorado
being the first response... Graphic.
Clicking on the "Denver Colorado" column in the resulting "Find" table of results will
result in the Denver area being displayed in the map window... Graphic
Users can easily set the type of map to be displayed by selecting the following Format/Map style options:
Road Map - the default setting displays point features and major roads. Zooming in brings up more detailed features.
Terrain Map - This option displays major features draped over
topography color-themed by elevation, giving a 3D effect.
Next: New Features
