Google Maps -- Windows version

[Brian Stirling]

OK, I've been using Google Maps from within Chrome on my PC for years and it's been really helpful when planning trips. I can layout a multi-leg trip and know, based on driving speed, what time I'll arrive at each of the points -- very helpful.

Now, for the last year or so they've been pushing a newer version but I can't stand the new version so I've had to go and tell it to revert to the "Classic Version." A couple months ago when I'd change back to classic and tell it to remember that setting it simply refused to remember and I had to change to classic every time I used it. But, now there is no switching back and I'm forced to use the new version and it flat sucks!

Apparently, no one at Google thinks people use Google Maps to plan trips and only use it to look at getting from point A to point B -- I guess they hadn't planned on points C, D, E, F etc. I can not stand the huge box on the left and when you do setup a multi-leg trip the distance between legs is very confusing. God I hate the new version!

OK, what are the options for PC based mapping programs?


Brian

 

[lxskllr]

I use Openstreetmap, and if I were to do a multi-leg trip, I'd do it manually. It's probably not what you want. It's objectively inferior to google results, but is sufficient for my needs, and no spying.

 

[Puppies04]

OK, I've been using Google Maps from within Chrome on my PC for years and it's been really helpful when planning trips. I can layout a multi-leg trip and know, based on driving speed, what time I'll arrive at each of the points -- very helpful.

Now, for the last year or so they've been pushing a newer version but I can't stand the new version so I've had to go and tell it to revert to the "Classic Version." A couple months ago when I'd change back to classic and tell it to remember that setting it simply refused to remember and I had to change to classic every time I used it. But, now there is no switching back and I'm forced to use the new version and it flat sucks!

Apparently, no one at Google thinks people use Google Maps to plan trips and only use it to look at getting from point A to point B -- I guess they hadn't planned on points C, D, E, F etc. I can not stand the huge box on the left and when you do setup a multi-leg trip the distance between legs is very confusing. God I hate the new version!

OK, what are the options for PC based mapping programs?


Brian

Vote with your wallet!

 

[Wonderful Pork]

misread OP - post deleted

 

[Murloc]

the new google maps doesn't even works on the computers I use, I use W7 + FF and it just locks up and doesn't load the satellite pictures or the roads when I move around.
A few years ago it used to work perfectly.

Nowadays I use nokia here when I can't be bothered by that crap.
The web version here.com works well as a map.

I don't know how multiple-destination stuff is though. I know you can do it but I've never tried.

 

[deadlyapp]

OK, I've been using Google Maps from within Chrome on my PC for years and it's been really helpful when planning trips. I can layout a multi-leg trip and know, based on driving speed, what time I'll arrive at each of the points -- very helpful.

Now, for the last year or so they've been pushing a newer version but I can't stand the new version so I've had to go and tell it to revert to the "Classic Version." A couple months ago when I'd change back to classic and tell it to remember that setting it simply refused to remember and I had to change to classic every time I used it. But, now there is no switching back and I'm forced to use the new version and it flat sucks!

Apparently, no one at Google thinks people use Google Maps to plan trips and only use it to look at getting from point A to point B -- I guess they hadn't planned on points C, D, E, F etc. I can not stand the huge box on the left and when you do setup a multi-leg trip the distance between legs is very confusing. God I hate the new version!

OK, what are the options for PC based mapping programs?


Brian

I'm confused, I have no issues doing multiple point trips through google maps and chrome. Are you talking about some built in plugin or something?

 

[NikolaeVarius]

I this is easily a case of PEBKAC.


I just set up a multi leg trip and the directions are clear with times and distances simply laid out.

 

[Markbnj]

Seriously, Google is losing their shit. Chrome is a mess, the new maps app is a mess, hangouts is a mess, their user interfaces in particular have dropped off a cliff in usability terms the last few years.

 

[EliteRetard]

I agree, the new google maps is terrible.

Does it "work"? I guess, barely...it doesn't work anywhere near as well as it used to.

It's like car manufacturers removing the steering wheel and replacing it with a twister mat. You have to spin a dial and then push various colored dots to turn the car. The degree to which the car turns is based on how fast you spun the dial. Of course you have to wait for the dial to stop spinning first so you can see which colored dot to push.

Overly complicated crap that doesn't work anywhere near as well, but it's so much prettier to look at!

 

[Kalvin00]

Agreed, the new maps is horrible. My laptop slows to a crawl when using it.

I use the lite version but then if you are route mapping you can't change the end markers without switching to the full one.

 

[Captante]

Biggest problem is that stupid box on the upper left that blocks 30% of the damn map.

What were they thinking?

 

[Brian Stirling]

I this is easily a case of PEBKAC.


I just set up a multi leg trip and the directions are clear with times and distances simply laid out.

Didn't say it didn't do multi-leg, just that it's far less useful at it than the previous version. In particular, the distance between legs is flat out confusing as hell whereas the old version the segment distances were much easier to figure out.

With the old version, when you laid out a multi-leg trip the directions gave you two levels of information: an overview that made seeing segment length very clear, and a detailed view with turn-by-turn.

To be honest, I'm not sure I understand the reason Google made maps worse -- I can't see what the benefit is for them. The only thing I can figure is that a new guy or team is involved and he/they needed to put there stamp on it by changing things.

And, on you insulting PEBKAC comment ... it shouldn't be necessary for there users to have to relearn a tool that isn't significantly different in it's function. Yeah, if the new maps provided some great new features that required a redesign then I could buy that, but when the tool is pretty much the same tool there is far less need to change the wheel for the sake of changing the wheel.


Brian

 

[Sukhoi]

Yeah the new Google Maps is horrible. I need to get myself in the habit of using Bing to see if it happens to be better. My many large problems with Google Maps:

Why is the StreetView guy on the opposite side of the map from everything else? Takes annoyingly long amount of time to move the cursor over there on a large screen.

Dropping StreetView guy doesn't default to "major" features anymore. Tried to drop on an interstate and ended up in the driveway of a high school 2 mi away.

How the hell do I print anything if I just want a simple map?

Computer mostly dies if I try to run the separate Google Earth program while I have Google Maps open in a browser.

Route timing tells me current travel time with traffic. I don't give a shit about that if I'm planning a trip, and there is no way to turn it off. Have to manually set it to the middle of the night each time.

Routes cover up traffic or bicycling info.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Just used Google Maps to map out the 5 day driving trip I did a few years back. It literally was spot on an without all of the unnecessary details. This was also in the latest chrome, with the CPU locked at 1.4Ghz, on windows 7.

I'd start looking at whatever extensions you've got running.

 

[EliteRetard]

RAGE!