Where: Seattle Qwest Field & Event Center [view map]
When:  February 5th – 8th, 2009
Show Hours: Thurs-Fri 11am – 8pm,  Sat. 10am-8pm and Sun. 10am-5pm
Tickets: $7-10 – buy online and get free parking courtesy of Microsoft Streets & Trips!

We’ve done many RV related shows across the US but this will be our first time in our home town. 

I want to invite everyone in the Pacific NW to come by our booth and say “hello” to the various members of the team.  We love to talk with people and try to answer any questions they have regarding the Streets & Trips software.  It is also a good time to gather feedback from current users of the software.

There will also be a daily seminar “Travel Planning at Your Finger Tips” at 12 noon.

Keith O’Brien from MyPoint…Exactly has put together a video that will walk you through step-by-step how to update your default map template to a new version that includes both the new pushpin icons plus all your old favorites.

Visit Keith’s website and learn how better integrate Computerized Mapping with your business. 

Keith (My Point…Exactly) is also an active member on Marvin’s LaptopGPSWorld Forum.

Keep up the great work Keith!  The video looks great…easy to follow and professionally done.

We had a good time at the FL show meeting thousands of Travelers, Campers and RVers each day.  Many were avid users who have been using Streets & Trips for years and years.  Other folks who had never used it had an opportunity to get a quick trip planning and/or navigation demonstration from one of us on the product team.

I was encouraged to hear comments like “I can't believe how much better the 2009 version is!” and “It's the best release yet!”  (I’m not making this up….really).

We listened to everyone’s suggestions on what they would like to see in future versions.  And, of course, we also received voluminous questions which I’ll try to address the most FAQs here in a future post. 

For all those who came to the Tampa show – Thank You!  Next show will be here in Seattle, WA in February.

The 2009 Consumer Electronic Show (CES) is in full swing in Las Vegas this weekend and one of the hottest laptops making its debut is the Sony VAIO P WVGA NetBook that will begin shipping in February.   It has a integrated Verizon EVDO cellular broadband connection as well as real time GPS technology.  The screen resolution is 1600-by-768 and weighs a mere 1.4 pounds but best of all it comes with Microsoft Streets & Trips 2009 installed!

I’d love to have one of these to enjoy the full Streets & Trips navigation experience without needing to plug in a USB GPS (since it used the integrated GPS). The P Series comes with an instant-on OS and starts at $900 USD.  More details at the SonyStyle website.

We’ve been suffering through a bit of a snowmageddon here in the the Pacific Northwest.  Like most people around these parts I was dreaming of a white Christmas but I am now regretting it.    The problem is we have had much more snow than usual.  At one time I measured accumulations of 18 inches (45.7 cm) on top of my car.  There is not nearly enough snow ploughs to clear the roads so at best they will only hit the main arterials.  In addition, the city will not use salt on the roads and there are plenty of hills that welcome drivers to slide to their deaths or at least have a close call. 

So it is with great anticipation that we will be traveling this weekend to the Florida RV Trade Association’s 2009 Florida RV SuperShow.

Microsoft Streets & Trips will have a booth in building ‘B’ and hope anyone in the area will come by say “hello” and talk directly with the people who work on creating and this product.

Show name: 2009 Florida RV SuperShow [location map]
Dates: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009
Times: WED-SAT 9AM-6PM SUN 9AM-5PM
Admission: ADULTS $8.00 (2 day pass) CHILDREN UNDER 16 FREE
Discounts: WEDNESDAY IS SENIORS CITIZEN'S DAY - $1.00 OFF

Seminars:
Bob Marx: "TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT RV" and "FULL TIME AND EXTENDED RV TRAVEL".
John Holod: ALASKA RV ADVENTURE, RVing THE EAST COAST AND GULF COAST & BAJA ADVENTURE.