I current use MapTech Terrain Navigator Pro V6.03, and have receive an upgrade offer for V7.0. I currently use Terrain Navigator for planning offroad routes, and to track where I'm at while in the backcountry. In your humble opinion, should I stay the same, upgrade, or change to another software package?

My needs are basically limited to offroading/topo map useage. I know that route planning sounds easier with vector maps, but are they (such as is DeLorme's Topo USA) really worth it?

This probably isn't going to help, but... If the software meets your needs currently, then stick with it.

Personally, if the upgrade doesn't address a serious deficiency that you currently are faced with, I would hesitate to install it. (My philosophy for all software).

I use MapTech Terrain Nav as well. I love the topo map detail and use them for real time tracking with my GPS/laptop, as well as route planning. (for basically offroading/hiking).

However, having a programming background, seems to me that they had no database concepts when designing the repository for the software. I would also hazard a guess that the underlying code is ancient, based on how the names/properties are handled.

And I find that printing maps is dreadful, though once printed, they're very handy.

But, in the last 2+ years I've had it, I've gotten used to the (imo) poor User Experience and have worked out my own 'system' that makes using the software much faster and easier than when I first started out with it. I now know what the software can/can't do and use it accordingly.

I have also wondered about the competition, but since this is paid for and meets my needs, I'll continue to stick with it.

Oh, and I got a free upgrade last year that introduced a bug when importing route files. I've since reverted to the previous version, which works fine for what I do.

Regards,

-matt