I have thge 2003 version of Microsoft S&T. There is now a 2005 version available. Do any of you know what functional improvements have been made to the program? Their web site just shows changes to be able to download to smart phones and hand helds and a GPS interface but nothing about features interior to the program.

When I sent an e-mail, I got back a message that essentially said "Thanks for your input. We're not going to answer you but we'll keep your comment in mind".

I don't have the 2003 version, but I do have the 2004 version. From 2004 to 2005, the only real difference I see is the GPS interface.

Strangely, from 2004 to 2005 versions (for 2005 I got the one with a GPS device included), the itemized list on the box says that they actually reduced the number of miles of roads they cover. They do increase the number of ATMs (from 47K to 117K) and restaurants and the like that show up on the maps.

I've been upgrading this program year after year. If you don't need GPS and don't mind outdated restaurant/hotel information, don't bother with the upgrade. Though, once it's been on the shelves for a while, you can find it for $10 after rebate or with Pricegrabber.com, etc.

I upgrade because I like the additional hotels and restaurants added each year. But, I wait a while until I can get it at a huge discount.

Thanks for the info - I have one more specific question. When you plan a multi-day trip, S&T marks the days as day one, day two, etc. In the 2003 version, there seems to be no way for the user to supply a start date and have S&T mark the date for each day instead of a sequential day number. That's no big thing on a trip of a few days. It's quite a weakness when you're planning a 115 trip as I am now.

Does anyoe know if this capability was added to the 2004 or 2005 version?

Nope, with 2005 you cannot assign dates. It is disappointing that MS is so unsophisticated. (Other programs I tried years ago had this feature.) I would much prefer that each day start from zero miles, too. It's annoying enough to have to break a weekend trip into two files. I cannot imagine how cumbersome a 115 day trip!

When this program was first introduced, you were automatically eligible for reduced price upgrades. That went away. Now, upgrades include only updates (of a sort) and "fixes" (sometimes). Too amusing. One year, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston was on the map twice - once in the correct location, again elsewhere. Someone must have reported this. In the next version, it wasn't on the map at all!

One thing I do do now is load the program on my husband's laptop if we're taking a road trip, then copy my trips to the laptop. That way, we can handle contingencies (snowstorms, the one time the hotel did not have our reservation and was full up...) in the car with the cell phone.

Gosh but I wish they'd add some truly useful new features. Even so, I cannot imagine planning any sort of trip, especially a road trip, without it.