Goodbye mapquest, hello Google Maps!
 

You gotta check out Google Maps!

A *phenomenal* interface!!!!!

Decent sized maps that allow you to get your bearings easily!

You can pan and zoom maps in real time!

Click on the map and drag it where you want it!

Zoom out, then double click on a city to centre in on it!

So long Mapquest and your postcard sized maps!

Arthur

I just test drove Google's route-planning feature was unimpressed. I put in several of my frequent long-distance routes and got some crazy routings that led me through some small towns instead of staying on interstates....

however, it's in beta testing, so it might be improved, and their interface is quite pleasing.

Probably it is finding the shortest possible route, instead of the preferred hwy routes. Being that it is in beta form, I'm sure they are working on it, IPO money is hard at work! ;)

Map looks suspiciously similar to the Navtech DVD-based one in my car. If so, "that's a good thing." Agree the UI is worlds better than Mapquest.

Ah, shame it's US only :(

The interface does seem rather similar to Mappy, but (albeit not to such a fine scale).

For Europe, try www.map24.com as long as you have a decent connection. They seem to have a google.co.uk tie-up.

Edited to add: And the do North America too now!

All I can say is.... Awesome!

UAL_Rulez - You are right, the new Google Maps is based on Navtech. (Look in the lower right hand corner when you pull up a map on Google, it says Navtech right there)

Not yet available for MAC :(

Obscure2k - I'm confused by your statement..

If you mean that Google Maps is not available for the MAC computer platform, that is incorrect. According to Google Maps help file: "It should work for all Internet Explorer browsers 5.5 and later. You can also use Google Maps on a Mac, Windows or Linux computer with the Mozilla browser."

If you mean that it doesn't map the airport MAC (which is Macon, Georgia), it does. Just click here: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=macon%...384%2C0.174810

Doesn't work with IE for the Mac OSX either.

And good riddance...

Ever since Mapquest crippled their product by removing map sizing option and messing up the display of directions I've been ticked off. If Google can keep improving their mapping product I'll be hooked long term.

this topic is already being discussed in the travel tech forum: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=398054

It should work with Mozilla or Firefox (and maybe Camino) on the Mac, since it works in Moz/Firefox on the other platforms (Linux, W32).

Being a diehard Mac person myself (I have 5 Macs in my household), it works perfectly fine in Firefox for Mac OS X!! IE for OSX is a dead end product for the Mac platform (MS is no longer updating it), the sooner you retire it, the happier you'll be, trust me! I was an IE holdout, but once I got my hands on Firefox, I was kicking myself for staying with IE for so long. It is *that* much better, faster, and more stable! Safari is a close second for me. ;)