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National Geographic TOPO! Explorer Deluxe
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National Geographic TOPO! Explorer Deluxe

Item # 776043

$49.95

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Browse a seamless, nationwide set of topographic maps, aerial imagery, and a unique hybrid of the two with TOPO! Explorer from National Geographic.

  • Deluxe version features nearly 2,000 USGS 1:100,000 scale maps covering the entire United States (1:250,000 in Alaska and Hawaii) on two DVD-ROMs
  • 1:100,000 and 1:250,000 scale USGS maps are ideal for planning back road excursions and outdoor adventures
  • Works with both PC and Mac for full compatibility across platforms, making it easier than ever to plan, print and play
  • Includes 25 credits for SuperQuad maps; download the exact maps you need to print, customize or connect to a GPS
  • Each map credit is good for 1 SuperQuad, a combination of the most detailed, authentic 1:24,000 and 1:100,000 scale USGS topographic maps
  • Covering a minimum of 49 sq. mi., each SuperQuad map features current roads and streets, aerial imagery and a topo/aerial hybrid view
  • Comes with online access to the National Recreation Database, filled with updated trails, photos, videos, and user-generated recreation information
  • Download trails for your favorite national park and add Forest Service roads or wildlife habitat areas
  • Customize your map with routes, symbols, photos, note boxes, web links and text; share information with an online community of outdoor enthusiasts
  • Select the exact area you need and print a photo-quality custom map on any ink-jet or laser printer or plotter
  • Transfer your custom waypoint and route information directly to or from most handheld GPS units
  • Print waterproof trail maps on National Geographic Adventure Paper (sold separately) to take along on your trips

System requirements: Internet connection (DSL, Cable, or equivalent high speed access recommended for performance); Windows Vista, XP, 2000, ME, or 98; Internet Explorer 6 or higher; 1 GHZ CPU or better; 512 MB RAM + 64 MB video memory; DVD Drive.
For Mac: Mac OS X 10.3.9 or higher; 1 GHZ CPU or better; 512 MB RAM + 64 MB video memory; DVD Drive.

Made in USA.

Item 776043

National Geographic TOPO! Explorer Deluxe Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
National Geographic TOPO! Explorer Deluxe
 
2.1

(based on 9 reviews)

38%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

    Cons

    • Not much information (4)
    • Hard to navigate (3)

    Best Uses

      • Reviewer Profile:
      • Quality oriented (6)
      • Primary use:
      • Personal (8)

      Reviewed by 9 customers

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      Displaying reviews 1-9

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      Aug

      15

      2008

      (5 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

       
      1.0

      Disappointing

      By TobyGadd

      from Fort Collins, CO

      About Me Quality Oriented

      Site Member

      Pros

        Cons

        • Buggy
        • Incomplete feature set

        Best Uses

          Comments about National Geographic TOPO! Explorer Deluxe:

          I've been a Topo! user since before National Geographic purchased the small founding company (Wildflower). All previous versions of the program have worked well and every upgrade has been worthwhile. Alas, Explorer is terrible. Many of the old Topo! features are missing. It needs a full-time Internet connection to access maps (unlike Topo! State Series maps, which come on CD/DVD). If you want decent topo software, buy one of the Topo! 4 State Series versions, but stay away from Explorer.

          • Primary use:
          • Personal

          Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

          (5 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

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          Aug

          27

          2008

          (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

           
          1.0

          Stay away from this turkey

          By Ron in Colo

          from Longmont, CO

          About Me Quality Oriented

          Pros

            Cons

            • Hard To Install or Upgrade
            • Hard To Navigate

            Best Uses

              Comments about National Geographic TOPO! Explorer Deluxe:

              What a disaster. The map downloads are painfully slow and the maps disappeared from my computer after I exited and re-opened the software. Don't know if that's a feature or a bug but it makes this thing impossible to use. There were holes in some of the downloaded maps--grey squares that would appear at certain resolutions and go away at other ones. Some were labeled "network error." The maps I asked for did not download cleanly; the system would hang at the last one, which may be why they all disappeared. When I tried to log on to the forum looking for some clues about how to get the thing working, the forum wouldn't recognize my login even though I had to log in to download the maps. The map printouts do not include either the topo names or a symbol key. I'm taking this straight back to REI tomorrow. Don't let National Geographic waste your time like they did mine.

              • Primary use:
              • Personal

              Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

              (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

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              Jul

              15

              2008

              (3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

               
              2.0

              Stay away!!

              By shelblue

              from Boise

              About Me Quality Oriented

              Site Member

              Pros

                Cons

                • Hard To Install or Upgrade
                • Not Much Information

                Best Uses

                  Comments about National Geographic TOPO! Explorer Deluxe:

                  They just issued a new release, which at least enabled the software to run on my Vista PC. However, it is really disappointing in functionality. It will not see my old State Series maps. They have no phone support unless you use your Magic Decoder Ring--email them (once you find their support email address), then wait 72 hours for a phone call. Someday they may get it together, but stay away for now.

                  • Primary use:
                  • Personal

                  Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

                  (3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

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                  Jun

                  26

                  2008

                  (3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

                   
                  1.0

                  Under developed, poor utility

                  By gcc76

                  from UT

                  About Me Value Oriented

                  Pros

                  • None

                  Cons

                  • Crashes or Freezes
                  • Hard To Navigate
                  • Need development
                  • Not Much Information

                  Best Uses

                  • Research

                  Comments about National Geographic TOPO! Explorer Deluxe:

                  The problem is that the product labeling was misrepresented. That is, the product does not do what the box claims it does. Rather than enumerate all the lack of functionality, I will just describe one: "Magellan Triton series users can transfer detailed maps directly to their units." That was a direct quote from the product's packaging. I understand, now, that the product is still under development; however, I think it is a gross misrepresentation and fraud to not state that the product being sold is underdeveloped or in a "beta" version.

                  Wait to buy the product!

                  • Primary use:
                  • Personal

                  (3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

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                  Jul

                  10

                  2008

                  (2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

                   
                  1.0

                  DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT!

                  By fatboybryan

                  from Seattle, WA

                  About Me Quality Oriented

                  Site Member

                  Pros

                    Cons

                    • Hard To Navigate
                    • Not Much Information

                    Best Uses

                    • Trash can filler

                    Comments about National Geographic TOPO! Explorer Deluxe:

                    This product is virtually useless. The maps that you download are clear on the computer, but don't print properly. Program does not interface well with Garmin Rino 530HCx. Waypoints, and routes transfer but the maps do not. Those are the only two uses I purchased this for and it does niether. The program is fairl easy to navigate, but is still being upgraded. You cannot use all the features as of yet.

                    • Primary use:
                    • Personal

                    Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

                    (2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

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                    May

                    26

                    2009

                    (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                     
                    1.0

                    Disappointing Product

                    By Arisdad

                    from San Diego, CA

                    About Me Avid Adventurer

                    Pros

                    • Nothing really

                    Cons

                    • Arcane User Interface
                    • No feedback during instal
                    • Routing tool doesn't work

                    Best Uses

                      Comments about National Geographic TOPO! Explorer Deluxe:

                      I consider myself to be computer and software savvy and I spent hours just trying to get [...] I really can not recommend that anyone buy this product.

                      Service and delivery comments:

                      As mentioned, support is not available by phone. It is also interesting that trying to use the "Help" feature informs one that there are no Help files available.

                      • Gift:
                      • No

                      Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

                      (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

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                      Apr

                      26

                      2009

                      (1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

                       
                      4.0

                      Don't judge this by other reviews

                      By imabackpacker

                      from Washington

                      About Me Quality Oriented

                      Site Member

                      Pros

                      • Everything

                      Cons

                      • None So far

                      Best Uses

                      • Hiking Backpacking

                      Comments about National Geographic TOPO! Explorer Deluxe:

                      I was reading all the other reviews. Most were bad. Thought I would try it. I'm happy I did, It works great. I own a Triton 500 which communicates wonderfully with this software. Great Product. Simple to Use. Superquads are a +++!

                      • Gift:
                      • No
                      • Primary use:
                      • Personal

                      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

                      (1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

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                      Jul

                      27

                      2008

                      (1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

                       
                      4.0

                      better than before

                      By Gary D.

                      from Chicago, IL

                      About Me Value Oriented

                      Pros

                      • GPS friendly
                      • Great maps

                      Cons

                      • Needs more user info

                      Best Uses

                      • Finding trails
                      • Making maps

                      Comments about National Geographic TOPO! Explorer Deluxe:

                      Reading some other reviews and seeing posts on topo forums it does seem this product wasn't ready enough at first. But they've made a number of updates, and I've found it to be very good. A lot of the free web sites have maps that aren't so great. Topo explorer has USGS maps you can print, plus satellite photos that go with the maps. They have a lot of trails you can download, and print on your maps and turn into routes for your GPS. It's pretty easy to use, but there could be more "how to" info. I will say that with free updates and the fact that they've made a lot of improvement in a short time, this is a good value that will just get better.

                      • Primary use:
                      • Personal

                      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

                      (1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

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                      Jul

                      24

                      2008

                      (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                       
                      4.0

                      Improvements Make This A Great Value!

                      By TBrown

                      from Pacifica, CA

                      About Me Quality Oriented

                      Pros

                      • Adaptive and Versatile
                      • Easy to Use
                      • Engaging
                      • Great Value
                      • Highly Functional

                      Cons

                      • Not Much Information

                      Best Uses

                      • Educational Purposes
                      • Planning Trips

                      Comments about National Geographic TOPO! Explorer Deluxe:

                      I picked up TOPO Explorer a few weeks ago... I own other TOPO products, but was very interested in the updated trails that TOPO! Explorer contains. My first impression was honestly a bit disappointing - but with the recent free upgrades to the application I'm rather stoked. The application keeps getting easier to use with more features - and you can't complain about free updates! In fact there are now several features that I like far better in TOPO Explorer than I do in the older TOPO. I use this software with both an older Garmin 60 and with a newer Triton that I got for Christmas. I haven't yet shared a lot of my maps with the TOPO community, but I have downloaded some national park trails and it seems rather intuitive.Seems like the jury is still out for some - but with free upgrades this is now a great value at[$]. The wait is over.

                      • Primary use:
                      • Personal

                      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

                      (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

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