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National Geographic TOPO! Explorer Deluxe

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

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If you're an REI member: At steps 3 and 4 of checkout under REI Membership, enter your membership number and coupon code REIANNV. Note: Check "Use my dividend on this order" and we'll apply your dividend balance toward your purchase.
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Coupon applies to highest-priced eligible item. Coupon good through 5/28.

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If you're an REI member: At checkout, provide coupon code REIANNV (or a printout of this coupon) and your REI membership number to the cashier. Note: Ask to have your dividend balance applied toward your purchase.
If you're not yet an REI member: At checkout, include an REI membership for a one-time $20 fee with your purchase and provide coupon code REIANNV (or a printout of this coupon) to the cashier.
Coupon applies to highest-priced eligible item. Coupon good through 5/28.

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If you're an REI member: Provide coupon code REIANNV and your membership number when you call in your order. Note: Ask to have your dividend balance applied toward your purchase.
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Coupon applies to highest-priced eligible item. Coupon good through 5/28.

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National Geographic TOPO! Explorer Deluxe Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

National Geographic TOPO! Explorer Deluxe

1.9

(based on 12 reviews)

27%

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), Avid adventurer (4)
- Primary use:
- Personal (8)

Reviewed by 12 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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Aug

2008

(6 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Disappointing

By TobyGadd

from Fort Collins, CO

About Me Quality Oriented

See all my reviews

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.

Comment on this review

Aug

2008

(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Stay away from this turkey

By Ron in Colo

from Longmont, CO

About Me Quality Oriented

See all my reviews

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.

Comment on this review

Jul

2008

(4 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

2.0

Stay away!!

By shelblue

from Boise, ID

About Me Quality Oriented

See all my reviews

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.

Comment on this review

Apr

2009

(3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Don't judge this by other reviews

By imabackpacker

from Spokane, WA

About Me Quality Oriented

See all my reviews

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 +++!

Comment on this review

Jul

2008

(3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT!

By fatboybryan

from Seattle, WA

About Me Quality Oriented

See all my reviews

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.

Comment on this review

Jun

2008

(3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Under developed, poor utility

By gcc76

from UT

About Me Value Oriented

See all my reviews

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!

Comment on this review

Apr

2011

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

2.0

Crapshoot

By Chile Ortega

from Pacific Northwest

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Great usgs maps
When working-awesome

Cons

Bought maps not on file
Can't login often
Often doesn't load
Slow as molasses

Best Uses

Sitting around waiting

Comments about National Geographic TOPO! Explorer Deluxe:

If you can get this thing to work, it is great for printing maps. It has been so frustrating to use that I have been unable to explore it's route planning features, and I don't use a gps, so I can't comment on those features, but I will say that it does print a nice USGS map when it decides it wants to allow you to log in. Very affordable considering that one quad map at REI costs $7. This will give you the quad and all four sections for [$]. I highly recommend the waterproof paper they make. This obviously raises the price of the map, but not by much. I also suggest that you save pdf maps to your computer, as the program itself seems to lose them. It seems as if online features really don't get much activity, as no comments, photos, or videos accompany any of the trail information. Why would you want to write any reviews of trails or locations, much less try to upload pics and vids, when you can barely keep your sanity just trying to log in.It is a pain in the butt, overall, but if you hold out hope that this will be upgraded one day, you might take a chance on it. I just spent fifteen minutes typing this review, and the program is still attempting to log me in.

Comment on this review

Apr

2010

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Terrible Product

By MtnClimb

from Colorado

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Slow error prone

Cons

Bulky
Difficult to read
On-line only horrible

Best Uses

None

Comments about National Geographic TOPO! Explorer Deluxe:

I am very disappointed in this product. It is a map that you can't take into the field. On-line only ! Interface is not intuitive and slow. I get errors all the time when using. Support is email only...this is a big step down for NG.

Comment on this review

May

2009

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Disappointing Product

By Arisdad

from San Diego, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

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.

Comment on this review

Jul

2008

(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

better than before

By Gary D.

from Chicago, IL

About Me Value Oriented

See all my reviews

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.