For those who don't mind a slew of cables and wires on the front seat beside you as you use your laptop to navigate, the 2008 edition of Microsoft Streets and Trips offers more features. The high-end edition ($180 street) includes an MSN Direct radio receiver that wraps around the tiny GPS receiver also included in the $100 version.

By spending the extra $80, you get a year of access to real-time traffic information and some (not all) current gasoline prices even without an Internet connection. After that, it's ten bucks a month. S&T 2008 also adds a perspective (bird's-eye) view and reroutes you if you go off course in search of that cheap gas station. There's also a basic version for $40, with no GPS or radio receivers.

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