[Philmont]: Philmont Interactive Ranger CD

I've been off list for a while but recently reset my mail settings. I
received a copy of the new Philmont Interactive Ranger CD from our Council
and gave it a try and thought I'd make some comments, as I didn't see too
much in the list archives. I had no idea what to expect when I installed it.
I run a Mac and a PC but I was a little annoyed that it is PC based only.
But I've pretty much gotten used to that kind of shortsightedness.

My first impressions were that it was a little hard to get going. It
installed with no problem but registering it was something else. There were
no instructions packaged with it and I repeatedly tried to register online
via a message prompt and got an error message saying the Server could not be
reached. I finally opened my browser and went to the companies website and
searched for answers there. You are given two options, one is to get a
20-day trial and the other is to purchase it outright. I wondered if I did
the 20-day trial would it give me the option to buy it at the end (it has no
further instructions). I finally called someone in sales who explained it to
me and yes it will give you the option later. I eventually found out how to
get the "key" code to get the software working and spent some time with it
yesterday.

My first impressions are this may need some debugging. My copy has crashed
several times or only partly opened. For instance I just started the program
and the itinerary choices come up but no maps! Had to reinstall the CD
twice before it ran right.

Your first choice is to pick and itinerary. You can choose from a window
that shows them by number and a general overview map. It's and awfully small
map though and it is hard to tell if you are in the South or Central or
where ever. You can also choose a more advanced search, but it is a little
bit limiting. For instance you can not pull up all "Typical" treks and
compare them but must first check the level and then check some aspect of
what you want in the back country. So if you check "Typical" and "T-Rex
Track" you will get Itinerary 2,3,7 and 8 and a prompt to go directly to the
trek description.

I liked the easy to read topo maps and the aerial pictures of the terrain
are nice too. I guess one could do a print out of the pictures and carry
them along to ensure you are in the area you think you are supposed to be,
unless of course there has been a fire recently which might change things!
You have several choices for things to view via tabs at the bottom of the
screen. "Profile" seems to bring up nothing. "Itinerary" brings up the usual
camp descriptions with the interactive feature. You click on a camp and you
get the maps and photographs above. "Trail Profile" gives you a colorful
graph with a description of what types of trees at each level. "Itinerary
Description" gives you the same description you get in the Treks book.
"Itinerary Photos" is a nice item that gives you 6-12 images from that trail
or types of things you might see on that trek, that is most of the pictures
appear in other itineraries if they have these things. My only thought is
that the pictures while helpful, are of a pretty low quality. I'm not sure
where they got all these images as they cover a number of years (as noticed
by the Ranger uniforms and the general look of people, hair styles and
clothing, etc,) Perhaps Philmont has an archive of images but I would have
hoped they would have chosen really dynamic shots. While some are good
(especially photos of backcountry staff in costume) many are flat and under
and overexposed. It might have been worth while to have sent a pro out to
the camps last year or the year before to take some really well cropped and
composed pictures.

There are some additional things I have not experimented with regarding
Waypoints and GPS info. They may prove useful to those working with these
issues.

I think the thing retails for $50. Would I buy it? "No, I see it as more of
a gimmick. I already have the topo maps and I think the Treks book is a
better way to go. There is more cross-referencing of trails in the Treks
book and the itinerary descriptions are easier to read. Just my opinion.

YOF
Chris in Houston

-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
Subscribe/Unsubscribe at http://usscouts.org/lists/
Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp
-------------------------------------------------------
Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com
Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com
List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp
List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------
As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Tue Apr 8 14:39:59 2003