Google Maps have been hugely praised. I think they picked up 3 webby awards... as well as making literally everyone who sees them go "WOW!".

But has anyone actually ever used them for directions? To take them on a journey somewhere?

I did last week. And it was not a happy experience. The directions seem to be lacking in a lot of key and seemingly simple areas. Overally the problems (to me at least) make the service unusable for serious ventures.

I did a full write up of my thoughts here: http://sam.davyson.com/weblog/?p=216

Hmm... this seems to say something on the topic. I am not sure if it is anything new or just my thoughts in german...

http://www.jmboard.com/gw/2006/09/05/erfahrungsbericht-mit-den-google-maps/

I've used Google maps in a variety of situations. My experience has been that for close down, street to street directions, Google Maps is fine (plus I enjoy the notes box, I just wish they would wait to let me print). As for the long directions (highway, interstate,ect...) Google maps seems to go by the roads that have the highest highways speed, it doesn't take you on the slower backroads that will save you several hours of travel like mapquest does. Mapquest also seems to steer travelers away from congested area's, like 95 in the DC area or NYC.

Sam Davyson:
That's my blog, and it's your article in german with a little bit own stuff ;-)

Nathan: Yeah I had forgotten about the way it makes you print it straight away. (It doesn't *make you* but you know what I mean).

Jens: Ah ok, thanks :-)

Google Maps UK is pretty good. It navigates properly around an awkward one-way system in my city, and in a dozen local routes that I tested it always gave the same directions that I would have used myself.

<<Google Maps UK is pretty good>>
Yeah I agree that it understands one-way systems (there's one in my town) but it dosn't understand muddy tracks. My post from "Weird Google Directions"

<quote>
Well between my town and the next Google sends me allong a muddy track. I did contact Google a long time ago but got no reply

Picture
http://picasaweb.google.com/mrrix32/OtherPictures/photo#4970228618101587986
GMaps
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=BN9+9SP+(Mrrix32%27s+House)&daddr=BN10+(Brighton)&ie=UTF8&z=14&ll=50.792156,0.035791&spn=0.015843,0.032444&om=0
</quote>

Mrrix32: I prefer muddy tracks to a longer sealed road anyway.

I use Google Maps all the time and have never had a problem with the directions. I had to travel from San Francisco to San Jose for a meeting yesterday, and the directions were perfect (it did take me down Highway 101, which is fastest that time of day. I guess if I wanted to take 280 I would be out of luck.) But it gave me the right directions to the freeway from my house. Mapquest often suggests a much slower route.

I've used Google Maps for directions. Well, I print them out and my girlfriend reads them to me whilst I'm driving. Unfortunately, I have no idea whether it's her or Google that's to blame if we get lost... :-)

I use them all the time.