Google Maps Sucks (and has led me in circles!!)

Yes, it is true. Google Maps sucks. Twice now, I have looked something up, only to be led on a wild goose chase around town. On top of the that, they have less features (in my opinion) than Microsoft Live Maps. Let’s take a look at the debacles:

1) Fire on the Mountain

Fire on the Mountain (http://portlandwings.com/) is a cool buffalo wings in Portland. I found it by Googling “best wings in Portland”. Anyway’s, I have a post written up for the wing debate, that will come later, but for now, let’s compare Google Maps vs. Microsoft Live Maps

Now, there are few details here. On Google maps, when you search and fine FOTM in Google, it will show you a small map, you click on it and you get to here. Great, it even has a little link and info about the place – awesome! But, take a close look. The address is 4225 N Interstate Ave, Portland, OR, but Google has the dot located (zoom in a little) – Some # 9th Ave NE – WTF????? Now, the picture on the right, the Microsoft Live Maps. Background info here. Searching for “Portland wings” in search.live.com, you will see local listings, no map, but there is a link to FOTM, and it brings you here which then if you click on interactive map, brings you here which is the screenshot I have above. The correct address, and it is located in the correct spot! What is even better is there is a bird’s eye view here as well.

Now, if I got driving directions on Google Maps (which, BTW, I did) and follow them, without double checking the address against what they mapped, I end up in ghettoville, which, I did (thank god I had my T-Mobile dash, which has Live Maps for Mobile, which saved me again!). Winner – Microsoft Live Maps

2) Post Office

Ahh, the Post Office. Disgruntled workers, people always impatient, just a fun time. Well I had a package to mail, so I figured I would walk to the post office. Lets dig into the results:

On the left, searching for the Post office near my address. There are two results on the map – here is the link. One that is around 7-8 blocks and one that is around 15-16 blocks away. Of course I am going to walk to the nearest one. As I walk today, in the rain no less, I get to the area of the first result, and it is just residential homes, no post office, nothing. Another big WTF!! So once again I pull out the T-Mobile dash, Live Maps for Mobile, search for Post Office near my address, and it gives me the address for the second (read: farther one in Google) away, and that is it. So I walk there, do my business, walk home. But, getting home is what got me thinking of this post, so then I search on maps.live.com – “post office” around my address, and this is what I get (the picture on the right) – link here. So, Once again, Microsoft Live Maps wins out.

So chalk up two times that Google Maps has really thrown me for a loop, which is two times to many. From now on, Microsoft Live Maps.

Has anyone else experienced this craziness??