I recently purchased a license to Google Earth Pro and the Google Earth Enterprise services for use in a network I am currently setting up. At $400, the price might seem a little steep, but I guess it all depends on what you are looking for. Now, let's get down to business.


Why Google Earth Pro?


Things that can be improved:


What I think of this application:

I thought the program was decent. Their was a bug though that disallowed really using the program to roam around the earth freely, that if on WinXP (Pro, Home might be the same), you had to switch from OpenGL to DirectX in order to search properly. But it's a cool program, enter a address and it'll go to where it's suppose to, if typed in properly. I just wished it was more Real-Time

It is more realtime on my business networks. 15 Mbps provides some pretty good results. As far as the DirectX OpenGl, I just wish they would put a don't ask me again option on the form.

Digital_Spirit, nice

However, would i be able to ask if you could throw together a few pictures of the features not available in the free edition. I wouldnt mind seeing how well it plots the GPS points and really how high definition it is..

Np, I can't help with the GPS Capabilities because I do not own a GPS Device, but I can certainly get some screenshots for you. Any Specific locations you want to see(eg. White House, etc.)?



I have attached a screenshot of a 3D Tour of Miami, FL. ScreenShot 2 is a zoomed out view in which Businesses containing the word, "USA" in this general location are defined.


Below is a Satcom Pic Taken of the Colo4 Level 3 Data Center that holds my servers.

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wow i get about the same output with my GoogleEarth (Non Pro) besides the first screenshot you had, with the 3D Building Design...dont have that

but there is any real difference in texture quality between the free and the other editions ?

mmm i dont really see much of a difference besides the buildings. Textures look exactly the same to me.

Although you like Google Earth, do you believe it's worth the money for the pro version for a home user, or even a business?

Well, as far as the home user; I would just stick with Google Plus. The only thing that Google Earth Pro offers over the others is simply the addon capabilities, you know: GPS and so on. As far as the image quality, they claim it is better, but it isn't really that different. The quality depends on the camera that took the image be it Satellite or Airplane. You will notice that larger more populated cities have better quality than small towns. This is because there is more Satcom and Air GIS data for the program to choose from. As far as using it for a business, I don't really know because I am running a Biomedical Infrastructure. I am using the enterprise solutions to create a live Sattelite Mapping Network for EMT's, Fire Departments, and First Responders who do not have access to the same government data systems that the police have. I am also implementing enterprise solutions from the national weather service to give real time atmospheric statistics to feed the output along with a Neural Network created by myself to notice different patterns in Travel, Weather, and Geographical Systems to help the user choose the fastest route, know what weather to expect, what equipment to bring, and so on. So I can say, enterprise solutions are exceptional for High Scale corporate data networks, but as far as a small real estate business, I believe that Google Earth free will be more than sufficient in carrying out the tasks a user needs.

well im using the free edition for my traveling over EU u gotta say its pretty good program for the traveler
even say better then waypoint by microsoft..
cool nice easy and dont take lots of memory

i have never used it but do they censor specific locations IE area 51 etc etc high level areas? or do they show them?

area 51 is just one of the default bookmark ..
there is a white zone on the texture , don't know if
it's censored or normal ..

I'm not sure if they sensored this or not, I have not searched the location. At one point the Groom Lake Military installation was in highly privatized air space, so it would have been hard to get an aerial shot unless it were from a Satcom. As far as the program, there is a Layer feature to include Military Data and installations in the maps.