Microsoft MapPoint 2009 for North America was released in July and reviews have been healthy along with the usual criticism.

Marvin Hlavac’s MapPoint 2009 Review focused on MapPoint 2009 GPS features and was generally positive regarding the product. However, in the discussion area for the Microsoft MapPoint 2009 article Richard Marsden voices some issues he found with the MapPoint 2009 release.

The software is now “slicker” looking with a Ribbonish interface and all new icons. Also, although I do believe the right-click drag option for select instead of a toggle button is an improvement, I empathize with the custom software developers who had over-ridden the right-click behaviour and must now do things differently in their programs.

I haven’t seen much coverage in GIS or general computing press, but it is still early and I’m sure more things will come out, especially after the MapPoint 2009 European release.