GE Plus

[tpstigers]

I'm wondering if anyone here knows what the difference in network access is between GE free and GE plus. I'm going to spend the money anyway (it's only 20 bucks, after all), but I'm curious about the specifics. Anybody know?

[Mickey]

I'm wondering if anyone here knows what the difference in network access is between GE free and GE plus. I'm going to spend the money anyway (it's only 20 bucks, after all), but I'm curious about the specifics. Anybody know?

This page explains some of the differences:
http://earth.google.com/earth_plus.html

There used to be more advantages (drawing polygons, etc), but those items moved into the free version a while back.

[martin]

I purchased Plus mainly because of the faster Networkaccess.
But can't see/feel any difference to the normal version...

[tpstigers]

Thanks, Martin - that pretty much answers my question. The only reason I'd spend the $20 would be for improved network access, but if there's no real improvement, maybe I'll just keep my money.

[SpiderX22]

I've been using the free version since early 2006, and it has all the features I could possibly use. And then, some of those features are available on certain websites that either provide an application to do it for you, or they'll do it for you themselves. If I were you, I'd save my 20 dollars. =)

[tpstigers]

Thanks, Spider. It has recently come to my attention just how much can be done in GE with third party apps. The majority of my job is taken up in mapping/GIS, and I have recently needed to branch into GE as a freely accessible venue for data presentation. Because of this, I've found quite a few resources for tweaking GE to my liking (aside from Google itself, which is an impressive resource), but none of them can offer me the one thing I want most: more speed. Google's the only one who can deliver this, and I'm wondering how much it will cost me and whether or not it'd be worth it.

[SpiderX22]

Does the speed depend on the person's computer speed, or how fast Google allows you to access their (server)? I don't really know how any of this works..

[Mickey]

Does the speed depend on the person's computer speed, or how fast Google allows you to access their (server)? I don't really know how any of this works..
It's a combination of things:

-- Speed of your PC
-- Speed of your internet connection
-- Speed that Google sends the data

For many folks, their PC simply can't keep up. However, for high-end processing like Terry is asking about, I'm guessing the bottleneck is on Google's end. It'd be interesting to see some actual numbers on how much faster GE Plus runs when PC speed and local internet connection speed isn't a factor.

[vladuna]

I bought GE Plus just a few days ago but I can confirm what several users wrote before: Cannot see any difference.
PC: P-IV 1.6 Mhz, 1 GB RAM, 256 MB video, Win2k, when "working" with GE no other app. running
Internet: real speed 2 - 2.5 Mbps, tested by speedmeters on distant servers
:mad:

[Mickey]

I bought GE Plus just a few days ago but I can confirm what several users wrote before: Cannot see any difference.
PC: P-IV 1.6 Mhz, 1 GB RAM, 256 MB video, Win2k, when "working" with GE no other app. running
Internet: real speed 2 - 2.5 Mbps, tested by speedmeters on distant servers
:mad:

IMO, any slowdown in loading speed on the free version is usually the result of a bottleneck on my end (bogged down PC, slow net connection, etc). Even if I was connected to faster servers on Google's end, I doubt I'd often see any difference.

[vladuna]

Even if I was connected to faster servers on Google's end, I doubt I'd often see any difference.

Is there any possibility to configure connections / servers / etc? Thanks :shifty: Vlad

[Mickey]

Is there any possibility to configure connections / servers / etc? Thanks :shifty: Vlad
GE Plus connects to you faster servers. The issue through the last few posts is whether or not that really makes a difference.