distribution maps

[Aysha at]

I know this subject has been addressed before, but I think it could do with
a revisit.

We would like to know what software people recommend for producing
distribution maps. The features we are most interested in are:
--availability of maps (i.e. are all world regions mapped and on what scale?)
--map quality (how good does the map look when printed out?)
--map features (e.g. political boundaries, relief, rivers and streams)
--ease of use (can a Mac user produce a distribution map without taking a
special course?)
--(and maybe this relates to ease of use) integration with other
applications (e.g. Biota)

Thanks in advance for all suggestions.

Aysha Prather
prath003 at tc.umn.edu
University of Minnesota Insect Collection