The Virtual Earth downloader is very cool software.It can download the image from the maps.live.com.

It supports the following map type:
1.Road
2.Satellite
3.Hybrid

After you specify the area (latitude and longitude of rectangle), zoomlevel, merge options and the map type.The software can download the map area you specified.During the download process your IP could be refused by the maps.live.com.The request will no be refused by the virtualearth site.

After all tiles downloaded the software will merge the tiles to the large image as you specified.The software supports as large as 25,600*25,600 pixel image that is 100 tiles * 100 tiles.This could be very good for printing the map.

The software supports the multiple threading.It is super fast.And the software has the ability to build the world map file base on the projection you specified.

You can import the image to the GIS software directly.If you are looking for a good solution for downloading the map.Virtual earth downloader is a good choice.