I've just decided to stop using FSX and FS2004. After using both of these excellent simulators, as well as X-Plane (on and off) for many years, I think its time to for me to make a switch. As of today, I'm going to throw my support behind X-Plane and start using it instead. I'm not asking for anyone to agree with me, nor am I asking for support (I'll head over the the X-Plane forum for that), I just wanted to share a few thoughts about what led me to make this decision:First and foremost. Microsoft (MS) fatigue. The day that MS dropped the Aces franchise was a turning point for me and my view of MS was radically changed forever. Was I surprised? Yes, but I shouldn't have been. MS has a long history of starting projects and either leaving them half baked or dropping them entirely. I've always loved the MS Flight Sims and purchased every single one since FS98. Now, Other than Windows 7 which I really like and enjoy using (mostly because I have too for iTunes/iPhone support) I try to remain as MS free as possible. Also, I'm really tired of the MS activation hassles. Secondly, I'm tired of the FSX/FS2004 hassles too. I just had to do a complete reformat of my system and I'm not just no going to spend countless hours getting the MS Sims up and running again. (Gee I wonder how many activations I have left on my FSX disk?) Am I going to have to make another call to India to get FSX Activated again? I don't think so...Thirdly, I love the simplicity of the one folder X-Plane install/uninstall process. Lastly, I'm fully aware that FSX/FS2004 are the big gorillas in the flight simulation world and that X-Plane still looks a little rough in comparison. However, the X-plane franchise is definitely alive and well with support that I think I can depend on, at least for now. To me it seems like X-Plane is my best option for the near future.Thanks for listening.

Thanks for sharing thoughts.

I've just decided to stop using FSX and FS2004. After using both of these excellent simulators, as well as X-Plane (on and off) for many years, I think its time to for me to make a switch. As of today, I'm going to throw my support behind X-Plane and start using it instead. I'm not asking for anyone to agree with me, nor am I asking for support (I'll head over the the X-Plane forum for that), I just wanted to share a few thoughts about what led me to make this decision:First and foremost. Microsoft (MS) fatigue. The day that MS dropped the Aces franchise was a turning point for me and my view of MS was radically changed forever. Was I surprised? Yes, but I shouldn't have been. MS has a long history of starting projects and either leaving them half baked or dropping them entirely. I've always loved the MS Flight Sims and purchased every single one since FS98. Now, Other than Windows 7 which I really like and enjoy using (mostly because I have too for iTunes/iPhone support) I try to remain as MS free as possible. Also, I'm really tired of the MS activation hassles. Secondly, I'm tired of the FSX/FS2004 hassles too. I just had to do a complete reformat of my system and I'm not just no going to spend countless hours getting the MS Sims up and running again. (Gee I wonder how many activations I have left on my FSX disk?) Am I going to have to make another call to India to get FSX Activated again? I don't think so...Thirdly, I love the simplicity of the one folder X-Plane install/uninstall process. Lastly, I'm fully aware that FSX/FS2004 are the big gorillas in the flight simulation world and that X-Plane still looks a little rough in comparison. However, the X-plane franchise is definitely alive and well with support that I think I can depend on, at least for now. To me it seems like X-Plane is my best option for the near future.Thanks for listening.------------------------------------------------------"You'll be back.....oh yeah......"...

I'm more of a newcomer to the MS sims, but after a year now I've definately thought about jumping ship to a product that is still being actively developed. For me the frustration I feel with FSX comes from the poor framerates. With FS2004 the framerates are great but the ground textures are really poor resolution and look dreadful.I've tried the X-Plane demo and didn't really get on with it either - what would you describe as its positive aspects that are worth jumping ship for? I've heard bad things about their scenery and lack of ATC for example.Dave

While X-Plane is a great sim, I could never get used to the Langoliers effect of being the only plane in the world... too lonely for my tastes..

Thanks for sharing thoughts.

Speaking of add-ons - I'm actually after the best out-of-the-box experience. With FSX I'm having a lot of fun just learning the default planes and feel no need whatsoever to buy any add-ons (though EZdock camera and a TrackIR are starting to look nice).With the X-Plane 9 demo, I thought the default planes and scenery were poor. I understand X-Plane 10 is on the way, but the default aircraft and scenery would have to be at least as good or better than FSX to make it worth it to me to move. I'd also be worried about the lack of ATC as I'm just beginning to learn to use it properly in FSX.I can barely run more than 10% traffic in FSX on my PC but I do like to see the airport with a few planes and vehicles or it looks like a ghost town.

Speaking of add-ons - I'm actually after the best out-of-the-box experience. With FSX I'm having a lot of fun just learning the default planes and feel no need whatsoever to buy any add-ons (though EZdock camera and a TrackIR are starting to look nice).With the X-Plane 9 demo, I thought the default planes and scenery were poor. I understand X-Plane 10 is on the way, but the default aircraft and scenery would have to be at least as good or better than FSX to make it worth it to me to move. I'd also be worried about the lack of ATC as I'm just beginning to learn to use it properly in FSX.

Thats like making an FS-X sized hole and expecting X-Plane X to fill it. FS and X-Plane are very different beasts. If you're happy with FS-X there is no reason to switch or buy an extra sim. I myself have never been happy with FS-X. I probably had a FS-9 sized hole I expected FS-X to fill :(. I still prefer FS9 with add-ons over FS-X.I always fiddled with X-Plane 8 and X-Plane 9 as a side intrest (easier then FS to build your own aircraft). In the last 2 years X-Plane grew on me. The x-plane add-on community (free and payware) did some amazing stuff expanding the base program. Basic X-Plane always had a draw on me ever since I switched texture res to "very high" and enjoyed blurries free scenery @ 30 FPS. It still took a lot of time to overcome my FS habbits and learn the X-Plane way of doing things though.BTW When you try the X-Plane 9 demo 'out of the box'. Only use the Cesna C172, the P180 Avanti Ferrari Team and Cirrus The Jet. They use the newer formats and techiques. If you like these there are plenty of free add-ons wich deliver similar quality.

BTW When you try the X-Plane 9 demo 'out of the box'. Only use the Cesna C172, the P180 Avanti Ferrari Team and Cirrus The Jet. They use the newer formats and techiques. If you like these there are plenty of free add-ons wich deliver similar quality.

yes - this is what bugged me. I don't really have much time to search down good add-ons (free or paid). I don't use any add-ons in FSX, I'm still learning the default aircraft. In the X-Plane demo the supplied aircraft are of highly variable quality/completeness and to me that isn't acceptable. There isn't even a page on their website listing the default aircraft with screenshots etc. to judge.I tried to get into FreeFalcon 5 a while back, but kept going back to LOMAC for the very same reason. However FF5 is made by volunteers in their free time and the rough edges are excusable. X-Plane is a commercial product, and should offer the best out-of-the-box experience even in the demo if they want to win business from FSX. All the supplied aircraft in the box should have great textures, fully working cockpits and full documentation - anything less isn't really acceptable to me.I should add that the only thing I'm not happy with in FSX is the poor framerate. Everything else is great, but unless I spend

I like bits and pieces of all three. So I don't see the need to jump ship. I wouldn't give up some scenery and aircraft for FS9, the Orbx scenery for FSX has brought a lot of life to it, and X-Plane is differnent enough to be of interest. In fact, the default X-Plane 172 has a very nice VC cockpit, once you learn the keys. I didn't get into the X-Plane VC's much, until I bought the Falco. Just use page up/ page down, and the arrow keys. I'm not a real 172 fan these days, but I like the X-Plane VC better than the FSX 172 VC.Flight models are good & bad for all three, even though they run on different principles. I'll come home from a real flight, and fire up MSFS & X-Plane for immediate comparisons. I do use X-Plane version 9.45L.Adamson

Meh..I tried X-plane 9 some time ago because I was fed up with FS.. mainly because i felt FS was like a Win 98 install.. eventually (once you install more and more addons) things get cloggy and messy and FS will run worse and crash.. (unless you follow a very strict install procedure). Also, I was getting countless DLL errors (just like win98).So i tried x-plane but uninstalled it the next day.. the issue is that the default planes are just too simple and I couldn't find ONE jet that offered a fully working FMC.Same goes for scenery.

I just don't get why people are so bitter about Aces folding up. We have FSX which is, to me, all we need and a great community of free and pay developers improving it and pushing it's limits outward. Why do we need a "franchise" continuing ? What difference does that make? All they ever gave us was a base product.

but unless I spend

...$1298 plus taxes.

or no taxes if the components are purchased online and out of state :)

Uhm why not install them both? there no rule that says 1 sim per PC.I have both on one of my PCs and they co-exist just fine together.