I know some will disagree but after owning both of these aircraft for awhile I come away with enjoying the 717 allot more. My reason is, in FS2k4 having a functioning VC is almost a must. To expand on that fact having a functioning VC that's framerate friendly is even better. No it doesn

>>>but PMDG's FMC doesn't seem to work correctly either so basically it's like not having one at all...<<

well... it doesn't work like the FS2002 GPS so it must be faulty right? :-lol

Let me try again--confused the 717 with another freeware release. Simply put, it's hard to compare any 717 against a 737.... What's PF's website?-John

"...in FS2k4 having a functioning VC is almost a must." Maybe for some. But as for me, I hate any VC. And I love the PMDG 737NG - including the FMC. But that's what makes it all so interesting - different stuff for different folks.Doug

http://surclaro.com/pf_b717/

I concur. I don't see any functionality in a VC. Kind of neat to "look around" but I don't see how the VC more fully simulates reality than the 2D panel. It's not like your head has 360 degrees of rotation, you know.And, I own both PF's 717 and PMDG's 737NG. I quit using the 717 because it didn't fly well and the panel looked like a bad cartoon to me (compared to other panels). PMDG's FMC is easy to use if you've used a FMC like 767PIC's.

My opinion is the virtual cockpits SUCK for airliners and I never use them. I am glad PIC 767 never had one. Now virtual cockpits for GA aircraft nothing beats the Sai Marchetti 260 and Dream Fleet Cardinal. I see you mention there are problems with the FMC YET refuse to mention exactly WHAT those are? This general "Something is wrong" says nothing. To be honest here, you don't know how to use a FMC on a Next Generation Aircraft do you? If you did I think you would actually STATE what is wrong. I have delt with MANY guys who have no idea what the heck they are talking about and use their ignorance as an excuse to say the FMC does not work. Are there a *COUPLE* of things not currently modelled? Yes this is true. But it is not PMDG's fault you cannot pull a speedbrake and your VNAV disconncts when passing 20+ knots (wow that is modelled though humm) if you want a 15 million dollar simulator you can rent one for 500 an hour. Like JW said, GPS is faulty? lol................................ [h4]Best Wishes,Randy J. Smithhttp://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/196432/winglets_lg.jpg [h3] AMD XP 2200 |MUNCHKIN 512 DDR RAM |ECS[/b ][i] K7S5A MB[/i] |GF2 MX 32 MEG and still runs GOOD!|WIN XP PRO |MITSUBISHI DIAMOND PLUS 91 19"[/h3]

It amazes me how some on this site enjoy ripping into people... I swear sometimes this seems like the most unfriendly FS site on the web. All this anger was not necessary besides I mentioned more things I disliked than just the FMC. Maybe you guys focused on that because I'm right about everything else (beauty is in the eye of the beholder). I don't like the framerate issue when using the VC for the most part and that's my biggest grip. Just because some of you don't care for the VC doesn't justify it not being complete especially if people are paying $40 for the package... Explain to me why the PMDG VC is the most resource hungry cockpit of any aircraft released for FS2k2/4. Explain to me why it's the most useless VC released in recent months on top of the fact that it needs monster hardware to run as good as comparable addons. If the FMC works for you guys great maybe it's something I'm doing wrong, no problem besides I

You are the one talking all the *nagativity* and then tell us that we are the ones doing it? Here's a quote from you abovebut PMDG's FMC doesn't seem to work correctly either so basically it's like not having one at all... Now if that is not crap talking bud I don't know what is. You have done nothing but put the poroduct down as a piece of crap and then cry like you are some innocent bystander. Get real, here is a lesson for you, if you start a fire be prepared for flames...[h4]Best Wishes,Randy J. Smithhttp://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/196432/winglets_lg.jpg [h3] AMD XP 2200 |MUNCHKIN 512 DDR RAM |ECS[/b ][i] K7S5A MB[/i] |GF2 MX 32 MEG and still runs GOOD!|WIN XP PRO |MITSUBISHI DIAMOND PLUS 91 19"[/h3]

:-xxrotflmaohere we go ... AGAIN [/size=6]

"To be honest here, you don't know how to use a FMC on a Next Generation Aircraft do you?"No offense Randy, but whose fault is that? Where is the manual from PMDG that shows step by step on how to use the FMC?Now if there was such a manual, and the guy was ripping the product because he didn't bother to read it-- then your point is valid.-Bill

HiPMDG have stated that the 737 will be updated with more functionality in the VC once Microsoft releases the SDK files.Farizz DK

Well, I am not in this camp. I think the virtual cockpit in the PMDG 737 is outstanding - like the default Lear, really giving a sense of the rather cramped quarters in the front office as well as a taste of the peripheral vision a real pilot would have forward right or left on near the ground. The only 2d panel for a jet liner that gives you that sense of 3 dimensions is the Dreamfleet 737. Even the highly regarded PIC 767 gives you just a flat panel looking dead forward. And most important to me, The VC allows me to put the primary flight display dead center which I find very helpful in lining up for landing and take-offs, and then pan to see things like flap retaction, gear annunciators etc. This seems more realistic to me than the flat 2d panels giving you the captain's panel and the middle panel all in one view. So, I am very pleased with the development of VCs in this edition of FS. I can't wait to see what comes next.

dilloll0 (didn't your mother like you enough to give you a proper name?),If you're going to make sweeping unsubstantiated statements like "... but PMDG's FMC doesn't seem to work correctly either..." then you deserve the criticism.Be specific about what doesn't work and maybe people will listen to you seriously. Make silly comments like that and you deserve to be criticised. I see from the number of posts you've made that you've been around here for a while. Next time you decide to knock a product make sure you have put forward a robust case and people will listen to you seriously and even if they don't agree with you they will at least respect you. As things stand you've probably not put anyone off buying the PMDG737 and have damaged your credibility.Time to reflect.