I never fly the 3D cockpit, but it seems like the 737NGX will really bring this experience to a new level. I know nothing about Track IR (except from some posts here and some Youtube videos). Is TrackIR5 a MUST for the 3D cockpit? If yes, how hard is it to set up? I am concerned about seting this up - I am not computer savy. What are my chances of getting this set up properly?

Yes I think it is! I use mine constantly.

I have TrackIR 4. Never had many issues with it. I have not really edited the profiles at all though either. I just installed the drivers and software and off I went!

Once you fly with one, it's a must. You can survive without it, but it add so much. It's also a piece of cake to set up. Practically idiot proof. Plug in the TIR, plug in the TrackClip, and then start the TrackIR software. Adjust your seat, recenter it and fly.

In my opinion it's a must. Once you get the feeling of it, it'll make your "life" easier when things start to move fast... I haven't tweaked any settings, just picked the FSX preset. I installed it and clipped the thing to my headset and it works just fine.

Is TrackIR5 a MUST for the 3D cockpit?

Let me put it this way: ever since using it there is no going back for me. I would feel paralyzed if I had to do without it again. Setting it up is pretty easy and pretty much plug and play. Install the software and start it, plug the camera in and place it on top of you monitor, don the hat with the reflectors or the headset with the tracking clip and off you go. You may want to remove the deadzone from the profile to be completely free with your head movements without the view snapping to the center when you look straight ahead, but that's also very easy and self-explainatory.

I have to agree with the above posts. I can't imagine going back to using a hat switch...

I have TrackIR4 but now using TrackIR5 software. Basically install the software, plug in the special USB cam, after ensuring its in a good place where no direct light plays on it preferably. Start the software and choose either the hat clip or side clip, whatever its called. I use the hat one on a peaked cap and sewed + glued the small frame to the peak and front of the hat. You can clip the side one to a set of headphones alternatively, though I didn`t find this as good as the cap. Try the default Profile first, selectable under one of the tabs. In short use F9 to start/stop it and F12 to centralise it. Then go to the TrackIR part of the forum and search for a profile from Seth. Put that in your TrackIR5 Profiles folder while its turned off. Try it out and if you like it one of the software tabs allows you to set it as the defualt profile for FSX. The rest is just getting used to it, its well worth the effort.

Thanks for the replies. I really apperciate all your imput. I hate diving in head first into something and caught getting too deep. I am sold. I'll buy it tomorrow. I just spend $1500 on new throttles from Throrttletek, but I won't get them until October. I also spent $4400 on a new computer for the NGX. This damn plane is costing me a lot - but I figure I lost $50,000 on the stock market today - so what's a few pennies.

I was about as hard core of a 2d Flight Simmer as one can be due to it being the only thing from all the way back to FS95 (when I started). There was even a while ago when there was discussion as to whether or not the NGX would be 3d only. There was a poll floating around as to whether we would buy the NGX without 2d cockpits and I voted "No" (GASP!). Fast forward a few years and I picked up a TIR5 mainly for Free Falcon 5. I figured I'd give it a whirl in FSX after I built my new PC. Holy cow! What was I missing. I will say, it definitely takes some getting used to. The perspective change has made my landings on the iffy side but I'm getting much better and it's definitely a more rewarding experience what with being able to look around and all. One hint, map the TIR "Pause" key to something readily accessible, i.e. Num Pad 0 and it will make your life a lot easier. Also, pick up one of the "Flight" profiles that's floating around out there. They to some extent dampen the response and make it a bit easier to focus on one spot. As for setup...physically mount the device on your monitor, clip the hat clip on, plug in the USB and download the newest drivers from the TIR website. It's no more complicated than any other peripheral device. Highly recommended! I can hardly stand the sight of 2D anymore..... Adam