Been having a problem with cut/paste.

 

Al,

 

I understand completely. Boy you were correct with mountain, more like Mt. Everest. I would say it is close to insurmountable for CS to ever become like PMDG due to the human nature thing. You can read allot of "tude" in their writings, just like Ariane has allot of "tude" and just like Blueprint has the "tude" in their writings, Eula, email replies, that sort of thing. Anyway I have noticed a direct correlation between this "tude" and the quality of products, over hyping tendency as well as poor customer service. The no response for a while and then a reply that makes the customer sound like they are computer illiterate and it is their fault is what gets me the most. Or just plain silence like Blueprint. I think it is great when people do not find the same issues as I have and more power to anyone who wants to buy their stuff. I guess I am just spoiled with the likes of the PMDG NGX,747 and spoiled by good customer service from them as well as company's like Hi-Fi Sim that set a benchmark in the industry. The free market on one side tries to bring company's like CS and Blueprint up to higher standards but the human nature "tude" effect works in the opposite direction. Sometimes one wins over the other but it remains to be an internal struggle between the 2 forces opposing each other.

 

This is a joke right? There were so many patches and updates in the first months of the NGX release I couldn't keep up with them.

 

And their is a big difference in releasing a product with a few barely noticeable flaws and one with huge and outright flaws that need to be patched like who do we know? FSX?

 

So no it is not a joke, just a difference in flaws, a big one. I owned both the PMDG 747 and NGX as well as MD11 from day one and even with the minor almost unnoticeable "flaws" was a high cut above the rest.

Al, Your review of the Ariane 737 was very good and as a beta tester for them I even had problems with getting answers and support. I have not heard from their Dev team in months. I have no idea what is happening there but I would love to see a review on the CS 737 before I buy, as I have most of their software.

 

JeffG

And their is a big difference in releasing a product with a few barely noticeable flaws and one with huge and outright flaws that need to be patched like who do we know? FSX?

 

You obviously have an axe to grind but please dont marginalize the issues the NGX had on release, PMDG fired out patches and fixes so fast to fix issues that should never have been released it wasnt funny. I have issues with PMDG customer service just as you have with CS, both have problems, both resolve them in their own way in their own time.

 

If you havent dealt with CS recently I suggest you give it another shot, their support has improved 1000% in the last year and their products are on a par with the best, especially their cockpits, none are done better.

Al, Your review of the Ariane 737 was very good and as a beta tester for them I even had problems with getting answers and support. I have not heard from their Dev team in months. I have no idea what is happening there but I would love to see a review on the CS 737 before I buy, as I have most of their software.

 

JeffG

 

I was invited to beta their 700 NG, I got the beta version, and there were issues with its throttle on climbing past 10,000, but I never got replies to my PMs with regard to sorting that out, so in the end I gave up with it. I was happy to offer help to further extend the olive branch, but with no replies to my PMs, there wasn't really much I could do. Dunno where they are up to with it now.

 

Al

Yea PMDG had some brakes/autobrakes issues and a few bugs with the FMS. These were not dealbreakers though at all. They also fixed it with sp1a,b,c and now things are real good with it. They brought out the patches in a timely fashion and allways respond to customers issues on the forums. They also do not belittle their customers. So a far far cry from the issues with the NGX and CS with their stuff. As an example, when I got the 767 there were so many isssues that just blew the whole thing for me. And after the attempt to get support and getting an automatically generated email that comes back that says "we will not reply to support requests that have answers in out FAQ" And the answer is not even in there or not applicable to my situation. And there is no one from tech to even talk to or that will reply how do you even compare that to PMDG and what a joke is that. It is pure ego on their part and bad attitude, apples and oranges here.

Briefly ... How does one navigate in this machine ?

That's via VOR, NDB and, with a bit of cheating (switch), the default GPS.

I use VORs and the nav radios, but you can make it easier to suss out cruise altitude crosswind offsets with Aivlasoft's EFB.

 

Al

And there is no one from tech to even talk

 

And how long ago was this? I can also tell you a related story about PMDG and their total lack of not only support but not even a reply. The issue I had (not NGX) was finally fixed by another user, and it took 4 months. So we all have our stories. I still buy both and they both have their own problems.

So we all have our stories.

 

This is very true indeed. I try not to trail the odd less than stellar support experience through the forums, since I know they can often be isolated incidents, and I've certainly had a few of those from all kinds of companies.

 

Al

I know they can often be isolated incidents, and I've certainly had a few of those from all kinds of companies.

 

Dead on Al. In the past my #1 criteria for spending my money was support. I never bought anything 'right out of the gate', I always waited at least a few weeks to see what problems developed. EVERY developer has release issues and the good ones address them as fast as possible and keep their customers informed of their progress. Communications is THE key.

 

Recently though, I have found myself changing from relying on developer support to user support, and it actually has been working out better. Thats the main reason I stopped buying from producers who have 'locked' forums for their 'customers' only. I want to see what issues are there and what users are saying, since they are the ones using the product. That alone has driven my purchases in the last year or so.

 

The FS community is a resource thats second to none, and after watching the CS 737 'release', I think they have found a way to tap into it. To my knowledge no other developer has used a system as CS just did, and to say I'm impressed with the results is an understatement.

 

Do I still expect 'support' from devs-yes. But now only for 'showstoppers', i.e. bad activations, etc. Everything else is just irritants that usually get addressed in a timely manner, and dont affect my enjoyment of FSX at all. I could care less is a plane climbs 500fpm faster than the 'book' says, 90% or higher of FS users have never flown a real trainer let alone a 'tin tube', so I always take that into consideration when reading posts. There isn't a 'real' plane out there that flys the way it was tested, as all 'real' pilots know.

 

The bottom line is, I buy what pleases me, and ignore those that dont. In fact I have so darn many Boeings now I am thinking of leasing some out to get more hanger space :-)

And how long ago was this? I can also tell you a related story about PMDG and their total lack of not only support but not even a reply. The issue I had (not NGX) was finally fixed by another user, and it took 4 months. So we all have our stories. I still buy both and they both have their own problems.

 

And what exactly was that issue? I certainly do not remember a ticket that I left unresolved for 4 months.

And what exactly was that issue? I certainly do not remember a ticket that I left unresolved for 4 months.

 

Ryan I dont even know if you were part of the team back then, this was a year or so after FSX was released. I'm not going to rehash it these many years later. I was simply pointing out to someone that ALL devs have their issues at one time or another.

I was simply pointing out to someone that ALL devs have their issues at one time or another.

Very true.

 

 

A HU for you folks with the HDG bug wishes. CS has set up a poll right there. http://www.captainsi...?num=1335210228

I'd love to see some ACE option to pick the way of the hdg handling. How about you?

Very true.

 

 

A HU for you folks with the HDG bug wishes. CS has set up a poll right there. http://www.captainsi...?num=1335210228

I'd love to see some ACE option to pick the way of the hdg handling. How about you?

 

Thanks for the HU. They're really trying, aren't they? I'm liking this new and improved experience with Captain Sim. It's refreshing.