After reading the 737NGX product description I get the impression that it does not have any 2D panel but only a VC. My experience is that VC is not feasable with airliners because of odd viewing angles making it awkward to see everything clearly. That leads to the question of I should take the cost of EZdok into consideration if I wan't the 737NGX? This addon addresses the issue I mentioned.

Also I'm not quite clear of what I would miss if I skip the 600/700 expansion? It's stated that

'all the cockpit, engine, sound, flight model and performance differences they bring compared to their longer 800 and 900 siblings.'

What are these differences?

2 panel is there.

The NGX has 2D panels, except for the throttle quadrant/pedestral. And they are very well done too.

EZDOK is a great tool anyway as it makes the sim coming alive with its effects. And the ability to create your own set of cameras inside and out is a great feature too.

And the ability to create your own set of cameras inside and out is a great feature too.

 

That's the single best feature IMO. Being a TrackIR user and a staunch VC user, EZDok is right up there in importance with ActiveSky and FSUIPC. For a 2d user, I doubt EZDok is worth the steep price tag (I feel it's a bit steep anyway). Especially if your hardware is on the weak side and using a VC is not a great option. If that's the case, I recommend a solid FS9 installation and the iFly 737 package. The last great hoorah (minus the QW BAE146) for FS9 enthusiast. Just my .02

I've never once used a 2D panel in the NGX and can see and clearly operate everything on the flight deck.

I don't have the 737NGX (gasp!...yet). Anyway, the first thing I learned was how to use the spacebar/mouse combo to navigate around inside. I'd never used it (never had a reason to) but in that cockpit, with buttons and knobs everywhere I quickly adapted and loved it. So, for me, inside the VC, I don't need EZdoc at all.

 

But I do have EZDoc and use it (mostly) for views out the windows. Obviously, the front view, and also a left-front and right view that I can quickly select with my hat switch to locate where I am in relation to the runway for visual approaches. I do have a right seat view set up as well and I mess around with different camera angles to make things easier or more cool but the window views help me on Visual Approaches a lot. I also have a TrackIR. I know some people love it but I always hate having to 'reset' the view by moving my head up and down after I've turned to an extreme angle so I've set it aside.

 

Bottom line: EZDoc could be useful in the VC but there are other ways that work too. Window views: essential for me for visual approaches.

That's the single best feature IMO. Being a TrackIR user and a staunch VC user, EZDok is right up there in importance with ActiveSky and FSUIPC. For a 2d user, I doubt EZDok is worth the steep price tag (I feel it's a bit steep anyway). Especially if your hardware is on the weak side and using a VC is not a great option. If that's the case, I recommend a solid FS9 installation and the iFly 737 package. The last great hoorah (minus the QW BAE146) for FS9 enthusiast. Just my .02

 

Is EZdok a performence hitter? As I understand it is the VC the best option if you have EZdok. Regarding my hardware it's

AMD Phenom II X4 3.4 GHz (OC 4 GHz)

4 Gb PC6400 RAM

NVIDIA GTS250 1 G

Win 7 x64

 

I've never once used a 2D panel in the NGX and can see and clearly operate everything on the flight deck.

 

Without EZdok?

I've never seen any performance hit with EZDoc. All it's doing it changing your view. Just doing it in useful ways.

The NGX has 2D panels and has a set of VC camera presets. EZDok certainly enhances it (as it does virtually any plane) but it is in no way required.

My experience is that VC is not feasable with airliners because of odd viewing angles making it awkward to see everything clearly.

 

In a real aircraft, you have to move your head to see everything clearly. Just like in the VC. That's what panning is for? The 2D panel makes everything feel terribly unrealistic! You never find yourself getting lost in the sim's atmosphere with 2D panels. I honestly think that flying on 2D panels takes away at least 50% of the overall experience. Try the VC, and maybe even TrackIR.

I can fly the J41 without EZDoc just fine. EZDoc is just for looking outside when I'm doing visual approaches...seeing my position relative to the runway in a realistic way. If it were me, I'd just get the aircraft and try it out. There's plenty to learn before you start flying visual approaches and VFR patterns. Learn to use the spacebar/mouse and the preprogrammed cockpit views. Then, at some point, maybe you want EZDoc. It's only a download away so i wouldn't sweat it a lot.

Would you chaps reccommend Ezdok on top of TrackIR?

I turned off my TrackIR when I got EZDoc. I've always had a problem where if I look around and come back to forward I have to cock my head up and down to get the forward view right again. It wastes valuable time when I'm flying low, turning my head to get my position and then look back forward to be no longer in the right eyeball position. So I just use EZDoc and it's sufficient, simpler and consistent. TrackIR might be useful for other 'non-critical' looking around but, unless they can fix that thing that slows me down getting back to my front 'picture' I'm just not going to use it.

 

In a real aircraft, you have to move your head to see everything clearly. Just like in the VC. That's what panning is for? The 2D panel makes

 

But that's the problem. When looking around in VC your head is fixed in position. I'm not aware of being able to move the head position in FSX VC

But that's the problem. When looking around in VC your head is fixed in position. I'm not aware of being able to move the head position in FSX VC

 

Try the Ctrl/Shift + Enter/Backspace combinations for up/down and forward/back, and Ctrl+Shift+Backspace/Enter for left/right movement. You can also assign these to your joystick. For example, I have one hat switch for panning, and another for moving my eyepoint around. And of course a button to reset your position. Works well, if a bit unnatural. I'm thinking of picking up ezdok for the preset views, I can see how those would be great. Single buttons could smoothly swing your view to the overhead panel, to the FMC etc, with eyepoint positions also included for each view (if I understand correctly).