I wish to say this folks,

 

As a newcomer to simulation, some will see "Superior" others will see "Comparison", If I wanted to purchase a new Car I would compare, and I would share my opinions with my "Friends" and they would not take offence.

 

I love FSX there is no doubt about it, but I also enjoyed this post it was most thorough and gave some fine examples that I can now go and compare. I think maybe that was all that was intended.

 

Thanks again Robert, and  thank you all for those other opinions :-)

 

I didn't get to see that point and  it would have helped just a bit. :-) But I got my 15 mins, and still think an hour would have been much better, I am watching what happens with XP10 closely as it looks good in so many ways. :-)

 

Regards Guss

 

 

Thank you Guss.  I too found the demo time limit for the XP trial 'too short' - and purchased the program ANYWAY, because there was enough stuff in the demo that grabbed me.

 

Once you own XP, you will want to pick up a couple of payware planes, and add both freeware and a bit of payware scenery, especially the big airports.  I live in California, so KSFO, KMSM (Sacramento), KSAN (San Diego), KLAS (Las Vegas) were key airports to me.  I also got JFK and La Guardia, they were free with an airplane I purchased.

 

Xplane10 has a great resource called X-plane.org (which is not owned by Laminar Research as far as I know) where you can purchase software and download freeware as well.  They have a nice forum there also, devoted to XP.  There is a LOT of free stuff available for X-plane.  Payware?  It's whatever aircraft type you like.  If you fly heavy jets, the Ramzzess 777 is quite appealing.  No, it's not 'as good' as the highly refined PMDG NGX available for FSX... but it has many similarities.  Enough so that I'm happy with it.  Being able to use a touchpad device (iPhone, Galaxy Tablet, iPad, Ultrabook, etc) to run your FMC separately from the main XP computer is a real bonus and money saver!  You can key in your flight plan on the stand-alone FMC which is linked to X-Plane via the IP address of the parent machine!  You access it through any web browser.  Cool feature!   

 

I think Austin Meyer (inventor of X-Plane) had to limit the demo - if it were 1 hour, a lot of people would likely only fly the demo!  When you buy the actual program, you don't have to reinstall, you just add your key to 'unlock' the demo, if memory serves me correctly.  Thus no 1 hour 'demo' would be practical.  Austin knows 15 minutes isn't long enough for most flights end to end, so they kept the time limit short.  

I know exactly how you feel, Rob! The first time I did a flight at night with XPX, I was also blown away. FSX's night flying simply can't touch XPX's night flying when it comes to visuals.

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

I know exactly how you feel, Rob! The first time I did a flight at night with XPX, I was also blown away. FSX's night flying simply can't touch XPX's night flying when it comes to visuals.

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

I agree, except with the visible taxi lights from the air. These should not be as visible from the air as they are!! This was also an issue with XP9!

In FSX at night, they paint pictures of cars of the streets, and then some cars and trucks drive over those painted-on cars... it's (politely) unattractive and unrealistic.

I just wanted to mention to Robert that default FSX does not have painted cars on the roads. You *might* have a third-party add on with that effect and about 30 seconds in the Setup utility would have removed the textures and replaced them with some sans "painted-on cars".

I just wanted to mention to Robert that default FSX does not have painted cars on the roads. You *might* have a third-party add on with that effect and about 30 seconds in the Setup utility would have removed the textures and replaced them with some sans "painted-on cars".

Thank you.  I have removed FSX so it's a non-issue, but I appreciate you clarifying it for me.  Must be one of the 12 million add-ons I purchased for FSX.  I seem to remember UTX (?) having all manner of adjustments.

I just wanted to mention to Robert that default FSX does not have painted cars on the roads. You *might* have a third-party add on with that effect and about 30 seconds in the Setup utility would have removed the textures and replaced them with some sans "painted-on cars".

Have to say that while I do see some very poorly flat out vehicles in FSX, one I was up an running the way I wanted my FSX to look, those road vehicles you can add in are pretty decent  from the pilots point of view I don't have any complaints about those, in fact I just wish that all FSX stuff worked in the same way as XPlane does and used the rig in the same way, now that would be sweet, :-) as it is its clearly got its limitations, I can live with it I think, lol.

I would like to see come on a bit more before I have another go at it, then I might be tempted but I do understand why the need for a limited demo though, but thing such as the setup screen, and I noticed seems on the 777 not joined properly, As I understand it though Xplane is the dream of just 2 guy's, now that is really awesome, cant wait to see where this goes.

The more I use X-Plane 10 the more I like it, the airport scenery market and freeware is limited and I say it's time for companies to start looking at offering us products for purchase.  Personally I have sent out a few emails to well known companies out there asking for it, I say everyone should do the same, BRING US THE ADD-ONS!!!  Unless XPX is coming out with something more as far as ATC goes, we also need a company like Radar Contact to start thinking of us, my credit card is ready for such a product.

Robert,

 

I really enjoyed your post. I hope you share your experiences more often.

Robert,

 

I really enjoyed your post. I hope you share your experiences more often.

Thank you Michael.  I think that x-Plane just is something totally different.  For me, that's quite appealing.  It's not even "done" yet.  Which is what really gets me excited.  Even with the rough edges, it's incredible.  And if the 3rd parties bring it on... wow.  I keep hoping PMDG will come to the party.  That will really be something.

 

Today, just for grins, I flew about 7 hours in heavy metal, then about 1 hour in the Baron 58.  I totally enjoyed puttering around my home airport in the Baron.  No, it's not 'dead on' with my airport (Lord knows I could build it up some with "WED" scenery editor), but it's close enough with the landmarks and mountains for me to fly around VOR.  I really like flying at the low altitude and eyeballing the power lines and cars on the freeway, just as I did in RW when I took private instruction many years ago.

 

Little by little, bit by bit...Like Al Pacino in the Godfather, "Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in..."  (dreaming of real world flight once more)