I've kinda had it with FSX as it can be a bit flakey and all. In fact, I'm re-downloading FSX via GFWL yet again following a unfixable scenery issue relating to FTX England. Ugh...

 

I'm primarily concerned with what the Student version entails, if it's basically FSX without all of the RTE headaces and associated issues. I understand a lot of addons currently work, which is of course a primary concern to me as well, and I like to know if there is a site/info that details what is functioning and what isn't. Thirdly, I'd also like to know what are the drawbacks to it, if any that is.

 

Any insight and or opinions on Prepar3d would be greatly appreciated. I'm kinda on the fence...

 

 

 

 

There's one big disadvantage- you spend more time flying and less time fiddling, meaning you get too addicted to the thing. It's bad man, don't go there. Read books, walk in the park, just don't install it.

Yep!

 

wifes don't like Prepar3d!

I've kinda had it with FSX as it can be a bit flakey and all. In fact, I'm re-downloading FSX via GFWL yet again following a unfixable scenery issue relating to FTX England. Ugh...

 

I'm primarily concerned with what the Student version entails, if it's basically FSX without all of the RTE headaces and associated issues. I understand a lot of addons currently work, which is of course a primary concern to me as well, and I like to know if there is a site/info that details what is functioning and what isn't. Thirdly, I'd also like to know what are the drawbacks to it, if any that is.

 

Any insight and or opinions on Prepar3d would be greatly appreciated. I'm kinda on the fence...

 

Several of us have moved on from FSX and are strictly P3D.  It's hard to define stability when you have so many different PC configurations and individual settings that can affect the end result.  I was running FSX on a high end machine with very little micro stutters at all most of the time.  For $50 I figured that I would give the Academic version a try.

 

I haven't looked back since.  Sure I have some addons that don't work in in P3D, but most if not all the planes I like to fly do work in P3D.  I have found it a lot more stable experience and it flies absolutely stutter free for me.

 

If you decide to try it, spend $15 and buy the FSX to P3D Migration Tool by Flightsim Estonia.  You can find it on several online addon sites.  It will allow you to install scenery and aircraft that are coded to look for the traditional FSX install location and point your install to the Lockheed Martin/P3D folder.  Works like a charm!

 

Scenery addons, REX, Opus Weather, EZDOK, UTX, etc. have all worked fine for me.  Aircraft addons can be a sticking point.  The issue is usually related to an older gauge that will not work in P3D.  The easiest fix is to go into the panel.cfg for that aircraft and "remark out" the problem gauge entry.

 

The direct connect multi-player experience is fantastic!  I'm on the east coast and fly with a friend in the Salt Lake City area and it's a rock solid experience.  Shared cockpit works very well  for most aircraft.

 

Good luck with your decision!

 

Yes,

 

many surprises waitting for you regarding add-on aircraft you have from FSX. I have them all running beautifuly in P3D, smoothly, stutter-free!

 

My latest acqisitions, in the airliners type, are simply amazing!

I would say the three items I noticed right off that are missing compared to FSX are:

 

1. No front-end launcher.  Starting P3D takes you directly to the default flight.  You will need to set up flights after starting your initial flight. (a new front-end is coming).

2. ATC window is not transparent.  An issue on performance when opening and closing and you have multiple display setup like Surround or Eyefinity.

3. No default real-world weather.  Only weather themes are available.

 

That's what comes to mind when I first started.  But they easily became non-issues when the performance of P3D bacame the deciding factor.   Plus I use Opus for my weather.

 

Go with the Academic version.  Nothing different between the Pro or Developer version other than a small watermark in the uppper right corner of the screen, which you will not notice (oh, and the price!).

 

I still have FSX loaded on a separate drive but to be honest, I have not performed a single flight with it since I installed P3D.  I only have it there for testing purposes.

Yep!

 

wifes don't like Prepar3d!

:lol: bad boy! :girl_devil:

I have also made the transition to P3D and I don't miss FSX one bit. I've got my favorite add ons flying so smooth and NO CTD!

 

I second the suggestion of purchasing the Estonia FSX-P3D migrator...it's trouble free to install your add ons.

 

Squawkbox is working flawless on P3D so I can fly online using real world procedures with live ATC.

 

I have scrapped fsx and pushed X-Plane 10 to the back burner...I'm all P3D!

Glad to see all this good feedback. Only a matter of time before I jump on board. Finally have FSX stable after many years of simming but only after installing Fsx on its own new dedicated SSD in its own folder. At least Lockheed Martin has picked up the torch and is finally updating the Fsx code. I fear Fsx will become less and less viable with future hardware advancements.

Thanks for all of the insight gents, it's greatly appreciated. I understand that a launcher doesn't exist, which is a pain in the &@($* I hear, but how much of an impact does that have on planning a flight? I typically fly smaller commercial aircraft only (A320, A321, etc), is that going to have an impact and necessitate jumping through hoops just to get airborne where planning is concerned?

 

Furthermore, I've been collecting as much data on the addons I own as I can, though it's been slow going wading through Google trying to find info on them. I'd appreciate any further comments on these if at all possible.

 

1.) REX Essential + Overdrive - I've seen numerous posts on REX and Prepar3d, however, just wanna confirm it's working without issue.

 

2.) Orbx regions and airports

 

3.) Aerosofts Airbus X Extended

 

4.) QW's 757

 

5.) FS2Crew and RAAS

 

Any personnal experiences with these, especially the aircraft listed, would be welcome. Thanks.

I can only comment on REX, it works flawlessly with p3d. Just purchase a P3D license, activate it, and install your REX textures, REX just adds to P3D experience, I won't fly without it.

I can only comment on REX, it works flawlessly with p3d. Just purchase a P3D license, activate it, and install your REX textures, REX just adds to P3D experience, I won't fly without it.

 

I'd have to repurchase another license? So the migration tool doesn't work for REX?

 

 

I'd have to repurchase another license?

 

It's not a full license.  It's a $4.99 add-on and has to be purchased from within the Configuration Manager of REX.

 

Scott

Thanks for all of the insight gents, it's greatly appreciated. I understand that a launcher doesn't exist, which is a pain in the &@($* I hear, but how much of an impact does that have on planning a flight? I typically fly smaller commercial aircraft only (A320, A321, etc), is that going to have an impact and necessitate jumping through hoops just to get airborne where planning is concerned?

 

Furthermore, I've been collecting as much data on the addons I own as I can, though it's been slow going wading through Google trying to find info on them. I'd appreciate any further comments on these if at all possible.

 

1.) REX Essential + Overdrive - I've seen numerous posts on REX and Prepar3d, however, just wanna confirm it's working without issue.

 

2.) Orbx regions and airports

 

3.) Aerosofts Airbus X Extended

 

4.) QW's 757

 

5.) FS2Crew and RAAS

 

Any personnal experiences with these, especially the aircraft listed, would be welcome. Thanks.

 

1.  I have Rex + Overdrive.  As stated above.  It works flawlessly.  Keep in mind that REX is a standalone product and sits outside FSX/P3D.  You just configure the locations in the configuration section and you are good to go.

 

2.  All Orbx airports and sceneries work fine in P3D

 

3.  Can't help you on the Airbus  as I don't have it.

 

4. I have the QW 757, but do not have it loaded.  I do not believe it would have issues, but would need to load it to check.

 

5.  I haven't put my FS2Crew back on yet, but a friend I fly with in P3D has loaded his and indicated that there were no issues.  I can't help you with RAAS.

 

Keep in mind when P3D launches, it launches you in the aircraft.  All you need to do is determine what aircraft you want to start in, at what parking spot, engine off etc. and the "save" the flight as your default (just like FSX).  Once you get in the plane, you can switch to a different aircraft or airport and go from there.  You can load all your saved flights from the menu and change the default starting flight by saving an existing one as the new default flight or creating a new one.

 

In the Aircraft Selection screen it does have a neat feature where you can drag and drop your favorite aircraft (by specific plane) and have those as a quick list to switch between.

 

 

4.) QW's 757

 

Nope. Least what I have found