It has always seem bizarre to me that people will spend hours pouring over the manuals for a PDMG product and learn how to program and FMC but can't be bothered to familiarise themselves with the different interface of a more modern simulator.

Agreed. Having used XP since v10 came out, I now find the interface better than the MSFS one. The advantage being that although at first it seems a little daunting and unfamiliar, just about everything is configurable with the click of a mouse button, rather than having to edit cfg files. So for a beginner to flightsims, yes the MSFS interface is maybe quicker to get to grips with, but for a seasoned user I think XP GUI is much more practical.

 

 

Who the Hell flys in the Middle East lol

 

Hi SpoonerFLIGHT,

 

Flight Sim hobby reaches beyond the borders of United States. I fly over middle east asia and oceania all the time (infact 90% of the time). All my scenery addons are of the same region as well. (nothing basically in Europe and US except KJFK and EGLL)

I think you got a little butt hurt by my post, point is whether you like it or not what I typed is true, its a consumer market and lots of consumers prefer ease of use. I did NOT state that XPX was bad or was a failure, I just stated that some consumers will not use XPX due to the UI not being streamlined. Don't like it? That's your deal, this is CONSUMER BUSINESS, tough, you want to do something about then, then try, I will not stop you.

 

Case & point, I am a professional windows technician, I advise my customers to buy cans of compressed air and spray the inside of their case when turned off and unplugged at least once per month. Sounds simple, and it is, fact is 90% of my customers DO NOT do this even after I advise them, especially the ones who have a dirtier environment near their systems. Do you know why this is? BECAUSE IT LOOKS TOO FREAKING COMPLICATED AND TAKES TOO MUCH TIME FOR THEM. People are generally lazy and want things handed to them right then right there, again this is a CONSUMER MENTALITY, don't like it, deal with it.

Oh goodie. Being lectured is fun on the internet.  :rolleyes:

 

However, your point is a bit inconsistent. On the one hand you say consumers want things that are easy, on the other you don't address the fact that X-Plane's interface isn't a problem because its not easy to use, merely that its different but ultimately more powerful than what we have in FSX.

 

This is all about inertia. Easier does not equal better. Easier is also relative. Easier in the short term versus long term. Blowing air out of a case is not the same thing. You're describing an act which is not normal to day to day use. Interacting with a GUI is. GUI interactions are implicit to using software. Its one thing to refuse to do an auxiliary action to preserve your computer's functionality over time, its quite another to be unwilling to indulge in learning something new in a software environment.

 

Yet again I must repeat the same dull refrain people keep coming up with here: why can people learn to program complex FMS' or navigate VORs or learn to comprehend SIDs and STARs and min max the hell out of cfg files but won't make a passing attempt at using a perfectly useful interface? There is no reason and to hell with this consumer market nonsense. If they released a new MSFS with a GUI to match the modern world it should annoy these people just the same as XPlane except they'd accept it because it would have the MSFS brand on it and they'd flock to it like lemmings completely unconsciously doing for MSFS what they won't do for Xplane. I think a lot of this interface resistance is merely a result of looking for reasons to not get invested anyway. Its like buying a house based on the finishings without paying heed to the foundation.

 

Its funny that people who live in a niche market who know how limited their resources are would be so pigheaded about assessing their options. It also unfortunately damages us all.

P3D is the future, or even DTG's, forget X-Plane, not worth the money

 

Why is it that advocates of P3d and FSX insist on posting in X-Plane threads just to inform us that they advocate one or the other. Since I stopped using P3d and FSX, I don't hang around the threads concerning themselves with those sims just to butt in now and again to say how I favour X-Plane unless I actually have some relevant input which is rare. Strange phenomenon.

P3D is the future, or even DTG's, forget X-Plane, not worth the money

P3D is not for average user, and fsx will be around for decades and X-plane becoming a good option for quite a few and lots of free airports that can be picked to make somewhat decent

I recently purchased and starting using X-plane before I discovered through the forums (presumably by FSX supporters) that the UI is bad. Not once did I say to myself "wow if I had known the UI looked this bad I wouldn't have made my purchase." In fact the opposite occurred. I had my controls and buttons setup in minutes and was flying. I also use P3D substantially but was disappointed to learn that I needed payware i.e. FSUIPC to get my controls properly working. I haven't seen anyone comment on FSUIPC's UI but it is visually bad. However, and this is the critical part, both UIs are extremely functional. Lastly, as a new forum member, I find it hard to understand why when an OP asks whether or not they should buy X-plane people even mention the UI. I spend 0.0001% of my time in X-plane dealing with the UI and 99.9999% of my time flying. Maybe that's a credit to the functionality of the UI, maybe not.

 

 

The only thing that has been holding me back from trying out X-plane is that I'd be starting out from scratch again as far as scenery and aircraft and whatnot.  Are the default aircraft any better than the default aircraft from FSX? I've read that the default ATC is pretty bad and was wondering if there was an ATC substitute out there? Also I'd like to know if there are any AI traffic possibilities?

 

As far as scenery is concerned you will be happy with alpilotx's free HD mesh and world2xplane OSM. While it does take considerable time to acquire it is worth the time (did I mention it is free?).  I can't comment on the default aircraft in FSX; however, the default aircraft in X-plane are fine for default aircraft; especially since they have a fully functional GPS in the 10.30 beta. The default ATC is admittedly atrocious but I found that a good excuse to joint Pilotedge which also injects AI traffic. I haven't tried any other ATC or AI traffic addons. Hope this helps.

As far as scenery is concerned you will be happy with alpilotx's free HD mesh and world2xplane OSM. While it does take considerable time to acquire it is worth the time (did I mention it is free?). 

 

/cough.....Donationware.

Oh goodie. Being lectured is fun on the internet.  :rolleyes:

 

However, your point is a bit inconsistent. On the one hand you say consumers want things that are easy, on the other you don't address the fact that X-Plane's interface isn't a problem because its not easy to use, merely that its different but ultimately more powerful than what we have in FSX.

 

This is all about inertia. Easier does not equal better. Easier is also relative. Easier in the short term versus long term. Blowing air out of a case is not the same thing. You're describing an act which is not normal to day to day use. Interacting with a GUI is. GUI interactions are implicit to using software. Its one thing to refuse to do an auxiliary action to preserve your computer's functionality over time, its quite another to be unwilling to indulge in learning something new in a software environment.

 

Yet again I must repeat the same dull refrain people keep coming up with here: why can people learn to program complex FMS' or navigate VORs or learn to comprehend SIDs and STARs and min max the hell out of cfg files but won't make a passing attempt at using a perfectly useful interface? There is no reason and to hell with this consumer market nonsense. If they released a new MSFS with a GUI to match the modern world it should annoy these people just the same as XPlane except they'd accept it because it would have the MSFS brand on it and they'd flock to it like lemmings completely unconsciously doing for MSFS what they won't do for Xplane. I think a lot of this interface resistance is merely a result of looking for reasons to not get invested anyway. Its like buying a house based on the finishings without paying heed to the foundation.

 

Its funny that people who live in a niche market who know how limited their resources are would be so pigheaded about assessing their options. It also unfortunately damages us all.

 

Once again I think you are missing the point, its not that EVERYONE has to have a streamlined UI so long as its functional, the consumer bias is a GENERALIZATION. I am not saying DO NOT buy XPX, I am letting the person know that the UI is not as streamlined as FSX/P3D WHICH IS THE TRUTH. Given UI is NOT everything and as I have stated before XPX IS A GOOD PROGRAM, if it was not I don't think there would be many people who would use it. I do have a preference for FSX/P3D but that does not mean I do not take XPX seriously, hell I used to fly in XPlane back in the 6-7 days and even then it was a good program, I have flown about 10 flights in XPX on my friends system, it ran great, looked good, flight physics were a bit different from FSX but not unrealistic, certainly more realistic that STOCK FSX, P3D is more on par with XPX default physics. The only thing that made me raise an eyebrow was the UI, which in the end did not stop me from using the product for a few hours. I will leave you with this, there was a Delta pilot recently who got mad at an ATC because he was told he was on the wrong taxiway, another pilot responded with "Settle Down, Captain Happy".

Once again I think you are missing the point, its not that EVERYONE has to have a streamlined UI so long as its functional, the consumer bias is a GENERALIZATION. I am not saying DO NOT buy XPX, I am letting the person know that the UI is not as streamlined as FSX/P3D WHICH IS THE TRUTH. Given UI is NOT everything and as I have stated before XPX IS A GOOD PROGRAM, if it was not I don't think there would be many people who would use it. I do have a preference for FSX/P3D but that does not mean I do not take XPX seriously, hell I used to fly in XPlane back in the 6-7 days and even then it was a good program, I have flown about 10 flights in XPX on my friends system, it ran great, looked good, flight physics were a bit different from FSX but not unrealistic, certainly more realistic that STOCK FSX, P3D is more on par with XPX default physics. The only thing that made me raise an eyebrow was the UI, which in the end did not stop me from using the product for a few hours. I will leave you with this, there was a Delta pilot recently who got mad at an ATC because he was told he was on the wrong taxiway, another pilot responded with "Settle Down, Captain Happy".

 

I don't think anyone missed your point. I certainly understand your point and your preference ( see my last post ). Those who use X-Plane just get sick of those who don't telling us that the UI is not as good as the one they prefer and that that's a good reason not to use XP. It's a nonsense comment. If that's your best contribution then I personally am glad that you have now made it and are whence freed to move on to other topics.

 

 

"Settle Down, Captain Happy"

Good advice indeed. The X-Plane user interface is fine. Nothing about it is so complex or quirky to warrant flight simulation enthusiasts shy away. I'd expect as much if I moved from one software developer to another. There is a learning curve, as with anything new.

 

cheers

Hey guys, why do you fight every time a new post about x-plane is written?

Let FSX/FS9 lovers stay in Stonehenge if they don't like to evolve, their world will end soon, I've heard an asteroid called "x-plane" is headed their way, due to a magnetic field called "PMDG to X-plane".

For those who will survive the impact, a cloud of darkness, called "IXEG", will cover the world.

 

 

"PMDG to X-plane".

 

Has news been announced?

Has news been announced?

Yes sir, by cpt. Robert Randazzo:

PMDG Development for Xplane:

We are nearing completion on our first project for Xplane!  As we have previously mentioned, this project is designed to be a development catalyst to help us learn how to work with that platform more effectively- and it has been a great exercise thus far.

 

We will be unveiling the project sometime in the next 60 days (estimated) and we will also announce the second project for Xplane at that time...

"Settle Down, Captain Happy".

You seem to think that I'm agitated. Cynicism is not automatically hysterical.

 

In any event, I certainly didn't miss your point. I would seriously contest your characterization of FSX as "streamlined" in its interface. There's nothing streamlined about changing key bindings in it and how much of that is still inadequate without a paid for version of FSUIPC? I think people just keep forgetting how many utilities they can't live without in FSX before it becomes adequate. Its fair I suppose. When you have to have this many its easy to lose count.