Hi,Not commenting on PMDG release.However, regarding the addon functionality/working states for different people and different PCs. I would say that the vast majority of the problems, that are not actual SW bugs (as in 9 out of 10 cases) are caused by the enduser "abusing" their computers. What I mean is that you cannot expect everything to run smoothly if you have an OS installation that is 3 years old, with hundreds of programs that have been installed (and possibly uninstalled), and on top of that you have your computer so full of garbage from the internet that it causes Adaware to CTD. Then the FS installations. People have like 20 different addon aircraft that many of them come with an FSUIPC module that works best for that particular aircraft. And god knows what else. You have sceneries that eat up half of the computing power and clutter the hard drive.I have NEVER (ie. not once) had any of these so called "weird" problems that many people are reporting with various addons. It's simply because I keep my Windows clean and I only use very few addons in the FS. I also constantly scan the computer for any rubbish files, viruses and keep the HDs in order.Bottom line: Windows can't tolerate everything that it at first glance seems to take in rather nicely. The problems that arise you will only see when you try to run complex programs, such as a complex addon on top of MS FS.Tero

Wise words there. I too keep my FS setup fairly simple, and do all the basic housekeeping routines to keep the computer happy.But to get back to the point, I don't think the PMDG 747 is quite as jaw dropping as I had expected - perhaps the hype was just a little too 'hyped' - BUT it's still a bloody good product which fortunately works well on my system.I've flown it lot recently doing manual pitch and power flying, trying to get used to the beast. Of all my FS sim aircraft this one seems the hardest to land successfully - which may reflect the superior realism of the product, or my own ineptitude (not sure which at present:-)).Anyway, well done PMDG. The Queen is a real stunner.Ian

>Wise words there. I too keep my FS setup fairly simple, and>do all the basic housekeeping routines to keep the computer>happy.>>But to get back to the point, I don't think the PMDG 747 is>quite as jaw dropping as I had expected - perhaps the hype was>just a little too 'hyped' - BUT it's still a bloody good>product which fortunately works well on my system.>Anyway, well done PMDG. The Queen is a real stunner.>>Ian I too keep a clean system and very rarely have any problems with addons or FS in general. I'm not a big tweeker and believe in leaving well enough alone. I enjoy spending my time flying. Right now, the only aircraft I fly is the Aeroworx B200 and PMDG's 737NG-700. The "old" PIC767 was my primary arcraft since the day it came out. I put off buying the LDS767 because of the imminent release of PMDG's 747, but now that the "hype" has subsided, I've started to think about purchasing the LDS based on what I've been reading in the forums, which for me is disappointing because the 747 would be new and different. Price isn't the issue, I spend more money on Chinese food take out on a Sunday night for my family :)I do want a 3rd aircraft to fly that's a long hauler though. Oh...what do do :)Lawrie

Hardly "10's of thousands". As of today, they have 1942 people registered on the support forum and that's probably more than the to-date total sale number.Doug

LawrieOh get them both - you know you want to!!Skip the Chinese for a week or two. Tell the family it's not healthy eating too many takeaways :9 Ian

>Lawrie>>Oh get them both - you know you want to!!>>Skip the Chinese for a week or two. Tell the family it's not>healthy eating too many takeaways :9 >>IanLOL.....get them both......hmm. Let's do the math:LDS767+PMDG747=$94.90 US converted to Canadian Dollars = $113.43Chinese this Sunday for the five of us = approx $100.00 (my 3 daughter order alot)A couple of frozen pizzas sitting in the freezer = approx. $15.00 (I think for I don't do the shopping, not my department)Net cost to me this weekend = ($113.43 + $15.00) - $100.00 = $28.43 for the two planes.Ian...thanks....best advice I've received in quite a while. I'm getting my credit card :)Regards,Lawrie

> Hardly "10's of thousands". As of today, they have 1942>people registered on the support forum and that's probably>more than the to-date total sale number.>>DougI had problems with my original purchase validating due to a corrupted account with PMDG. I re-registered and purchased again and validated without a problem. The difference between the two receipt numbers was over 3000. That was over a 48 hour period. If you assume the receipt numbers are consecutive and contiguous, then thousands sold is a reasonable statement. PMDG quickly refunded the first purchase. Bob... :)

Bob,Well, hmmmm, doing the math, at 50 bucks a wack -- that's 150k. Who says developers arn't making any money on payware? .Seeing that those are the numbers, I highly expect now that everyones problems be solved -- at least within a reasonable amount of time. I like the aircraft, but it would be nice if the ILS would work occasionally Best,Clayhttp://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...ers/Dopke01.jpgClayton T. Dopke (Clay)Major, USAF (retired)"Drac"

>Well, hmmmm, doing the math, at 50 bucks a wack -- that's>150k. Who says developers arn't making any money on payware? I say it. 150k is peanuts considering man-hours they put into it - it averages (roughly) to about $2.50 per hour. I know of many more profitable enterprises.Michael J.

I agree. There's a lot of labor-of-love that goes into an add-on this complex. If it was just for the money I don't think they would have done it. As you say, there are far more profitable ways to spend one's time.Doug

Me too. No problems with PMDG 744, and none with aircraft from the other major developers either - they all work as exepected. (I don't have any problems with FS 2004 either - just plenty of fun and a lot of learning!!)I feel sorry for those who can't get the PMDG 744 working. It really is a fantastic product (at least to me).Regards.Michael

This is exactly why pc games are going extinct. PC Flight sims use to be a companies flagship. Now they run and hide from even the idea of doing one. Thousands of man hours of work to be released onto a almost limitless variation of hardware and software all being ran by a human user who with a simple mouse click can screw it all up. Im just glad we have any pc sims and add ons at all.

>>I had problems with my original purchase validating due to a>corrupted account with PMDG. I re-registered and purchased>again and validated without a problem. The difference between>the two receipt numbers was over 3000. That was over a 48 hour>period. If you assume the receipt numbers are consecutive and>contiguous, then thousands sold is a reasonable statement. >PMDG quickly refunded the first purchase. I do not think that numbers on a receipt will tell you anything about how many copies have been sold of a certain product. Many companies have special code systems for their invoice numbers, so that nobody (e.g competitors) can figure out how the business really is, by simply looking on receipt or invoice numbers. At least this is the practice, which we use in our company.Wolfgang

Just on the PMDG website - the 747 optional interim update has had 8700 downloads so far, so can we assume that at least that number have been sold?

>Just on the PMDG website - the 747 optional interim update>has had 8700 downloads so far, so can we assume that at least>that number have been sold?Hmmm ... perhaps you are right.Michael J.