Bob, check the PMDG forums, I wouldn't say that MOST do not, it's a common problem, If you want to Skip Seattle, in your flight planning, because you disagree with me, then you've got some issues man. Have a good one.

Hi, After reading some concerns about the review, I jumped back in time and noticed that 'way back when', PSS released the 747-400 it too was given 5/5 stars. Sure there are limitations, but this is an addon that I still use in FS2k2. Perhaps the ratings don't reflect perfection, but reflect how far the boundries have been pushed within the limits of the PC platform. Cheers!

>1. The PMDG 747 is one of the best aircraft simulations on a>PC platform. (It's level of complexity is on par with the>Aerowinx 747 Precision simulator a very well known 747 CBT>which costs $200)>>Go tell that to the people on the PS1 forum, I think they may not agree with that statement of yours Awais!:-lol

>>>I do know of one complex add-on that released without the>need>>for a quick fix patch ;-)>>>>(Sorry, just couldn't resist)>>>I'm sorry Paul -- I'm a bit ignorant of these matters - could>you please tell me what that is? :)>>Barry- i guess that would be the Dreamfleet Boeing 727 !:)

A32X actually some of them do agree that the PMDG 747 is a very good simulation.I know of a few PS1 users that have been very satisfied with the PMDG 747. I too have been a PS1 user for quite a while now.One of the PMDG beta testers is a 744 engineer and a long time user of PS1 (Qavion) has clearly stated that the PMDG 747 does simulate some things better than PS1.

Babubhai (Awais) you are SO right!If you are having problems reading the manual... ask us, or try and read while sitting in the cockpit... Ask in airliners.net forum for advice or here!But I read the manual and I think it is very well written, and again if the manual is too hard to understand, still does not make it any less of a product!And yes the PS1 has finally met it's match! But many years later tho :-)The Beta team also consisted of real pilots, mechanics and engineers who worked on, with and in the B744!They all say the same thing, it is a SIMULATION of the aircraft! Totally!A friend of mine knows a retired B744 pilot, and he stated that he was amazed to see all the systems simulated, he said and I quote: "Who ever learns to fly this one, will propably be able to fly the real one"... "The real thing has a feel to it, like G's but the systems and the aerodynamics are there!"I totally agree!Boaz...

Awais is right....In a programme as complex and open ended as FS9 is, how can a team of beta-testers ever be expected to find all the bugs?When the base programme itself (FS9) still has alleged 'bugs', that manifest themselves differently on different PC's, how can a developer be reasonably expected to know of or anticipate all these pitfalls...it may work perfectly on system A, but fail miserably on system B. If I own system A and am writing a review, then of course, if the product is as good as expected, then I'll give it full marks!! But, if I own system B, what then? Do I mark it down? Do I even know of the shortcomings of this system?Every add-on plane/scenery/panel/afcad/texture file installed into FS9 has some effect on the sim; this we see day to day here in the forums, where this add-on or that add-on does or doesn't work: It's frequently related to something else installed into the sim....I don't own this 747 yet, but going on past experience with the 737NG, I'd expect that it should work perfectly in a DEFAULT FS9 installation...If a patch was necessary under those circumstances, then questions could be raied, but once we've all taken our FS9's so far from default; as most of us probably have, then if the 747 misbehaves.....then who's to blame?

Those people are not a homogenous bunch, and some of them would tend to agree with Awais' statement!Fidelity to the real aircraft is what counts. Both PMDG and PS 1.3 are very good in this respect.Regards.Michael

Well, my 0.021. I purchase the Queen on the day of my birthday, this is, the released date!! First joy!2. Problems with it? None! I'm meaning none!!! Even the heading knob bug, I didn't noticed until I saw it on the forum. WHY? I was using in the corrected way!!!! However, I'm a programmer too, not in gaming industry, but how I know what is it to programm something completly from scratch, to avoid a shortcut that was already made!! This is, build a complete and new auto pilot system without using any FS pre-built features! It seems many people don't understand how hard it is. And I can tell you I'm not a FS novice (more than 2.000h)! I only fly the complex aircraft! Craps like "full featured panel" but doesn't simulated the APU correctly, I don't fly. I prefer RFP type of aircraft than Aerosoft BAE146. I always start the Queen and LevelD from Cold and Dark, and didn't read the manual! Only specific chapters.3. Memory problems? None! After 2 weeks after having the Queen, I upgraded my system, with new motherboard, memory and graphics card. Guess what! Still the first problem to show up, until today (thank god). I flew already 4 flights in a row, making 36h of flight, 4 days, and not a single crash, slown down on FS performance; nothing! I shut down FS normally to go on vacation!4. If I did the review I would give it 6 out of 5!!!5. Why the patch so soon?? Well, I installed the patch because of a real bug: the CTD exiting FS, caused by PMDGoptions.dll! Only that! So I'm positive sure, that Beta guys probably had a "clean" and problem free system and "addons" that wasn't causing a mess with each other, and so they couldn't reproduce the problems! Only when other users told them that in THAT specs, with THAT addons, they could reproduce something unshown before! Because I too, don't had a glitch with the product!! And my FS directory holds 36Gb of files, so don

My problem with this review isn't so much that it got 5/5 stars or even got the Excellance award at this point, although while a good product I don't think myself it deserves it at this point. What I take issue with is it not only did not mention any of the negatives (ie: The stuttering, and out of memory problems people are encountering even though they meet and in most cases exceed stated system minimum requirements.) It went out of it's way to imply there was no problem or bugs. I call your attention to this quote from the review."There are in addition a host of beta testers who obviously have wrung just about every problem out of this masterpiece

>Go tell that to the people on the PS1 forum, I think they may>not agree with that statement of yours Awais!True, but this probably has to do more with the "clan" mentality or with "not invented here" syndrome than with any impartial comparison of both products.Michael J.

>Well five stars and the Gold medal for excellence for the>PMDG 747 really makes you wonder about these reviews and>whether the reviewer reads the PMDG 747 support forum.Reviewer has every right not to read the support forum. He can close all windows, doors, disconnect phone, shut down the internet and start reviewing the product on its own merits. A bit like the jury duty system - you are not supposed to be influenced by outside world. So in effect he does not have to come to you or anybody else and try to incorporate your opinion in his review. I see nothing wrong with this system and I find it strange that others don't get it. On the other hand if you think that your can write a better review I remember that Avsim was looking for new reviewers and published some reviews not written but Avsim staff. Write your own review of this product and we will be able to read it and take it apart too.Michael J.WinXP-Home SP2,AMD64 3500+,Abit AV8,Radeon X800Pro,36GB Raptor,1GB PC3200,Audigy 2http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/747400.jpghttp://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_beta_member.jpg

>Reviewer has every right not to read the support forum. He can>close all windows, doors, disconnect phone, shut down the>internet and start reviewing the product on its own merits. A>bit like the jury duty system - you are not supposed to be>influenced by outside world. So in effect he does not have to>come to you or anybody else and try to incorporate your>opinion in his review. I see nothing wrong with this system>and I find it strange that others don't get it. On the other>hand if you think that your can write a better review I>remember that Avsim was looking for new reviewers and>published some reviews not written but Avsim staff. Write your>own review of this product and we will be able to read it and>take it apart too.>>You are right to a point! However a good review should be objective, especially when the developer has such a close relationship with the reviewing entity like PMDG has with AVSIM, to avoid the appearance of biasness. The way this review was written, I would have to say it was not objective. It didn't report any negatives, in fact implied there wasn't any. Also implied the instrument panels were complete to the point of comparing them to the real ones. While I agree the functions modeled are to a high degree accurate, you can't say it is complete when there are still functions not modelled ie: a weather radar. This clearly gives the reader the impression this is a one sided review.

Exactly! My main peeve about this review is it devalues the currency if a product can get 5 stars plus going the extra mile with an excellence award when even the developers accept it has bugs missed (presumably) by the beta testers and a patch to fix things will be forthcoming in due course. IMHO it would have been wiser to wait and review the patched version. I also don't accept this notion that reviewers should closet themselves away and ignore problems that other users are having. It's like road testing a new car that performs brilliantly on the freeway but struggles on other common road surfaces. Finally, the PMDG 747 is an amazing product no doubt about that which could well be worth 5 stars when fully patchedBruceb

The reviewer seems to have conveniently avoided commenting on the sound package, which IMHO is not worth commenting upon in the first place. But, to me sound is a major part of my simming experience and the (almost perfect) PMDG is a big letdown in this department. I would give it a 4/5.The bugs don't/didn't bother me as I know this addon has tremendous potential and the excellent support staff will address most bugs in the near future through patches and updates.Keith