Well all I can say then is that the beta must be a vast improvement over the demo. However the main reason I wont be upgrading is that it is going to be months before PMDG and LDS have FSX compatible addons and as a consequence months before you can use FS2Crew in FSX. Radar Contact would also sit idle as I only use that when flying the heavy iron.Bruceb

Bruce,Not entirely true, at least as far as FS2Crew is concerned.I'm converting to the PMDG 747 Edition of FS2Crew to work with the Default 747 in FSX.So, while you may or may not have the PMDG 747 or LDS right away (who knows what's going to happen there), at least you'll be able to make the default 747 a little more enjoyable until the PMDG and LDS stuff is ready.Cheers,Bryan

I find it odd to somehow suggest that the PMDG 747 and the default 747, FS9 or FSX are comparable. Maybe I am misunderstanding what you are saying.* Orest

Of course the default 747 is nothing compared to the PMDG 747 in terms of systems functionality, but the interface system FS2Crew 747 can be ported over to the default 747.Of course with the default 747 you won't be able to do a lot of things that FS2Crew models because the default 747 lacks a lot of systems modelling -that goes without saying- but you'll still be able to run all the same checklists, talk to the ground crew, FA's and operations, etc, just as you would with the PMDG 747 edition of FS2Crew.The FO in the default 747 edition just won't be able to do all complex things because the default 747 doesn't include all the right switches that the PMDG does.Hope that makes sense,Bryan

So, essentially, your knowledge pertaining to terrain add-ons begins and ends with only BEV and FE?IMO, it takes more than two add-ons to make FS9 really "stand out", but it can be done. Take GE PRO + FE + AS6 + FS Genesis (all my personal preference) and then compare the two sims. There isn't as much of a difference as you think, in fact, I think you'd be suprised just how good FS9 can look. :) If somebody aleady has the add-ons for FS9 that make it look great, buying FSX really doesn't seem to be that much of a benefit to current FS9 users (especially if you have FS9 setup the way you want with add-ons that won't work for some time with FSX) currently (with regards to what we can see in the Beta). This is not to say that this won't change in the future, it more than likely will. Also, there appears to be more benefits for GA people, but not really for those of us who are into heavier aircraft.Your comment, "Fsx with every option turned to low MIGHT be equal to fs9 with all addons and all option turned to as high as they get", is pretty non-sensical. lol On a side note, I do enjoy the FSX Beta, very much actually. But at the same time, it doesn't have enough going for it (currently, and keeping in mind we only have an older Beta) to make me leave FS9 and my myriad of add-ons. However, there are some things I do like about FSX better. Both, IMO, have their pluses and minuses. In the end, I'll probably have both installed for a long time. :)My .02c

The point is I can go buy FS-X or I can buy (for the same amount of money) a few sceneries like Tongass for the area's I realy fly in. That is a choice between a crude general improvement against the best you can get in any desktop flightsim.You could also choose for other larger area improvements. I checked the example screenshots against my UT Canada & Alaska + FSGenesis 76m mesh and in my opinion the FS9 + UT + 76 mesh looks much beter then stock FS-X. So I can buy 1 UT title + mesh for less then FS-X, have a large area to fly in with my favourite add-on aircraft, I know for sure what kind of FPS I will get with my machine and the experience will be beter then FS-X.Stock FS-X is not beter than FS-9 + add-ons and at the moment that is what FS-X has to compete against. So FS-X will only become desirable for me after the first good 3rd party releases (if those releases are significantly beter then their fs9 counterparts).

What kind of add-ons do you run in FS9? There is no way FS-X is beter then a small area scenery improvement or dedicated add-on aircraft. Throw enough money at FS9 add-ons and your FS9 is beter then vanilla FS-X.Go run a photoscenery with integrated custom autogen and adjusted airports like the francevfr series and try to compare it to plain vanilla FS-X. Now on the other hand if those sceneries get ported over and the beter FS-X texture resolution is used you wil have a point but until then? no chance...

About the only similarity between the PMDG 747 and the default 747 is the general shape of the aircraft! Beyond that, the PMDG model far exceeds the default model in terms of functionality and features.

A small compensation but thanks for the heads up Brian.Bruceb

Well said.Bruceb

We still have not heard of any speculation on the release date for FSX.Was the question "Is FSX delayed" or "Will I buy FSX or not"??????????

You ought to see Tongass in FSX. Holger and I have been working on the changes required for the FSX release and although there are still issues to be worked out, it looks great already. I was mesmerized yesterday watching all those harbor buoys at Sitka blinking, the reflection of their light bouncing off the water below. The water is such an important part of the scenery in coastal areas like this, and with FSX and some custom shorelines and models, it can't be beat. Can't wait to get it far enough along that we can show off some shots!