Because of a change in my life, I've been traveling a lot over the past several months and here much less. I do scan the threads when I am away from home, and this past weekend when I was out of state, reading the FS-X threads was pretty riveting. I see lots of excitement and interest with the new product, as well as good questions and high expectations.When I do come home, I will often fire up FS9 for an hour or two. I am sorry to see FS9 being "retired" soon. When I fly FS9 I see cloudscapes and skyscapes that sometimes defy words. They are truly artistic renderings, showing colors and atmospheric "moods" that still take my breath away, even after a few years of enjoying the sim.What an incredible piece of software engineering FS9 is! I still have my original P3/800 system. FS9 provided a platform scaleable enough that even that old system, now retired to a remote corner of my house, could display FS9 in all the artistic wonder it offers.Anyway, with all the excitement about FS-X, I hope we don't forget what a leap FS9 was in terms of "Art". I often say that a "flight" simulator simulates flight. Not just engines, instruments, procedures and ATC, but the beauty of pulling into a 60 degree bank and watching the world spin underneath you and around you. FS9 raised that beauty to a new level. I will be always grateful to the team that pulled FS9 together, and I hope it lives on for many years to come.Regards,John

John,That's a very good post. I too feel the same way about FS9 when it comes to the sky scapes, etc.It's hard to believe that the next version fo FS can get better, but it really has when it comes to the environment. The water especially, the scale even of the objects (they look 'fuller'-if that's a word), I could go on and on.I think I said it in another post, but this next version of FS for XP/DX9 is really something to see, and I can't even imagine what's going to happen when they do the DX10 version.If they have in fact solved even half of the blurries for FSX, then that in itself will be 99.9% of all I need for the next version. By all accounts, it looks like they have, so here we go on another roller coaster ride that will surely please most of us.We all tend to talk about the stuff that didn't make it, or the little common sense things that we'd like to have changed, etc., etc., etc., but at the end of the day, FSX is going to be awesome for most of us on our old equipment. I think it was Mike or Paul that said the room you'll have at the right for your sliders to go higher will be merely for you to simply add more icing on your cake as new features get implemented and/or we start buying new hardware.Anyways, sorry to ramble on, but I thought you summed it up pretty good there.:-)

Good point John and I'm sure there are many here that would echo your sentiments. I have experienced great moments in FS9 also...FS2002 as well and I'm pretty sure the same will happen in FSX.I remember how bummed I was when I first got FS9 and all the work I had done to old FS2002/2000 aircraft did not port over. It took awhile, but eventually we all got much better designs to replace the ones I was missing. Becauise of this I am truly excited to see what FSX will bring. I for one can't wait for FSX and will be "retiring" FS9 soon afterwards.Regards, MichaelKDFWhttp://www.calvirair.com/mcpics/ambanner.jpg

Hello John,What is really incredible is that the Art Team has done even better this time around. There are prodigious amounts of new textures for everything from the ground to objects to aircraft, and they are all stunning! Incredibly beautiful! The guys have done an exemplary job, they have really gone all out and they deserve recognition for all this great work.Best regards.Luis

Great post there, JohnCi!I will stay with FS9 until I have a new rig that is able to let me fully appreciate the next level that FSX is. I also put too much money into Add-Ons like FS Global, ActiveSky and stuff for shelving it just yet. But I hope a few of these can be used with FSX also (FS Global maybe? I doubt the FSX default mesh data has FSGs resolution) or get free updates (ActiveSky).

I am (trying to be) in no hurry to move to FSX. FS9 looks so good with the all the scenery/mesh/weather addons I am just not seeing anything that makes me want to take the plunge, other than the water and animalia. From the looks of DX10 and Vista I am very inclined to wail til then. I think at that point there will be a compelling reason to upgrade. I just flew from Jackson Hole, WY to Banff and what a beautiful flight! Me too--never ceases to amaze!Noel

No laptop to take FS9 with you? I even travel with a joystick sometimes :)I've got it running pretty well on a Dell D810 1GB with 64MB X300 mobility and 80 GB 7200 disk and the top of the line display (1900 x 1200). I can't run AI with it though.I just wish when they sent me this last laptop that they would have allowed me to upgrade the graphics card (I'm on my third laptop courtesy of Dell Complete Care, definately get this option for as long as you can (They lost my first one when I sent it in for repair, and the D800 they sent as a replacement got so hot the paint on the bottom bubbled, so they sent me this one. But, really, all three laptops have been very reliable for me)).Thomas[a href=http://www.flyingscool.com] http://www.flyingscool.com/images/Signature.jpg [/a]I like using VC's :-)