I will probably buy FSX soon after it comes out, but I will not be installing it. For now I will be sticking with FS2004 and EVENTUALLY swtich to FSX after I see some reviews of how the full version is performing.

Add me to the straight away camp. I fly mostly VFR and like the smaller airports but hope to go incorporate some airline flying once PMDG upgrades. Despite some aspects of the sim not being updtate, flying the demo seemed to have more atmosphere, subtle improvements which, when combined, created a whole new and improved immersion. I can't put my finger on it, maybe head latency, or the visibility, I don't know but it feels better.Also, considering it's an update to 3 year old software (imagine upgrading your car to a 2007 for 70 bucks), updated mission capability, updated multiplayer with ATC, potential for better textures and terrain, updated engine code hopefully compatible with the hardware of today and tomorrow, well, I just can't resist. Also consider that the same argument applies that was discussed when FS9 came out, you can run with 1/2 the sliders to equal the previous version.Believe it or not, nearly every negative and positive post about FSX is a re-hash of 3 year old posts concerning 2002 and Century of Flight. Not a negative statement but an interesting observation of how history repeats itself. Within a year FSX should far surpass FS9 even with 1000's of dollars worth of add-ons considering the FS team has worked with the 3rd party community and put alot of thought in how best to create a core engine that is easily moddified by the FS community.Anyway, irregardless of when or if you pick up a copy of FS, the main point of Flight Simming is fun (at least for me). When it no longer becomes fun then it's no longer worth it.Ian.

Well after weeks of using fsx I went back to fs9 (with all my add ins such as mesh, environment, etc.)to take some compare shots.Fs9 looked so lackluster even with all the add ins and felt so lifeless I couldn't wait to get back to fsx....http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpg

Many post here that they are satisfied with FS9 and won't buy the new version. All it takes is one great addon for FSX to change their mind. I mean really, when the PMDG 737NG and Airbus come out for FSX, can you ignore them and not care? I don't think so, and Microsoft knows this as well. Diehard simmers will upgrade to the new version, it's just a matter of time.

I wll most definitely be buying it as soon as I can get these mitts around it. With all my excitement for finally having it in my grasp, there is also a good deal of apprehension. I realize that I am going to have to spend a significant amount of money upgrading my PC (DX10 video card, better processor and the like).I will install it as soon as I get it, but I'm sure I'll use it religiously until I get my new rig up and running, whenever that is. It's kind of disappointing that the true hardware (DX10 video cards) and the software (Vista) aren't even aviailable yet.

I love where FS2002 and FS9 have taken me, and my stacks of CDs can attest to that. But when FSX is available I will have it and it will be installed within 24 hours of the purchase. I've been jonesing for it way too long.-Jeremy Burchhttp://home.earthlink.net/~dawgfighter/sit...es/swvasig1.gifSWVA4806 http://www.virtualswa.com/home.phpThe Ozark Dogfighter http://forums.avsim.net/images/wedge.gifHappy Flying!BOAC: Heathrow Centre, British Airways Speedbird Flight 723HC: British Airways Speedbird Flight 723, Heathrow Centre, go aheadBOAC: Heathrow Centre, British Airways Speedbird Flight 723 has a message for youHC: British Airways Speedbird Flight 723, Heathrow Centre is ready to copy messageBOAC: Heathrow Centre, British Airways Speedbird Flight 723, message is as follows: Mayday, Mayday, Mayday ....

resistance is utterly futileyou WILL conformPersonally, I'm not gonna sweat the whole Vista DX10 jazz. It's further away from making an impact on FS than some would have you believe.This time next release we will be posting that we dont need FSXI because DX10 just came out and I just bought this and I just upgraded that, yadda yadda yadda...I cant wait, I know i'll duck outta work early the day FSX is released. Might even have a little flu coming on ;-)

>I cant wait, I know i'll duck outta work early the day FSX is>released. Might even have a little flu coming on ;-)LOL, same here Joe! *cough, cough*Regards, MichaelKDFWhttp://www.calvirair.com/mcpics/ambanner.jpg

>Also, considering it's an update to 3 year old software>(imagine upgrading your car to a 2007 for 70 bucks)That would be "upgrading your car to a 2007 for 70 bucks" just for the frame, body, wheels and interior. Since your engine (computer) is probably a couple years old. Not powerful enough for that 2007 car upgrade. Add a few thousand dollars for an engine for that $70 upgrade to that 2007 car. Limited ATC upgrades.Not knowing what is going to be encountered when Visa arrives. No DX10 yet so we're not sure how much it will cost for DX10 hardware and what will be encountered when it arrives. Having to pay thousands for new hardware to only be able to enjoy some of the features because you have to turn down the sliders.The Aces team did a great job with what I have seen. I am not going to get FSX for a while though. I have a great system and the demo ran horrible. IF MS can provide a version of FS that can run with all features (sliders) maxed on above average current hardware, I would buy it on the release date.

Hak Hak.....must be all the smoke or is it a bug coming on the day FSX comes out? :-) I've tried the demo and can't wait for FSX to come out. Just like FS9 it will be installed and used the first day and I'll never look back. Money spent on FS9 addons? Money well spent I'd say and looking forward to some great addons in the future. Bring it on...!!!!!Best, RobRedding, CA

That's kinda how I feel....It seems like the beta testers got their stuff, and they posted some screens, but I'm just not feeling the "hype" we had for FS9's debut...I also have my FS9 setup just the way I like it...of course it took about 3 years to get it right LOL, but it's sweet. And yes, I'll most likely (attempt) to go out an buy it either on release day or soon after.I just remember we had A LOT more FS9 videos when it was about to be released. We only got what, 2-3 official MS FSX videos??? Screenshots are great, and so are ones from beta testers (thanks to all of you), but IMHO things seem quiet compared to 3 years ago...Just my thoughts....(edit)Guess I have a few more things to say:I'm trying to think of why my attitude has changed in the past few months...it went from "Yeeehaaaa bring on FSX rock n'roll!!" to "Cool, FSX is coming out soon, but I might not jump up and buy it right away." One reason I think I got a little freaked out was the Demo. This is just my opinion(s), but I think releasing a BETA demo wasn't the best idea. I, like others, saw some of the beta things such as "inefficient" autogen programming (and thanks MS for solving that and making it FPS efficient) as a major concern. Sure, I tried to crank up settings, but knew my system would choke and die (and it did lol), but even after messing around with much lower (and realistic) settings, the auto gen problem persisted. I think if the demo was a little more of what we'd see (efficient programming-wise), people wouldn't have reacted so badly to it.Another reason why I've kinda been bummed out is (like others have explained above) quality components have not been upgraded (out of the box, and past FS9 current addons)- like ATC, weather and atmospheric conditions. Maybe I'll be wowed at some huge change in ATC but MS has clearly stated that ATC remains (pretty much) unchaged. Stuff like flight dynamics have been touched up, but I think more has gone into adding animals, cars, boats, and shiny buildings. I know FSX will be beautiful, but I wish more would have gone into the airplanes, simulating more systems, simulating air and gravity and all that good stuff.Finally, I am worried about DX10, and how much of an effect it will really have on FSX. Will we all be rushing out to spend 200-300 bucks upgrading to Vista, plus spending another 400 bucks to upgrade our GPU's??? Yikes, I don't have that kinda money. Maybe if the visual experience will be that much better - well then maybe I will go and bite the bullet...

I have a great system and the demo ran horrible. IF MS can provide a version of FS that can run with all features (sliders) maxed on above average current hardware, I would buy it on the release date.It was the same with FS9 though, just to keep it in perspective, and everything worked out really will despite the same performance issues with that release. They seem to use the grow into it philosophy with FS, eventually most people in a year or 2, upgrade their computers and FS can then be fully utilized. Still, the demo was a beta demo and who knows how the final release will perform, my biggest hope is note frame rates but smoothness. Give me 10-20 fps without stutters or blurries with moderate slider settings and I will be happy. Vista and DX10 is currently a non-factor, too much speculation as nobody has the hardware yet.As far as the car analogy, I'd love to buy a 2007 for the price I paid for my 2004, unfortunately it ain't gonna happen.Ian.

Just one thing about atmospheric conditions. I think some work has been done in that area at least concerning ground visibility, at least from the demo experience, coming out of the fog is a transition and the "fog" remains instead of everything clearing ala fs9. I'll have to spark up the demo again and make sure but I'm pretty sure I noticed that in the demo.Ian.

I'm definitely looking forward to getting FSX. For quite a while I've been discontented with FS9. I'm primarily interested in scenery and the environment. FSX delivers good stuff in spades: *Much* higher ground texture resolutions that look fantastic (the team say the dynamic blurred textures problem has been fixed). A completely new view system including preset camera views and flyby views (in fact just about everything Active Camera had to offer). Greatly improved water effects including full reflection. The ability to enter space. Road traffic. Missions. Animated animals. An SDK and mission builder on the disk. Vastly improved stars display (and the milky Way!) Improved terrain dynamics. Blue sky still visible with low visibility conditions. Mouse look. Mouse as joystick. On my average system the demo runs very well and looks fantastic (though after a few weeks I'm getting tired of flying around those damned islands!) In my opinion FS9 simply can't compete. Best regards, Chris

Microsoft shot themselves in the foot by releasing the demo.If it wasnt for the demo we would all be dribbling with anticipation about the release of FSX rather than discussing how crappy the frame rates are BEFORE release.Microsoft - let us buy the product and then wait for the complaints, dont give it to us to try because we are simple folk and all the cries of "It is only a demo and will be better in the released version" will go unheard.I will not be buying it until I have a machine that will run it to my satisfaction.