Enjoy!  The reality is although you'll hear some complaining on this forum and elsewhere we've had four really nice airliners released in the past month or so. 

5 hours ago, MrBitstFlyer said:

I am surprised to hear the B737 is more bare bones / less technology than the A320!  I am intrigued at the operational differences between the two aircraft so I think I'll go for the PMDG B737!

Thanks for the info everyone 🙂

Well, keep in mind that the 737 is a much older airframe, with the earliest versions dating back to the late 1960s.  While much has changed with each new version (remember there were five successive version prior to the NG), some things have been preserved.  Part of this was to make it easier for pilots transitioning from older versions. Other parts were more in the line of "if it ain't broke don't fix it."  Thus, for example, you will notice things like the fact that the FMC cannot auto-tune the nav radios, even though they will give you the frequency, as well as the presence of all those mechanical switches instead of push buttons on the overhead.  Even the 737 Max keeps some of these aspects.  All of these and more contribute to a very different experience from the airbus that for some will be better, and for others not.  Enjoy!

I have never really understood the fascination with EFBs. Using the FMC is so much more satisfying for me, but maybe that is because I am just used to the PMDG 737 and 777? All I know is that when I used the Quality Wings 787, all I kept asking myself when I was using the (probably rather basic) EFB was.....why can't I do this in the FMC?

Edited May 29, 20224 yr by Christopher Low

35 minutes ago, Christopher Low said:

I have never really understood the fascination with EFBs. Using the FMC is so much more satisfying for me, but maybe that is because I am just used to the PMDG 737 and 777? All I know is that when I used the Quality Wings 787, all I kept asking myself when I was using the (probably rather basic) EFB was.....why can't I do this in the FMC?

The FMC is there for programming the airplane‘s computer or ACARS communications; anything else should be done through the EFB. Also on the FMC you have a fixed set of fonts and you cannot show any pics/symbols/maps, so you are pretty limited (e.g. the world map of the QW 787).
I really like how Fenix did it: The FMC has all (like ALL) it has in real life, including the possibility for ACARS and metars. So you can still simulate real life procedures, and for anything else there is the EFB.
I don‘t really like how on the 737 I use one entire FMC for doing stuff like requesting the galley truck or changing my MCP panel. This doesn‘t belong into an FMC. I appreciate they seem to change this in the future on their EFB.
Also they hopefully change the fact that in almost 20 years PMDG still hasn‘t made ACARS on the FMC, so I cannot even get a simple metar in the plane…

38 minutes ago, Christopher Low said:

I have never really understood the fascination with EFBs. Using the FMC is so much more satisfying for me, but maybe that is because I am just used to the PMDG 737 and 777? All I know is that when I used the Quality Wings 787, all I kept asking myself when I was using the (probably rather basic) EFB was.....why can't I do this in the FMC?

 

Tend to find EFBs more useful when they are outside of the Sim in all honesty, probably because I was used to that FAR before they became available in Sim..... 

.... did use the performance calculator in the NGXu & 777, but never charts because they were better on my other screen !..

 

G

1 hour ago, Christopher Low said:

I have never really understood the fascination with EFBs. Using the FMC is so much more satisfying for me, but maybe that is because I am just used to the PMDG 737 and 777? All I know is that when I used the Quality Wings 787, all I kept asking myself when I was using the (probably rather basic) EFB was.....why can't I do this in the FMC?

For the very same reason pilots use an EBF. 

5 hours ago, MrBitstFlyer said:

I have purchased the PMDG B737 and completed the tutorial flight - wow, I wish I had purchased on day one!  Very different to the A320 🙂

Graphics and sounds are fantastic and she flies very nicely indeed.  Thanks for the comments and helping making my mind up to purchase.   It just goes to show you can't always gauge the quality of an addon from negative reviews. I was expecting to be disappointed from some of the comments in other threads and after experiencing the quality of the Fenix A320, but the PMDG B737 is a must buy!

 

Glad you’re enjoying it. I owned the PMDG 737’s going all the way back to the FS9 days and pre-EFB. Back then we didn’t have an EFB so we didn’t miss it and still were able to fly from A to B without it, so even though the product in its current version is missing it, it’s not essential to still enjoy the plane.

10 hours ago, MrBitstFlyer said:

Ten years of GA and I purchased the Fenix Airbus A320.  Very happy with it and can go from cold and dark to shutting down comfortably.  The EFB is one reason why this aircraft is straightforward to learn.  I am having a blast flying an airliner again, so much so I have re-joined Vatsim!

I have said I would hold off getting the PMDG B737 because there is no EFB yet.  However, I would love to have a go at the Boing way of doing things, so I am thinking of getting it before the EFB is released. My question is, will I enjoy the B737 now I'm used to the EFB in the Fenix?  Maybe I would be frustrated with the PMDG without it?  Anybody have both and don't find the PMDG lacking?

You will LOVE it!