bofhlusr

It became expensive when IBM gave up on OS/2 and the micro-channel bus. You mentioned corporate greed. HP Decided You Don't Own Your Printer Anymore

Wouldn't you ask 'why' also?.... This Steam user just broke the 40,000 games record (not including DLCs) | PCWorld

I've built my own PCs after paying and learning an expensive lesson buying a proprietary and high-end OS/2 PC at an employee discounted price of $5000 --an IBM PS/2 Micro-channel with IBM brand everything ie. IBM printer, mouse, keyboard, monitor, etc. (and extra $260 for a math coprocessor). But with prices being what they are today for doing it yourself, I finally went back after several decades buying a similarly spec'ed pre-built PC again last year. OMEN 35L Gaming Desktop GT16-1085m PC AMD Ryzen™ 7 9800X3D NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5080 Kingston FURY 32 GB DDR5-6000

Yes. Any aircraft. Here's what it says on the main page of their website: "Free to Play Program Digital Combat Simulator World Free to Play is now available. Try out each and everyone of our products for 14 days per product during a six month period. You can play each module sequentially or any number of them at a time. The choice is yours!"

My suggestion is to try it. DCS has a sale now. U$7.49 A-10A Flaming Cliffs Flaming Cliffs: Clickable Cockpits Continued ================= Here's a reply from AI: Short answer: Yes — your system can run the A‑10A Flaming Cliffs in DCS without any trouble. In fact, it will run very well. ✅ Compatibility VerdictThe A‑10A (Flaming Cliffs 3) is one of the least demanding aircraft in DCS World. It uses the low‑fidelity FC3 avionics, far lighter than full modules like the A‑10C II, F‑18, or F‑16. Your system: Windows 7 Pro 64‑bit Intel i7‑6700K 16 GB DDR4 GTX‑class GPU (Odyssey G5 monitor suggests gaming setup) Z170 motherboard …exceeds the requirements for both DCS World 1.5/2.5 and Flaming Cliffs 3. Even though Windows 7 is no longer officially supported by newer DCS builds, DCS 2.5.6 and earlier run fine on Win7, and FC3 aircraft—including the A‑10A—run perfectly on those versions. 📌 Performance ExpectationsWith your specs: 1080p → 60–120 FPS easily 1440p → 45–90 FPS depending on map Low‑fidelity A‑10A → extremely smooth Heavy maps (Syria, Marianas) → may push GPU harder, but still playable The i7‑6700K + 16 GB RAM combo is more than enough for Flaming Cliffs aircraft. 🛠️ Important Note About Windows 7If you are running DCS World 2.7 or later, Windows 7 may cause: Crashes on startup Missing DirectX 11/12 features Shader compilation issues If that happens, install DCS 2.5.6 — the last version fully compatible with Win7. ✔️ Bottom LineYour system can absolutely run the A‑10A Flaming Cliffs, and it will run it smoothly.

Interesting but I'm wondering how it compares with LookPilot and their tech support. I don't expect much given their pricing but still curious about community involvement in both.... Thanks.

The TGP has a forward-facing camera only and no rear cameras, and yet it's able to view backwards. How is that possible? It's magical. Simply amazing. I'm so tempted to do a deep dive on how the gimbal works in the unit. Does anyone know of a source that illustrates how the TGP is able to take video of its back with only a forward-facing camera?

Drinking beer and buying an airplane

Yup, me too. That plus the loud ad sounds that pop-up at each page zombie-like. Can't silence it in Windows permanently.

Not sure that you should expect anyone to support anything forever least of all obsolete software (COBOL excepted LOL ).. After all, the secret to happiness is low expectations. :-)

For those trying to make their sim life simpler, the controller below might be worth your time to check out. Very convenient for laptop warriors. And the 2 extra buttons come in handy for some button hungry study-level flight sims eg. DCS's A-10. KING of Hall Effect Controllers | Flydigi Vader 4 Pro Review Why use a game controller? Why I Ditched my $3,000 HOTAS for a $50 Controller And the twisty joystick I use now (but I've been tempted to grab VKB's for their expandability and parts availability) The ONLY Flight Stick You NEED | WinWing Ursa Minor Fighter Review

I'm at a point in life now where I am slowly becoming a minimalist. Less is more! I've been using twist rudders now in MSFS and DCS. Works great with the A-10C.

Learned something interesting. There are three kinds of "free". free beer - cost you nothing free speech - cost you something free puppies - nothing but costs Three Poems on Three Kinds of "Free" #1 Free beer asks nothing, a gift in your hand, Free speech has a price, though it’s how we all stand; Free puppies look sweet, but soon you will see— Some “free” things give joy, and some come with a fee. #2 FREE BEER fills your waiting hand, No bill arrives, no grand demand. FREE SPEECH walks a harder road, Its price is borne in freedom's load. FREE PUPPIES come with wagging cheer, Then vet bills, fur, and walks all year. So when someone says, "It's free for me," Ask first: Which kind of free might it be? #3 A pint is poured, no cash to pay, A welcome gift to clear the day. Free beer is sweet, a fleeting grace, With zero strain upon your purse's space. A voice is raised, a truth is told, A right that's bought with courage bold. Free speech requires a heavy toll— It costs you comfort, skin, and soul. A bundle arrives, all fluff and paws, With wagging tail and tiny claws. Free puppies cost no upfront fee, But drain your wallet endlessly. One costs you nothing, one demands your nerve, And one requires every dime you can reserve.

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Same here. I wouldn't mind even paying high prices provided it has nice thick manual (like in DCS A-10C, Xtreme Prototype, Black Square, etc), speed brakes, reversers, nice large readable instruments (usually Garmin glass and analogs), panel without large blank areas or missing instruments (eg. Learjet 35), responsive tech support (Just Flight), and all functioning button, lights, windows, doors, etc.

A test. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fwbnviod2omke4kg9w93g/White-to-mate-in-two-moves.png?rlkey=kk8ao3uv4c0ienyiefeaddmqq&st=doj1afrf&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fwbnviod2omke4kg9w93g/White-to-mate-in-two-moves.png?rlkey=kk8ao3uv4c0ienyiefeaddmqq&st=doj1afrf&raw=1

Delete (wishing for the old forum software).

No need to pay for a program. You already have it in MSFS 2024. Just ask AI to give you instructions on how to do it. Example: Request: "Show very detailed instruction on how to place a static object using freeware object libraries in MSFS 2024" Reply: ---- You’re basically trying to do what every scenery tweaker wants: drop a nice static object from a freeware library exactly where you want it in MSFS 2024, and have it show up reliably. Here’s a full, end‑to‑end workflow—from installing the library to placing the object and building your package. 01Install the freeware object library correctlyFoundation MSFS 2024 only sees objects that are inside properly structured packages mounted via the Community folder. Place the library folder into your MSFS 2024\Community directory Download the freeware object library (usually from flightsim.to or a forum link) Unzip it and check that the top-level folder contains manifest.json and layout.json Copy that entire folder into your Community folder (not inside another add-on) Restart MSFS 2024 if it was running so the package is mounted by the Virtual File System 02Enable Developer Mode in MSFS 2024Developer Mode unlocks the in-sim SDK tools, including the Scenery Editor you’ll use to place objects. Main menu → Options → General → Developers → Developer Mode = ON From the main menu, open Options → General Go to the Developers tab Turn Developer Mode to ON A small Dev Mode menu bar will appear at the top of the screen 03Create a new scenery projectProject Setup All placed objects must live inside a scenery package (project) so they can be built and loaded as an add-on. Dev Mode menu → Project Editor → File → New Project Start a flight near the area where you want to place the object On the Dev Mode bar, click Project Editor In Project Editor, choose File → New Project Enter a Project Name (e.g., my-static-objects) Set a Project Folder (a working folder outside Community, e.g., D:\MSFS_Projects\my-static-objects) Click Create and then Open in Editor if prompted 04Add a scenery package and asset groupYour project needs a scenery package with a scenery asset group where the placed objects will be stored. Project Editor → New Package → Add Asset Group → Type: Scenery In Project Editor, click New Package (or edit the default one created) Give the package a name (e.g., my-static-objects-scenery) Set Content Type to Scenery Click Add Asset Group Choose Type: Scenery Set a Title (e.g., my_static_objects_area) Set a Folder (e.g., scenery\my_static_objects_area) Click Create and then Save the project (Ctrl+S in Project Editor) 05Open the Scenery Editor for your packageThe Scenery Editor is where you visually place and manipulate objects in the world. Dev Mode menu → Scenery Editor → Load your scenery asset group On the Dev Mode bar, click Scenery Editor If prompted, select your scenery asset group from the list The Scenery Editor window appears, usually docked on the left/right Ensure your scenery package is active (checkbox ticked) in the Scenery Editor content list 06Move the camera to your placement locationYou want the camera roughly over the spot where the static object will go before placing it. Use normal sim controls to fly or slew to the target area You can use Drone Camera for precise positioning In the Scenery Editor, enable Developer Camera if you prefer (View menu) Zoom in until you clearly see the ground reference where the object should sit 07Locate the freeware library objects in the Objects listKey Step Freeware library models appear as scenery objects under their package name in the Objects window. Scenery Editor → Objects window → Filter or scroll to the library package In the Scenery Editor, open the Objects window (if hidden, enable it from the editor’s View menu) Set Object Type to Scenery Objects Use the search/filter box to type part of the library name or object name Hover an object entry: the tooltip or properties will show the Package it comes from (e.g., the freeware library’s package name) Confirm you’re seeing objects from the intended third-party library, not just default Asobo assets 08Activate one-click placing or Add modeYou can either click once per object placement or use the Add button and then click in the world. In the Objects window, select the desired object from the list Option 1: Click Add to enter placement mode, then click in the world where you want it Option 2: Enable One-Click Placing (if available) so each click in the world drops an instance Make sure Snap To Ground is enabled in the object properties so it sits on terrain by default 09Place the static object in the worldThis is the actual drop of the object instance into your scenery asset group. With the object selected and placement mode active, move the mouse over the terrain Left-click to place the object at the cursor location The object appears and is also listed in the Scenery Contents List for your package If you misplace it, you can undo (Ctrl+Z) or select and delete it 10Adjust position, rotation, and scale preciselyUse the gizmos to fine-tune the object’s location, heading, and size for a realistic fit. Select the placed object in the world or from the Content List Use the Translate Gizmo (arrows) to nudge it along X/Y/Z Use the Rotation Gizmo to align it with roads, buildings, or other references Use the Scale Gizmo if appropriate (some objects scale well, others may not) In the Properties panel, verify Snap To Ground is on; disable it if you need to float or sink the object slightly Optionally click Assign Instance ID if you need a unique GUID for scripting or missions 11Verify the object’s source package and dependenciesLicensing Awareness Before publishing, you must know which package the object comes from to respect licensing and dependencies. With the object selected, check the Package field in the Properties panel Confirm it shows the freeware library’s package name, not some other add-on Note this package name for your documentation/readme (users must install that library) If you plan to upload your scenery, ensure the library’s license allows referencing its objects (most do) but not redistributing its files 12Save, build, and test your scenery packageFinalization Building the package compiles your placed objects into a redistributable scenery add-on. Project Editor → Build All → Copy built package to Community (if needed) In Scenery Editor, click Save Scenery (disk icon) to write changes to your project files In Project Editor, click Save to ensure the project and package definitions are updated Click Build All (or build your specific package) and wait for the build to complete The compiled package appears in your project’s Packages or Packages\Community folder If necessary, copy that built package into your main MSFS 2024 Community folder Restart the sim or reload the project, then load a normal flight at the location and confirm the static object appears as expected 13Document the required freeware library for usersIf you share your scenery, users must know they need the same object library installed. In your scenery’s readme or product page, list the freeware object library as a required dependency Include the exact package name and a download link (e.g., flightsim.to page) Clarify that you do not include the library’s files—users must download and install it separately Optionally mention that objects are used as static scenery only (no simulation/physics) so users know what to expect In practice, once you’ve done this once or twice, the “flow” becomes: Install library → confirm it mounts in Community Create/update your scenery project → open Scenery Editor Pick object from the library’s package → drop, tweak, save Build package → test in a normal flight → publish with clear dependency notes

I just viewed a video about AI that apparently the board game GO is significantly more difficult for AI to defeat compared to Chess. Unlike chess which has 10^44 possible positions, Go has 10^171 possible positions. Very interesting. Wishing I learned about Go when I started playing chess too (in grade school).

I'm probably missing something quickly going over this thread. How were you able to do a chkdsk if all you see is a black screen? Did booting up the PC take you immediately to the command prompt?

All medical specialities look at what they are examining to help or confirm their diagnosis. Exception: Psychiatry. Heart doctors look at the heart. Orthopedists look at the bone. Dentists look at the teeth. Dermatologists look at the skin. Neurologists rely on specialized tests eg. EEG, MRI, etc. All these specialists use tools. But psychiatry does not. Hmmm.... why not!? Interesting, eh? (And because this is Avsim, pilots and sim users who only see problems in MSFS should have their brains examined too 🙂 )

Yes, "solved". Kinda. Solution: make sure you switch to another keyboard profile in MSFS 2024. Here's a beta-test report involving an MSFS 2024 aircraft. Problem: I'm reporting this in case you get reports from other users (if you haven't already). I don't want to call it an aircraft bug because it may be an MSFS 2024 input handling bug that causes the keyboard to stop sending events to the sim. The issue is an unresponsive keyboard using the aircraft and because this is the 3rd time it happened to me over several days. I tested this in 2 different PCs (Windows 11 with a 5080 gpu which shares peripherals via a KVM unit with a WIndows 10 Pro with a 3060 ti gpu). - The problem is isolated to the aircraft in MSFS 2024 only (the issue was not present in default planes eg. the Cessna 172). - The problem happens when starting from both runway and parked locations. - I only have a few add-ons in the community folder (eg. gaist, seafront, pms50 and sim-rate selector). - Re-starting MSFS 2024 or re-booting the pc does not solve the problem. Solution: To exit MSFS 2024, use Alt-Tab (the other keys including ESC are unresponsive). To enable the keyboard again in the aircraft, switch to another keyboard profile in MSFS 2024 options.

How about just: Competition is good. Better yet: Competition! :-)