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'USAF Prefers X-Plane'

X-Plane was developed around Flight Dynamcs.
Microsoft built their Flight Simulators around the Visual elements, both Aircraft and Scenery.
Since the Air Force is vitally concerned how accurate the plane flys and not so concerned if all the rivets are there, they'll settle for X-Plane.
Of course Aces stating that the next Flight Simulator wll have absolutely no backwards compatibilty, just might have something to do with it.
Again, like in Vista and Windows 7, Microsoft is bent on shooting it's foot off.
 
Your bitterness toward Microsoft is showing again, Amigo. I don't know what the problem is this time Bob, but you need to research before you go jump off a cliff. I like X-Plane 9.21 better than I did version 8 but you need to understand Bob that the version the Air Force and Navy use is not the X-Plane you can buy for $39.95. It is a highly specialized version, but even with that X-Plane being better than FS is a myth anyway. Let's reserve judgement on FS11 until FS11 is here. I think you may be pleasantly surprised if you give it half a chance. If you have tried Windows7 Beta you will see that Microsoft is listening and they just proved it in a new OS that is pretty neat.
Hang tough I think things will get remarkable better
Ted

http://www.simpilotnet.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=9
 
Plus I don't believe the government is using Windows Vista from what I've heard. They stayed with XP.
 
Drake said:
Plus I don't believe the government is using Windows Vista from what I've heard. They stayed with XP.
Click to expand...

We're using Vista on super slow computers at least in the AF. I love vista at home on my dual core processor, but hate it on a pentium III.
 
I read the article this whole thread is discussing, and it drove me nuts to see the phrase 'low-fidelity' used in such a manner. Does it bug anyone else when people try too hard to sound smart? An intelligent and educated gentleman can and will use common words to get a point across clearly. You're only hurting your original intent if you use abstract words so far out of context that they're just wrong....

:173go1:
 
Helldiver said:
X-Plane was developed around Flight Dynamcs.
Microsoft built their Flight Simulators around the Visual elements, both Aircraft and Scenery.
Since the Air Force is vitally concerned how accurate the plane flys and not so concerned if all the rivets are there, they'll settle for X-Plane.
Of course Aces stating that the next Flight Simulator wll have absolutely no backwards compatibilty, just might have something to do with it.
Again, like in Vista and Windows 7, Microsoft is bent on shooting it's foot off.
Click to expand...


HD,

I see your point.

Perhaps if a company quit reinventing the wheel, and worked on polishing up the existing one...

But.. What do I know. ;)



Bill
 
As far as I know, and being an ESP developer as well as an FSX developer, FS11 will be 100% backwards compatible with FSX.

That said, even ESP is compatible with FSX...
 
Again, like in Vista and Windows 7, Microsoft is bent on shooting it's foot off.
Click to expand...

I'm using the Win 7 Beta as I type this and so far I'm loving it over XP on exactly the same rig. FSX seems to run at pretty much the same frame rates, possibly smoother if I turn on DX10, and even loads quicker. I'm really only keeping XP on the system as I don't want to loose everything when the Beta expires so development et.c I stick to XP.

Of course Aces stating that the next Flight Simulator wll have absolutely no backwards compatibilty, just might have something to do with it.
Click to expand...

Nopt sure where you've seen that, I've seen ACES state that there will be compatibility for aircraft models at least, bear in mind they probably haven't started coding it yet I think it's a bit early to make such calls. I'm also of the opinion they shouldn't restrict what they can do in FS11 by commiting themselves to backwards compatibility which would eat into the resources available to work on other aspects of the sim, like ATC with an IQ above room temperature...
 
From what i've heard , FSXI will be backwards compatible with FSX native addons (as in compiled with the fsx sdk). I haven't tried the beta Windows 7 yet (might throw it on a spare hdd and test it at a later stage), but I think that it may be a little early to be speculating on it's performance just yet.....at least until the full retail product has been developed. :)
 
The "end of backwards compatibility" statement for FSXI was made - but it was specifically the fact that FSX still contains code that dates back to FS95, particularly in gauges. I believe that the exact statement made was that FSXI would only be backwards compatible with FSX SDK add-ons, so don't expect the PMDG MD-11 for FSX, or Accu-Sim, to work straight off with FSXI. The visual models probably will, though (subject to confirmation, yadda, yadda, yadda...)
 
I haven't tried the beta Windows 7 yet (might throw it on a spare hdd and test it at a later stage), but I think that it may be a little early to be speculating on it's performance just yet.....at least until the full retail product has been developed. :)
Click to expand...

Fair one, I've heard conflicting reports on the exact status of the current 7 beta, although most seem to think nothing much is going to be added more that things that cause problems might be fixed! Certainly if the 7 beta is the equivalent of the FSX beta it's looking promising!
 
Well to change the topic back to where it started...I got X-Plane 9 for Christmas and have not made up my mind to open and install or not..

I want to see it,but fear that it will become a 45 dollar backseat to my favorite sim....

What do you all think?
 
Ted, Well old Amigo, I'm not talking off the top of my head. You look at Windows differently from a business. They use 85% of all computer use.
Used PCs are being bought not for for the hardware but just because companies want to get their hands on a copy of Windows XP. Many consumers and businesses prefer used PCs loaded with XP because they have a lot of machinery and applications that won't run on Windows Vista.
In one company I know they have two IR Spectrometers and one basic Spectrometer and a Tensile Test machine plus an Electron Microscope that will only run on XP. To convert, it would have cost them $80,000 on software, not to mention down time while operators get trained.
The other reason people are staying with XP for standardization. You can't have five computers on XP and five on Vista. They create training issues and compatibilty issues. Buying a used PC is a cheap way of getting a XP license. The other altenative would be to buy a business class computer with Vista and then downgrade it to Windows XP, which can be expensive.
So you see that a radical change in an operating system can cause havoc with business. Thats one shot in the foot for Microsoft.
I just read on a Aces blog that the new Flight Simulator would not be backwards compatible. That's the second shot in the foot for Microsoft.
 
Helldiver said:
Ted, Well old Amigo, I'm not talking off the top of my head. You look at Windows differently from a business. They use 85% of all computer use.
Used PCs are being bought not for for the hardware but just because companies want to get their hands on a copy of Windows XP. Many consumers and businesses prefer used PCs loaded with XP because they have a lot of machinery and applications that won't run on Windows Vista.
In one company I know they have two IR Spectrometers and one basic Spectrometer and a Tensile Test machine plus an Electron Microscope that will only run on XP. To convert, it would have cost them $80,000 on software, not to mention down time while operators get trained.
The other reason people are staying with XP for standardization. You can't have five computers on XP and five on Vista. They create training issues and compatibilty issues. Buying a used PC is a cheap way of getting a XP license. The other altenative would be to buy a business class computer with Vista and then downgrade it to Windows XP, which can be expensive.
So you see that a radical change in an operating system can cause havoc with business. Thats one shot in the foot for Microsoft.
I just read on a Aces blog that the new Flight Simulator would not be backwards compatible. That's the second shot in the foot for Microsoft.
Click to expand...

Here we go again old Amigo. I can't tell you how I know you are wrong, but you are wrong. SimObjects can be easily transitioned into the new sim. I also have X-Plane 9.21and like some of it and I can tell you from experience that there are planes and scenery from X-Plane 8 that do not work in version 9.21. So are we supposed to remain stagnant just because you're unhappy with new development?

I assure that Austin Meyer at Laminar Research is not going to keep building his sim the same way it is now for the sake of compatibility anymore than Microsoft will as new technologies emerge. However, the neat part about all of this is we can pick and choose what we like and what we fly according to what we have on hand to use. FS9 is still a very viable alternative and will remain so for some time to come. FSX is more playable now as new technology becomes more affordable. It has always been that way Helldiver. I honestly understand why you don't remember how the transitions to each flight simulator has been this way.

BTW FSX plays just fine on the new beta without any hitches. I am sure we will be leaving some things behind as technology in operatings system become more sophisticated-that's fine with me and most people. I just used the touch screen this last weekend to activate switches on some of my aircraft panel from the VC I thought that was pretty cool.

Ted
 
I just used the touch screen this last weekend to activate switches on some of my aircraft panel from the VC I thought that was pretty cool.
Click to expand...

Not jealous, much! Now where can I get a touch screen...
 
harleyman said:
Well to change the topic back to where it started...I got X-Plane 9 for Christmas and have not made up my mind to open and install or not..

I want to see it,but fear that it will become a 45 dollar backseat to my favorite sim....

What do you all think?
Click to expand...

I have X-Plane 9 and think its real nice. It is totally different than FSX but once yu get used to it , its just fine. They have some lousy airplanes, like FSX, and some that are real beauties...............go ahead, install the thing. I would suggest you don´t install the whole 60Gig of scenery though, just the ones you will be flying at the start............have fun the water is great!:wave:
 
Helldiver said:
I just read on a Aces blog that the new Flight Simulator would not be backwards compatible. That's the second shot in the foot for Microsoft.
Click to expand...

Lets stop fearmongering about FS11 and back-compat.

The definitive quote is here
http://blogs.msdn.com/ptaylor/archive/2007/10/02/acceleration-and-sp2.aspx

Which states:
The first is to send a message that we are going to change the backwards compatibility story moving forwards.

Note I don't specifically state what the plan is, just that there will be a change.

As others have noted, the place where backwards compatability starts is with the FSX SDK.

If an add-on was compiled using the FSX Acceleration or SP2 SDK, it is *very likely* that it will be compatible.

If an add-on was not compiled using the FSX Acceleration or SP2 SDK, it is *very likely* that it will not be compatible.

That is the best explanation anyone is going to get until the FS team releases an FS11 beta, which is quite a ways off.

http://wing-fell-off.blogspot.com/2008/01/what-is-true-fsx-aircraft-part-1-some.html is another good post that discusses this from a developers perspective. Developers have had plenty of time to adjust. Those that do, will continue to provide quality add-ons with a long shelf-life to their customers.
 
harleyman said:
Well to change the topic back to where it started...I got X-Plane 9 for Christmas and have not made up my mind to open and install or not..

I want to see it,but fear that it will become a 45 dollar backseat to my favorite sim....

What do you all think?
Click to expand...



Hey Mason,


First, to prep you on XP9, note, that its keyboard controls will be totally different. Second, setting it up is at first glance 'complicated', but once you learn the system of where the list is for activating or changing keyboard controls, you are set to go.

When I would transition between CFS and FS, the hard part was always the keyboard. That was the primary reason I just didnt fly CFS enough was remembering all the diff keyboard commands. (FS seems to have logical letters applied to controls, and CFS has what I would call random key assignments, so memorizing them was difficult).

With that said, I think that the keyboard will be the deterrent with XP9 for you. You will want to adjust the Mixture, lower the flaps a notch, go to 2D panel view, zoom out in VC view, go to top down view, and not know where in the heck those keys are. Also, some will not be activated, (not on the keyboard layout list), so you will need to activate them.


This, for me, is the biggest hurtle on XP9. People that have never flown FS have never had to deal with the change in keyboards, so they fly it with absolutely no complaints whatsoever, while FS guys get on it, (install it) and find that cant control anything, throw their hands in the air, and write it off, taking it back off their hard drives.

So, that will be the one thing that you need to brace for is the keyboard and controls for XP9.

The Cessna 182 and Avanti Turboprop are the nicest planes in there. The rest arent that great. But there are some awesome payware and freeware planes available for it now. The Super Cub is brilliant, and they now have an awesome Mu-2 Mitsubishi available also.

The terrain seems far more real then FSX, and you have things like clouds casting shadows, brilliant water effects, and amazing autogen.

At airports like Innsbruck, you have extreme detail at airports (when the detail settings are cranked up). Details such as parked cars, picknick tables, trees, fences, ground equipment, static aircraft.



Lastly, the ATC isnt really 'realistic'. Its there, but its 'electronic voice' and rather archaic. They need to take a week or two and convert their electronic voices to people recordings like FS did.


That aside, its like CFS and FS, an entirely new, different sim. A change of pace, a different kind of car to drive, something fresh and different. It is behind the times in a few things, and more advanced in other things. Its flexibility and simplicity are like big open doors for developers.



Bill
 
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