Microsoft Flight Simulator X Deluxe DVD - PC

Here are some things you need to know before buying:This software is not a game. It's a real-time simulation.You'll need a Cray supercomputer to run it.The graphics are, hands down, the best in the business... any business.The flight models are realistic. I know, I'm a pilot.Where else can you learn how to fly around the world in a range of aircraft with no risk whatsoever for about 60 bucks?If you enjoy this sort of thing (you know who you are), spend the money for one good dinner out on years worth of aviation discovery.When I was a kid I never dreamt that something so comprehensive, exhilarating and downright beautiful would ever be possible. How spoiled we are!

My system: It ain't the latest-greatest "Duo" or "Quad" super fast hell on wheels box. In fact it's a Dell Optiplex GX270, 3.0Ghz Hyperthreaded P4. RAM is 2GB, video is ATI Radeon 9550 (Dual capable) w 256Mb DDR. Sound is Creative Audigy4, MS Sidewinder Precision Pro flight stick (USB driven)I just received my copy of FSX-Deluxe + Accelerator Pack. They installed flawlessly in under 30 minutes, total. Just got through "test flying" it. Stunning! I just selected "free flight", Cessna 172, and I selected my local small air field, which should be located just to the east of Nashville, TN. Cornelia Fort air park. Got flying, quickly located Berry International just where it should be. Went looking for Nashville's skyline - hmmm, kind of generic looking. Oh well. I'm not picky about that type of detail anyway. That said, the graphics and dynamic graphic details were none the less stunning. Everything from the city traffic to other aircraft in flight was displayed quite well. I encountered no reduction in frame rates nor did I encounter any "stuttering" of the display. All played smoothly. I checked the simulator settings and they are all at 3/4 full. I intend on playing with those settings to see what my box can do. I haven't "played" FS since FS98. I have CFS3 which plays well on my system except when there is a lot of other things going on, then it may stumble a bit, but not enough to make it unplayable. It doesn't have near the graphic detail of FSX, and yet FSX beats it hands down in function. I am impressed. I definitely recommend FSX. Just be sure to either download the Service Pack when you've completed the install OR get the Acceleration Pack. You do not need to download the service pack if you have the Acceleration Pack. Activation went without a hitch - no problem at all!

I bought this for my husband for Valentine's Day, and it's a great program. Not quite a game (it's a real time flight simulator, so it can get rather boring), but a great tool for keeping flight skills and lingo up.I had to purchase 700 dollars in additional hardware for my computer just to run this program. (New high-end video card, new ram, new power supply to run the video card) If you don't have an 8800 chipset video card with at least 512 or memory, at least 2 gig of ram, and the power to run these things, it's disappointing. (I have a highspeed ATA hard drive, a Pentium 4, 3.6 ghz machine.) Oh, and it really does take up 15 Gig of hard drive space.Combine that with the statement that Microsoft made awhile back, saying that no computer that is made today can actually 'run' the program to it's fullest graphical potential (it's just not made yet), and you realize that you'll never--ever--get the quality that is advertised on the box or on their ads.If you go with the minimum requirements for the game, I guarantee you won't be happy. It just won't run. You will have no graphics, and it will move at about 1 frame every few seconds. As it is, I can't get more than about 12-20 frames per second, even with my upgrades.Anyway, it should be cutting edge for a few years, until the next FS comes out...So, buyer beware--you need a monster computer to run this thing... but if you have one, then you'll enjoy it.edited 6/10/07: Microsoft now has a patch you can download that makes this run better, with more features able to run at the same time. The pictures are clearer, and you can amp up the graphics, too, while not losing game play ability.