Always nice when business class gets their own Jetway.
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I tested the X-Plane 12 demo. Deleted it after one flight. Horrible visuals. MSFS2024 for me all the way. I guess I’m one of the lucky ones as I’ve never had any big issues with MSFS2024. Don’t get me wrong, it’s far from perfect but works well enough for me.
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The demo is restricted to 15 min. I can barely set up my aircraft (let alone taxi it) in 15 min. Agree on the visuals compared to FS2024 say, but XP12 latest beta has come a long way (since I last checked XP11) and can be enhanced wth mods if required. Depends on what you want to do I guess. For VFR GA only I’d currently go with MSFS24. For IFR GA I’d do either. For IFR airliners I’m leaning toward XP for now due to FS2024 SU2 having perf issues at large airports. I can’t fly with my FPS sitting at 13.
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X-Plane 12 vs MSFS 2024 Side By Side Graphics Comparison:
This sold me. Plus 7 second load time for quick flights.
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Which works out at only £45 GBP, which IMO was worth it for the aircraft that come with it alone. The fact I’m using it about 50% of the time now and don’t feel the need to add airports is a bonus.
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A 100x this. I can go from launching the sim to sat at the gate ready to start in 90sec. I can set up a quick IFR flightplan in <1min. I spend more time simming than watching load screens or generally faffing about fighting the UI.
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if you want to fly a high end addon free (only x-plane required) you can load the ZIBO as its free. high quality 737NG. aircraft sytems better than pmdg imho.
clouds are highly improved in the latest beta 12.2. ground textures can be improved manually with other addons.
Official Links:
The install guide & training checklist https://bit.ly/3SEuCHT ***
The EFB Guide*** https://bit.ly/48fmVxi ***
Zibo’s Google Drive Google Drive link*** zibomod - Google Drive ***
2nd Google Drive link & Zibo Install Guide*** https://bit.ly/3JQK7q8 ***
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The Zibo certainly is excellent. I’ve done about 6 flights in it so far. Definitely a go to airliner.
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we know scenery has to improve, Laminar knows that and is working to improve it.
if you are on FL380 you wont recognize. x-plane has other advantages
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It takes more than a 15min demo to see this though. I think that’s where people miss out. I got so frustrated during the demo after my 15min disappearing so fast I was either going to buy a copy or prematurely bin it. I chose the former.
Are those default shots or have you some mods installed. It does look quite good without the mods from altitude though.
From 10-500ft maybe not so much (as MSFS).
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I own MSFS, 2024, XP11 and XP12.
One of the main hang-ups for me is the cost of maintaining 3rd party products for both. So with that in mind, I’ve never actually taken a flight in XP11 or 12. If vendors provided a copy of each (if applicable) then I would certainly give it a serious look, but I’m heavily invested in MSFS so it take alot to switch.
Then on the other hand, they do have a Q400, which really has me tempted to at least get it up and running and get the payware that my VA flys the Q4 to.
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I was just looking at that Q400 yesterday. I may be tempted by it next. I know what you are saying about maintaining products, but I feel there is less onus on buying payware airports in XP12 as many default ones are good enough. Not sure I can say that about MSFS. I went into my XP12 purchase with no intention of buyng anything more, but ended up with an E190 (on sale). Lol.
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I’m sorry… that sucks. Nice landing otherwise though 
Most of the “must-haves” (e.g. Avitab or the Zibo mod) are freeware anyway so what you would have to shell out money for are more “fancy” addons like scenery packs, environmental packs, etc (in that regard isn’t that dissimilar from MSFS is it?). The only thing I dislike about Laminar is that you have to be a little savvy with knowing about the .ini file and the order load-ins are placed. You also have to at least know how to drag your own zip folders into the appropriate Xplane folder. It’s not a huge deal but, it’s certainly not as no-brainer as MSFS is.
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Only SimHeaven and XP Map Enhancement - both free.
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They’re certainly not horrible, pretty great actually, but they’re also still behind FS24, and I’m assuming these are some of the best shots. These and the side by side comparison video posted above are really interesting to see, thanks for sharing. As a GA VFR pilot, they wouldn’t make me consider switching, but I can see how it depends on the type of flying you do. It must be frustrating having two platforms that each do some things really well, but none that are great at everything.
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Of course they are but I can show you awful screenshots from MSFS as well, with clouds baked into ground textures, generic textures in parts of Asia and other glitches. But you are right, XP12 does not look as good as MSFS below 1,000ft. I mainly fly airliners so it’s not a big deal.
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Yeah, both platforms can produce some really bad visuals. But I think for the typical GA scrub like me, the baseline average lags way behind in XP.
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The aliasing issue is what really gets me in XP 12.
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