I'm thinking of getting a new PC, I don't want to spend an arm and a leg on an expensive machine that runs 2007 flight sim . So i'm gonna be looking for a slightly less expensive model. The problem is that all the new machines on sale in my local PC outlet all run on vista and nobody in the shop can tell me if that would run FS2002. So i'm asking all the flight simmers out there if they have tried to run Microsoft Flight Sim 2002 on a Microsoft Vista ?

I would appreciate any input.

I just bought a new laptop for school. Naturally it came with **I have a dirty mouth**sta on it. I cannot stand that operating system, but they wouldn't give me a choice. What I did was I installed XP on it, and got it running perfectly on that. You could probably do the same if you could locate all the drivers and such. It was easy for me because I have a dell. I just searched for the different versions. I don't know how easy it would be with other machines though.

Why would you want to run FS2002 on ANYTHING?

It's probably not supported, and finding good add ons for it must be like raising the Titanic with tweezers. Why not just upgrade to FS2004?

I have used my FS2004 on my mum's new laptop that came with Vista. It worked perfectly fine. Like Empress said, why don't you upgrade to FS2004? By now it should be very cheap (especially if you live in the USA).

By they way, I don't understand why everyone hates Vista so much!

Dash,

Thanks for your responses. I'll probably update to FS 2004 now i know it works on vista. I can now finally get on with some instrument flying.

Provided you buy the correct components and NOT some POS Dell, a 'less expensive model', should be around $1500 which could run fsX and fs2004 both exellently.

Agreed, my computer which runs both FSX and FS9 (not that I play them anymore) could be had for the <1K mark.....

Rule number one, don't buy dell
Rule number two, shop around and buy parts individually from the cheapest location
Rule number three, build it yourself

If you do all three, you can have that awesome PC for a fraction of the cost of the standard 'off the shelf' computer. If you played with lego as a kid and you can comfortably use a screwdriver you could build a PC yourself. If you don't feel comfortable however someone should throw it together for you for cheap...

For the record the vista OS at the moment is a poor excuse of an operating system. The only real perk is DX10 so unless your running a DX10 card and a game that supports DX10 then i wouldn't bother....If you don't believe me check out the sales comparisons between Vista, Leopard, and XP. You could be surprised about the success of vista or more so the lack of it...

-Eric

I had a friend try to assemble a PC once.. He went through two hard drives because he didn't use an anti-static strap and was standing on a carpet.

If this is you, here's a helpful website:

www.apple.com

Interesting, this is slowly getting obsolete here if the goal is a good price.
OK, if you know exactly what components you want and have spent a day or 2 preparing your shopping list, which I'm actually doing right now, it's OK. But by building it yourself, you'll just save the $100 custom assembly fee (and have the fun if you like doing that).

However, if you don't have an exact wishlist and can do with a preassembled PC, you'd better wait for a shop to make a special offer on a config that suits your usage. This way, you can easily save 30-40% with regard to the separate components. Like the other day, with that quad-core 2.4GHz, 4Gb RAM, 8800 gfx card, RAID array and 22" monitor etc for less than $2k... individual components in stores with good prices totalled around 3k

Oh, and Dell offers aren't that bad in the XPS series
Especially about the laptops, but that's another story anyway.

The offers are sometimes competitive, it is just that you buy a dell how it is and thats how it stays....no room for upgrading.



I have never used a wristband during assembly and haven't destroyed anything to date. It is not that hard to ground yourself (touch the case) before you touch anything.

-Eric

It's also not hard to destroy your components by using this method.


Count yourself lucky.

I indeed usually do the opposite as what is said, i.e leave the power cord connected while I work inside, so the case is grounded, and me too by touching it. Of course the PSU is powered off.

ESD is much of a matter of the surfaces you have (carpets are bad indeed).
But I've been working with electronic components daily for years now (it's my job) and have never broken a thing due to ESD, even without straps.

Woo, about to order components for new PC


For laptops of course, like everywhere... but their desktop systems should be upgradeable like any other PC, no?
For laptops I do find them a good choice. I have one, but it was mostly becasue they were the only ones to offer what I was looking for, i.e a 12" one but that does have some "oomph" despite its size. XPS M1210 was the only answer around. Had it for a bit more than 1 year, stilll happy with it, and maybe the first time I ever see a computer not lose any value for that lapse of time. They now don't offer it anymore, but the price didn't drop between the moment I bought it until they discontinued it. Pretty rare in IT equipment, I guess I bought it just at the right moment.

Dell uses...ahh unconventional parts in their computer systems. Wether it be co-incidental or purely a deliberate business action, after market upgrades are difficult for dell systems. Most of the common components on the market are not compatible with dell hardware. The default BIOS is also very limited in terms of customization and the 'upgrades' which are offered always appear to be above market price.

Sure, I would recommend dell to granny's, 6xth graders and computer illiterate personnel but for the average computer literate teenager there is often more to be desired. Buying components individually and constructing the PC yourself guarantees future customization and ensures costs are kept to the minimum.

Saying that, Dell are no doubt a major competitor....they keep prices semi competitive, they have great after sales service and the PC's arent that bad at the time of sale component wise. Alot of people like Dell, I don't...

-Eric

That for sure. You choose a Dell if the default config suits you, but you sure won't select the 2Gb RAM upgrade for $350...
I'm about to buy 4Gb for half of that, hehe.