I have been trying to stop by the FreeFD glass cockpit website for about a week now and having no luck.  I keep getting the "not found" message.

Does anyone know what it up?

EDIT in February 05 ...... old Free FD link removed from here!

best,

.................john

Saturday night and now the freeFD link goes to a domainhop page called "toydogs".

Oh oh.  I wonder if Don has given up on Free FD?  He had been talking of finishing the new FMC not all that long ago.

best,

.................john

Good News and Bad News

Good News:  Free FD has a new website up.  The site is much nicer than the old one.  And according to Don, work is continuing on the project.

Bad News:  Don is hinting in forum postings that the project is eventually going the way of becoming payware.  Which considering the amount of work that it takes to do this type of incredible stuff, is certainly very VERY understandable.

At the moment... there are no downloads on the site...even the old code.  


But for me, ........being pretty tight in the budget department......  if it is priced anywhere NEAR stuff like Project Magenta....... I'll be looking for other solutions or just continue with the outdated version.

Here is the new link:



freefd.... homeunix.... .com

BTW...... the old FreeFD link takes you to a BAD website loaded with pop-ups and trojans and such.


best,

...................john

PS:  Not bashing Don or payware in any way.... just dealing with the reality of money.  

Logjam,

Yup...... that is mentioned just above your posting.  At your suggestion (thanks) I am taking the original link out of the first message in this thread.  

Everyone should note that there are COUNTLESS references to FreeFD around the net and 99% of them currently point to the OLD site with the trojans and viruses.

Current good virus protection running on any machine that is on the net is not really optional anymore.

best,

....................john

Webb,

I really don't know anything.  Have some "conjectures".... but that is it.

Don's new website has been down for quite a while now.  I check frequently.  My guess is that he is very busy...and also that he is getting ready to reintroduce FreeFD as a bit of a "different animal".

For quite a while he was making subtle mention that he had always said that he might go the payware route with the program once it was closer to what he "wanted".  See my post above from Feb. 10th.) He was very actively working on a FMC when the site disappeared..... and the other instruments were pretty good already....but he pulled them from circulation on the new site completely.  So I am kinda' wondering if when it reappears.....it will be payware ......... maybe with a lot more features.

The complete "disappearance" would be in keeping with two things........ making a "clean break" from the "old" free version..... and in helping to create demand by the absence.  Smart marketing and business on his part if this is the direction he has decided to take.

But maybe I am reading too much into the "disappearance" and it is simply that he ran out of money for hosting the site  .

I can only HOPE that FreeFD remains free..... or at the least, that he charges a LOT less than Project Magenta.  I simply cannot afford the PM stuff (based on the percentage of my total simpit that software cost would represent).

best,

....................john

Webb,

Well..... let's not jump to a conclusion here..... but we need to be prepared for that possible eventuality too. 

best,

..................john

Jared,

So is THAT darn FreeFD website address link taken over by porn / trojans / crap now ALSO?

I'll go up to my posting above from back in February and delete the link. ANd I am also making the one on your post non-clickable too.

That is the same thing that happened to his OLD website address before the one listed above.

Thanks fo the heads up.

best,

...................john

Good work mate.. Definately don't need any of those items on their list.....

Not yet anyways....

Well............ it is looking more and more like Don LaFontaine has abandoned his wonderful FreeFD glass cockpit project.  If so, that is a real blow to cockpit builders who are operating on a relatively tight budget.

The best alternative that I have found (so far) is payware......but when you compare it to the cost of Project Magenta....... it is pretty darn affordable.

The program is FsXPand and it costs about $75 USD at this point in time.  A trial time limited version is available for download.  See the "Resources" sticky a the top of this forum for a direct link to the info.

best,

......john