For those of us in Europe it seems highly unlikely that we will see Vista for some time (and FSX Deluxe) Because unsurprisingly Microsoft is dragging its feet over the Antitrust case in 2004.
Microsoft cannot sell any of it's current  or future windows versions in Europe unless it allows third party software access. The worst culprit being media player.
Currently Microsoft is six months behind which means it is being fined €2m a day.
FSX ordinary edition is likely to be only FS9 with the very best of the free addons now marketed by Microsoft ie Microsoft is catching up with the Simworld (meaning the addons will no longer "be free")
The Deluxe edition probably will show some noticeable advances but obviously will only work at an optimal level with Vista and since the EU won't allow Vista to be sold until.............?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5120536.stm

Happy landings.
Vololiberista

Stupid EU. Makes me angry. Whoops its politics I'm quitting.

I hope MS can get this sorted out, but I wasn't planning on getting FSX instantly anyway.

I'm confused to say the least.. ???

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But that would mean the "normal" version wouldn't be? ???

Only in videos, and those actually look pretty good.


Anyway, of course FSX won't just be FS9 with addons, that's what I'm sticking to.

No I don't see anything in the article that says that MS can't sell Vista or FSX. Just that they are facing massive fines.

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Since the release of FS9, the addons (esp the FREE ones)  have transformed it!! M$ have picked up on those ideas and incorporated addon like improvements into their new FSX which of course isn't FREE!!!  It's called marketing!! For what other reason would they produce a "deluxe" version other than to make even more money out of us!! That's also called marketing!!!
As for the EU they DID win the legal argument against the monopolistic stance of M$. (monopolies are not as popular in Europe as in the US)
This is why here in Europe we can use windows programmes like XP that allow us now to use third party addons.   
FSX hopefully will be a good sim but only if they have addressed core issues like ATC SIDS STARS for example.  If it turns out to be just FS9 with missions then for me it's not worth the buy!! One thing I would like to see go is the fact we have to use both 2D and 3D cockpits! One would be enough as in FlyII (fully operational - all dials - knobs - buttons etc)To compare both sims in their "basic" state flyII comes out better with better basic scenery, better flight planning, better cockpits, better ground effect. Worse ATC, clouds, no AI. Not bad for one disc!!!!
Let's hope F$ give us what WE want and not what THEY want!!
Vololiberista

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Products are continually being improved or there would be no point to a new version at all. There's only so much you can do with software like FS & without these improvements we might just as well stick with FS98. I see no difference between this Deluxe version of FSX & the Professional versions of FS2000 & FS2002. It seems misguided to me to go back to two versions but these are aimed at different markets.

PS. When it comes down to it, nobody is forcing you to spend a single penny. That's your choice.