There is a huge difference in computer requirements between FS2004 and FSX but to me its not worth buying a new computer to run FSX. FS2004 runs good on the average computer and there is alot of downloads that'll keep you busy. As for helping in training, its good for visualizing things like procedures before embarking on the real thing. FS2004 is worth the buy if your computer is a couple yrs old and FSX is great if you have a good computer bought within the last year or so. FSX minimum requirements on the box is very decietful. Im staying with FS2004 till computers go down some more in price.

it's great! it will actually save you money! (I used it to better understand how to enter holding patterns) go to flightsim.com to download planes and other things for the program. it's all free... good luck with training

I recommend MS flight sim to my instrument students but only AFTER we have covered basic things like scan and fundamentals of instrument flight. Its a great tool and can save an appreciable amount of money, just use it wisely.

I find its good for instrument stuff primarly. Im working on my currency in a sim (legal for IFR stuff) and Im finding that if I spent a little more time on 04 with approach plates, it would make it a quicker transistion to learn how to do that stuff again. I have a Dell E1705 laptop with a flight stick pro joy stick and it runs fine on that. I would get other aircraft though, becasue most of them on there suck. Anyways, PM if you have any questions.

FS is great, but make sure you don't develop any bad habits.

FS 2004 helped me tremendously when I was going through it. Another thing that alot of people overlook is the fact that you dont always have to use the vectors feature while talking with ATC. You can file your IFR flight plan on there, takeoff, in the ATC menu select a different approach and request a transition and due to entire approach and ATC will still give you altitudes and stuff, Great for procedures. I wouldnt worry to much about the computer being too slow, i turned my settings all down to bare minimum and ran fine on my normally slow computer. Also another tip, dont use clouds, just go into weather and set the vis down to your minimum required for the approach becuse with the low graphics settings you can see through the clouds lol. And later on, I bought the "Wilco" CRJ and flew it for 6 months prior to getting a job on the CRJ, helped me TREMENDOUSLY in sim training. just a thought if your going that far. Good luck