WINDOWS users: YOU MUST HAVE DIRECT-X-8 (or higher) FROM MICROSOFT TO RUN! If you still do not get verbal speech from ATC, download speech synthesis. Mac users are good to go with stock G4's and G5's and Intels.

X-Plane is of course Universal Binary on Mac.

  X-Plane 7 X-Plane 8 and 9
Windows Pentium 1ghz+ any chip, 2 ghz+
Macintosh PowerMac 800+ G4 or G5 or Intel 2 ghz+
Linux x86 any chip, 2 ghz+
RAM 384 meg 1 gig for speed
Disk Space 4 gig 70 gig
CD/DVD CD DVD-DL
3-D CARD OpenGL OpenGL... NVIDIA has been more reliable
VRAM 16 meg 32 meg
Monitor 1024x768+ 1024x768+
Joystick/Yoke USB USB

Where Can I get a good MACINTOSH for X-Plane?
www.Apple.com. I use the latest Intel with 2 gig of RAM.

Where can I get a good WINDOWS MACHINE OR JUST JOYSTICK for X-Plane?
Digital Edge (a local company with a good X-Plane system)

Joysticks and Yokes
No joystick is required. You can fly with the mouse or numeric keypad. But to really be realistic you need a joystick or yoke. Any modern USB joystick should be fine for both Mac and Windows. You can get them here at X-plane.com.