Alternative to REX?

[Tailgunner]

I've waded through all 66 pages of the REX manual, and it's just too darned complicated for an ancient and simple mind. I like to hop in and fly, with the minimum of angst. Is there an alternative and more user-friendly environmental program which is worth having? Any suggestions would be most welcome.

[alexf]

Don't even need to read the manual, then it's simple enough. Set the water, tarmac, cloud, etc. settings to ones you like, have it install the textures for it (takes a few minutes to copy them), and forget about it. Don't need to use it anymore unless you want to change some settings.

[Blitzer]

What Alex just said. You can use REX to basically install the cloud, water, runway textures etc. to your liking from the numerous options and then simply click the install button to trasnfer those textures to FSX to be used in place of the default ones. Ideally you can also have the REX Weather engine run when you start-up FSX and let it handle the wetaher for you. That's it pretty much job done and you can forget about using REX as such unless you want to change to alternative textures later. 

[Naji]

Plus Rex2 is really, really worth learning to run. The weather environment it creates is quite pleasing.

No need to choose your own individual textures for cloud, sky, etc; you can just choose any one of the preset themes and it installs all in one go.

[Phil Manhart]

I have to reiterate what the others have already said.

Once you install the textures using the Theme Creation page you don't need to mess with it again unless you want to change the textures or mess with the weather engine.

But to answer your original question, there are other packages that will suit your needs (based on the need):

Weather Textures:

http://www.fspilotshop.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_70_74&products_id=1307 (Aero Files Sky Environment Ultra FSX)

http://www.fspilotshop.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_70_74&products_id=1925 (Zinertek Ultimate Weather FX)

http://www.flight1.com/products.asp?product=flt1fex (Flight 1 Flight Environment X)

http://www2.hifisim.com/node/6 (HiFi Sim X-Graphics)

Weather Engines:

http://www2.hifisim.com/node/4 (HiFi Sim Active Sky X)

http://www2.hifisim.com/node/3 (HiFi Sim Active Sky Advanced)

http://www.fspilotshop.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_70_74&products_id=1163 (Calibre Weather Maker RX)

All in One Weather Textures and Weather Engine:

http://www.realenvironmentxtreme.com/

Obviously you already have the last one, which is the best one in my humble opinion.

[LBPN]

I have FEX and it's very good.

[Tailgunner]

Thanks, everyone. Couldn't be more helpful, and much appreciated.