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To add fuel to the FBW thing:
Between the Boeings and the Airbuses there are two different systems with very important differences.
Boeing:
Pilot flying -> Computer helping -> Control surfaces.
Airbus:
Computer flying -> Pilot helping -> Control surfaces.
In an airbus, the computer is flying. The computer has complete control authority and cannot be overridden, unless the three flight computers are turned off and the plane thus reverts into Direct Law (this is quite simple to do, but is a huge step to take. You'd lose so much by doing this). Incidentally, in a landing configuration and close to the ground, the computer reverts to Direct Law.
In a boeing, the pilot is flying with computer oversight. The computer can be overridden.
Now. Which is better? Well... it depends. Lets first describe the airbus computer system. Three seperate computers. Three seperate types of chips. Three seperate computer languages, done by three seperate groups of people (I think anyway). It is virtually impossible to put an airbus in an unsafe configuration: The computer will not let you. Haul all you like on the sidestick, it will not let you stall. Also, a computer will compensate and react far faster than a human can ever hope to, and within set parameter it will react the same way every time: Perfectly. It does not get flustered or distracted.
Despite all these very good advantages, the flight computers have one major flaw: When they are fed incorrect information or they hit an unknown situation, they cannot react to it. A human can.
Take a very simplistic example: All three pitot tubes freeze. The airspeed indicator will read zero. A pilot will look out the window, realise his controls still have authority and he is still flying and react accordingly.
A computer will assume falling airspeed and will react by increasing thrust and possibly commanding a down angle.
Now this is a very simple example and is probably catered for, but it serves to demonstrate the point: A computer can only react to what it is programmed to, a human has the capibility to react to the unknown. He may have difficulty, he may make the wrong decisions and contribute to the demise of the aircraft, but he still has the inbuilt capibility to react correctly.
Now on the Boeings now I understand they have computer input whereby the computer assists. Lost and engine and got differential thrust? No problem, the computer compensates and its almost as if you were flying normally.
Getting back to the airbuses and their computers, I said that they cannot be overridden. This does not mean to say that they do not give up themselves. There are circumstances where the computers say "we've had enough, we can't handle this, here you do whatever the %()#%R$# you want, just get us out of here".
(Edit: Epic wall of text!)
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