LAGtheModeller
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chess computer shopping - a few things to consider - 2006/07/11 15:30
For those of you interested in handheld chess computers, here's a quick summary of things to consider. Note: I have no expertise with the
PocketPC platform. My handheld chess experience is pretty much limited to the Palm, Gameboy platform, and Excalibur products:
My handheld web site can be found at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~kantack/lcdchess/home.htm
Now for some quick info that may help those who are new to chess computer shopping:
1. For strong club players (I'm talking about anyone with an over- the-board USCF rating of 1600 or more (or an ICC slow chess rating of 1700 or more) if you desire a handheld chess computer you probably should limit your consideration to the Palm or PocketPC platforms. The Excalibur series of handhelds are great computers but you may not find them strong enough.
2. Even if you are not a strong club player, if your budget allows a $100 or more expenditure, there is good reason to consider a PDA as a chess computer. With a great program like ChessGenius or Chess Tiger, you get automatic recording of games. Combine that with easy PDA-to-PC file transfers and you've got a very nice and portable platform for not only playing chess but for analyzing your games.
3. For the rest of us (with a chess strength rating of under 1600
Elo), low cost dedicated units, like the Excalibur handhelds, make great opponents! (They are also a great bargain!) The best all time bargain (in my opinion)is Talking LCD Chess which can be had for under 25 dollars. Of course there are many good chess computer buys out there. Each model having its own particular strengths and weaknesses.
4. For those of you considering an LCD handheld, but are concerned about display quality (or like to be able to play your game with a real chess set), don't rule out getting a handheld chess computer. When playing from home, there is nothing stopping you from setting up a set along side your handheld unit and mirroring the moves on the "big board". I often do this myself. To me it's a lot of fun to hear my Talking LCD unit call out its move. I then make the move on my fancy chess set and then begin to ponder my own move.
Though I do many other things in "the chess world", I continue to maintain and update my web site on handheld computer chess. I very much enjoy corresponding with all of you who are using or shopping for a chess computer. My current plans are to continue to maintain and enhance my web site over the next several months. There are still a lot of new developments going on in the world of chess computers (esp. handheld chess units).
Thanks.
Chris Kantack
Some links:
LCD Chess home page:
http://home.earthlink.net/~kantack/lcdchess/home.htm
Talking LCD Chess: http://home.earthlink.net/~kantack/lcdchess/talkinglcd.htm
Chess Tiger (for the Palm):
http://home.earthlink.net/~kantack/lcdchess/chesstiger.htm
ChessGenius (Richard Lang's site).
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To forbid the making of pictures about God would be to forbid thinking about God at all, for man is so made that he has no way to think except in pictures.
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