Author: O. Veli
Date: 08:38:17 03/15/00
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On March 15, 2000 at 07:35:23, Michael Cummings wrote: >On March 15, 2000 at 07:06:09, Lin Harper wrote: >> trouble. Could the problem be that all the strong programs are on >> software nowadays? > >I think apart from a few tabletop boards, and pocket chess computers, the market >would be pretty weak. > >I would never buy a tabletop these days. Their strength is behind just about all >top chess programs going back a few years now, it is easier to play on a >computer which most people seem to have now. I agree with you in that at the current state the hardware manufacturers can only sell portable units and possibly cheap table-tops geared towards children and/or beginners. Even the status of Sapphire is in question as it won't be too long before Palm + Genius will be better and cheaper than it. That leaves only the cheap models for the children. The situation is the manufacturers' fault though. There was a discussion here about the status of the hardware a couple of weeks ago. Somebody ( I forgot his/her name, sorry ) stated that a decade ago we could buy a 2100 level computer for 100 USD and the situation had not changed in a decade! I do not know anything about chip prices, design or other manufacturing technologies regarding chess computers but a decade is a very long time for any electronics company. If they are falling apart, too bad for us all. If any company spent some money in R&D, I believe we would be waiting for a Star Sapphire rated 2400-2500 SSDF instead of 2200 SSDF in the summer. Mephisto Miami (1900 SSDF for 50 USD) is a small step in the right direction but it too is a little bit late.
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