Author: Michael Cummings
Date: 16:25:09 03/15/00
Go up one level in this thread
On March 15, 2000 at 11:38:17, O. Veli wrote: >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. I think the market is dead, I looked at my chess store and he has been having endless sales on Novag chess products. Try to get people into buying them. A few years ago I considered buying a Novag tabletop machine, it stated that this one did everything a serious chess player needed. The price was a bit high, but then I looked at the rating. (est 2295 USDF), this was for one of there better boards. Then I thought to myself, that I have cheap chess software for my computer which is stronger and does allot more than what this board can do, and never looked at another one seriously again. The technology is their to develope something big and strong. I just do not see the market for it anymore. You will only hear from the few people that like the protable units, saying they have use for them. I know 4 chess clubs near where I am, none are used in these clubs, and only a couple in each club may have them. Why would anyone want to take over this company that is clearly not making money, I am sure that they did not lose their money on developing new products. As you stated nothing much has changed.
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