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Subject: Re: iPaq chess

Author: Christophe Theron

Date: 18:34:02 01/05/01

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On January 04, 2001 at 11:34:55, Roy Eassa wrote:

>On January 04, 2001 at 10:54:46, Christopher R. Dorr wrote:
>
>>I too love the WinCE platform. I use a (much slower) Compaq Aero, and have an
>>excellent chess program for it. It's called PalmChess, from Synctel
>>(Synctel.com). It uses an engine by Tom Kerrigan (a version of Stobor, I believe
>>- but I could be wrong.) It has many features (PGN notation, lovely display,
>>etc) and is probably A-Player/Expert strength on my slow 70MHz MIPS processor.
>>It should just hum on your iPaq (I wish I could find somebody who had one in
>>stock).
>>
>>I'm rated about USCF 2150, and it beats me more than occassionally at blitz
>>speeds. It plays a good game, but does have a few relatively minor flaws, some
>>of which are supposed to be corrected in th next release. Some of these flaws
>>include:
>>
>>1. Very small, non-editable opening book
>>2. No 'game in x' time controls, only 'average response time'
>>3. No numeric evaluation of the position or PV
>>4.An odd tendency to block center pawns with it's bishops (As black, it has
>>played (1.f4 e6 2.Nf3 Bd6?!)
>>
>>
>>Overall, though, it's a great program. It's only $29.95, and well worth the
>>price. I've played countless games with it (It's remarkable how much faster
>>meetings go for me when I take 'notes' with my PalmPC), and have never been
>>really disappointed. Check it out.  :)
>
>
>Thanks for the info!
>
>Actually, I don't own a WinCE device at all (yet) but was saying that if
>somebody ported a 2400+ chess app, I'd buy the device and the app.  For a
>playing opponent, the 2150-ish Genius 1.2 on my overclocked Handspring Prism is
>fine.  But to have a very strong chess analyst in a handheld with color LCD
>would be too much to pass up.
>
>And I must say, I'd probably NEVER love the WinCE platform.  It would be a
>necessary evil in order to get the speed, resolution, and features of the
>hardware.  (I've used and programmed nearly all the OSs extensively, and the
>only one that comes even CLOSE to having a good GUI is, in my opinion, the Mac
>OS -- though the Newton OS was very good, and PalmOS is OK given its unambitious
>target.)
>
>So if I end up owning an iPaq it will be DESPITE, and not because of, Windows
>CE!



100% agreed!!!

If the rumours of Palm using the StrongARM processor next year are confirmed,
you'll probably never have to buy this WinCE joke, and you'll be happy with a
200MHz PalmOS computer!


    Christophe



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