Author: Robert Henry Durrett
Date: 08:39:02 06/14/02
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On June 14, 2002 at 10:09:13, Gian-Carlo Pascutto wrote: >On June 14, 2002 at 09:23:14, Robert Henry Durrett wrote: > >>Well, there obviously is NOT any "earth-shaking" moral issue here! >> >>The only question of "morality" might be associated with a possible >>misrepresentation of a product offered for sale. If the SSDF computer/computer >>ratings were to be given as the strength of the commercial product, then that >>might be misrepresentation. [Similarly, if a supplier were to claim that >>his/her product were the strongest, then that might be misrepresentation too.] >> >>Whether or not misrepresentation is "immoral" depends on where you live, among >>other things. Different political organizations have different definitions of >>right and wrong. Different cultures do, too, as well as different religions. > >No, I'm not talking about any morals here or anything remotely like that. > >You always optimize your program towards _some_ platform. My perception is that producers of the commercial chess programs live in a different world, when compared to the world of the amateur chess programmers. As I see it, the commercial guys have to think differently. They are obligated to consider money-related considerations, whereas the amateurs are not. For example: Suppose a commercial chess program worked great on one or more computers but "not so good" on others. The money consequence might be significant if the program worked poorly on many **popular** computers. In another thread, someone expressed the following sentiment: [Paraphrased] "If a chess program works well on one computer then it will work well on all [modern] computers." If that is actually true, then the commercial programmers may as well optimize their programs for whichever computer is available. Again, it has already been established here that all computers are equal except for speed, memory, and a few other minor differences [such as word length?]. Only a few rating points difference should be expected from switching to another type of computer, if all else is kept equal. Right? Please forgive me (again!) if I am "playing Devil's Advocate" a little bit. Sorry. :( [I really do want to get this straight. Soon, I will be in the market for a new chess computer and would like to know which is the best.] Bob D. >The SSDF >uses a very common one. What's the problem even if you do optimize >for that. Nothing is being misrepresented here. > >This is like saying the SSDF is a misrepresentation because the >ratings may not be right when using the programs on an 486DX33. > >Makes no sense to me... Well, perhaps ICD CCC is not the place to discuss moral and legal issues. Maybe we should let it go at that. :) Bob D. > >-- >GCP
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