Computer Chess Club Archives


Search

Terms

Messages

Subject: Re: Why bother and buy new chess software?

Author: Komputer Korner

Date: 11:04:17 10/05/98

Go up one level in this thread


On September 30, 1998 at 17:15:32, Fernando Villegas wrote:

>On September 30, 1998 at 13:57:52, Alessio Iacovoni wrote:
>
>>On September 30, 1998 at 13:25:58, Fernando Villegas wrote:
>>
>>>On September 30, 1998 at 05:36:03, Alessio Iacovoni wrote:
>>>
>>>>I have Fritz 16 bit and Hiarcs 16 bit. There is a great fuss around the 32 bit
>>>>version and the wonders it will offer. Now.. since it will not be compatible to
>>>>Hiarcs 16 engine I will not *ever* buy it... But the question I wanted to ask
>>>>the list is of a more general sort: these engines (Crafty, Fritz, the so called
>>>>"fast" ones but also the more positiona ones) rely heavily on the hardware
>>>>supported.. so in terms of playing strength, is it worthwile to buy a new engine
>>>>that is say 50 points stronger than the preceeding one? couldn't the same
>>>>strength improvement be achieved with a hardare upgrade that would have the
>>>>added bonus of raising the performace of windows and other programs as well.
>>>>
>>>>So the question is: why bother and buy the latest engine when the one you
>>>>already have could be just as strong with some minor harware improvements (say
>>>>+16 or +32meg of memory to increase hash tables).
>>>>
>>>>Also I have a doubt? Is the overall elo increase of SSDF lists due to better
>>>>hardare adopted in testing or to just software improvements? What's your
>>>>opinion?
>>>
>>>
>>>Dear Alessio:
>>>The sheer fact you come here and post and read post about chess computers is the
>>>answer: you are amad as a horse like all of us. Why, then purchase newer
>>>software? Because in our madness we are in delight when a new package arrives
>>>Fernando
>>
>>Yeap.. that a good answer.. yet I guess it has to do with "consumerism" and
>>"desire of potency" rather than sheer love for chess... I mean.. if it wasnt
>>chess it would probably be backgammon.. or something else... Desire to own the
>>fastest computer, the best chess program, the one that can analyse more nodes
>>per seconds available, isn't all of this awfull.. should'nt we all try to fight
>>this.. stick to our program until we really need new features or stronger
>>engines? Personally I admire those perhaps eccentric weirdos that stick to their
>>old 486 because it's still doing the job they need it for. As to me and my chess
>>playing.. I started playing 6 months ago and since I'm hooked to all of this
>>"chess" stuff it seems i'm making a step backwards.. the fact that one owns a
>>very strong chess computer is "warping" because it instills a very subtle
>>laziness in one's mind.. we tend to believe that the program we own is somewhat
>>connected to ourselves.. while it isnt.. but at the same time i'm learning a lot
>>from my Fritz... so .. I don't know.. I'm quite confused Fernando...
>
>
>Well, then let me give you the light of my huge intelligence :-))
>Of course the most sound way of living -known since the times of Epicteto and
>before- is just to use what we really need. And in some areas of life that's
>truth and feasible. I am a lover of music -classic and jazz- and I still use an
>old sound equipment of the 70's. Why? Because I deemed that what I have is
>enough good to lessoning music and so I am not goint to expend a buck in
>something else. The same with cars: we have two cars in my home, both old, one
>of them a very old Renault 4-S, you know, that kind of station wagon that now
>nobody uses in France neither in my country.
>BUT when chess is involved, I indulge a lot more. First, because it is not that
>expensive after all. And second because I have really improved a lot my playing
>strenght and that suppose different programs with different styles. You cannot
>be all your life playing Amir's Junior not matter how strong it is; probably you
>will get bored of the same style, opennings, etc; so you nedd to change a little
>and then play CM5000 or Rebel or CSTAL. And so and so. Besides, to be sound and
>rational in all aspects of life is the most hidden and dangerous kind of
>madness. You become unhuman. You become a monster. A klittle bit of not too much
>exoensdive madness is very good for health. And so, although I have maybe 30 or
>40 programs, all tops included, tomorrow I will go to Miami and the first I will
>do will be.-...you know what...
>Salute a l'Italia
>Fernando


Maybe we should start a Computer Chess Addiction Research Foundation and get
government grants. Alcoholics Anonymous says that the first step has to be
admission of the addiction. I am afraid that that will be the most difficult
aspect for most of us, including komputers. Of course the programmers don't want
to hear of such talk. Sigh !!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????
--
Komputer Korner



This page took 0 seconds to execute

Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700

Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.