Author: Odd Gunnar Malin
Date: 01:15:17 09/13/03
Go up one level in this thread
On September 12, 2003 at 20:50:35, Mike Byrne wrote: >1. Critical features/functions that should be in any Pocket PC program today. > >Missing Featues/Functions > >1. No ability to turn ponder off - thus making the machine virtually >unresponsive if you try to do something else >2. Analyze mode is not a an option. >3. Inadequate board choices - very dark even when illuminated. >4. No ability to load "fen" positons from a PGN file. (at least I was unable >to) > I don't have this program so this comment is only for your list. I bought Pocket GrandMaster for my sons pda and one very needed feature I think the automatic replay of a game have to be. Because of this I lend the pda every night when I walk my dog (*) and go throug games from this day downloaded from the net. In Pgm you have to do a click to get the next game so with an automated load of the next game it could even be better. >Recommended: > >1. Pocket Grandmaster (includes 3 engines (Ruffian. SOS. Gromit), DGT support, >move announcement) (Best Program Overall, Best Buy and Best Value) - Ruffian is >very strong (just behind PF 2 in my view and has a nice pickup in speed under >PPC 2003 and X-Scale processor). Sees in excess of 20K nps on 400 Mhz Axim >w/PPC 2003. Option loaded and handle lines in PGN files. If you have a DGT >board, this is the FIRST one you want to get. > I fall to this choice because of the nice board and clear pieces and that it's playing strength can be adjusted to way below 1000 (beginner) and up to max (above me). I didn't realy like to adjust ply depth because not to get a beginner get bad habit if he can forsee the oponent to easy, eg. set up a three ply combination even if it is very easy to spot by the human. When setting the level to 1 minute/game you get nearby the same plydepth but you can't thrust that it fell for an easy combination. >2. Genius (Best Simple Clear Graphics - best meets the ideal PDA functionality >with intuitive GUI design without overloading the user with options. Ideal for >the strong, but casual chess player looking for a mean opponent on the road and >who not really care about playing his PDA in a 40/10/20/5/SD/5 time control >game.. /Strong Engine) - biggest drawback IMO - does not support multiple lines >in PGN files. > >3. Fritz 2 - Excellent Program (may be the strongest engine, just ahead of >Ruffian - only downgraded because of high price). > >4. Fritz 1 - A tad buggy - overall - very good program for PPC 2000 - Does not >work under PPC 2003 - not sure about PPC 2002. PF2 has more options than PF1 These didn't mention anything on their site on how to scale it down. > >5. Chess Partner - Excellent GUI, mutlipple line support in PGN file. An >excellent choice for U1700 players as it can actually be beat by me (1600) quite >frequently. Which is nice after getting beatup by the other programs. I didn't download this to try because being the first time I held a pda I couldn't figure out if it would run on the pda (Dell Axim (xscale) with PPPC2002). > >All of these programs have the standard options - of positions set up, analyse >mode, pondering off/on, wide variety of time controls and very good to excellent >GUI's. I can see that this pondering issue could be a (battery) problem, but how is it else. I guess its prime is as a playing machine so what with personalities/downscale. Odd Gunnar (*) Actually, I drive into the wood and let the dog walk himself when I sit in my car with the thiny device.
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