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Subject: Re: Software Programmers are Now OBSOLETE! [Hydra]

Author: Bob Durrett

Date: 12:04:28 02/16/04

Go up one level in this thread


On February 16, 2004 at 13:56:53, Chessfun wrote:

>On February 15, 2004 at 10:49:18, Bob Durrett wrote:
>
>>On February 15, 2004 at 10:40:47, Peter Skinner wrote:
>>
>>>On February 15, 2004 at 09:38:33, Bob Durrett wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>Chess commentary:
>>>>
>>>>The days of the software programmers are fast coming to an end.
>>>>
>>>>The days of the "hardware programmers" are just beginning.
>>>>
>>>>Bob D.
>>>
>>>Well truth be told, this is the first "good" result for the Brutus/Hydra team.
>>>Nothing can be concluded from just 7 games. It was the best at this tournament,
>>>but what is to say at the next one it only scores 3.5/7.0?
>>>
>>>Now flip the coin on a software program. Let's take Gandalf (which happens to be
>>>one of my favorite programs). It did not score as well as I had hoped, yet the
>>>minute the new version goes on sale, I will be purchasing it.
>>>
>>>7 games is really meaningless. It is a crap shoot that Hydra won, and next year
>>>can easily lose. Luck plays a big part in it. This is _exactly_ why the rating
>>>lists (SSDF, Chess Fun's rating list...) are so important. They show many games
>>>vs the same opponent, but also many games vs a wide array of opponents to attain
>>>a reasonable rating and top program and error margins.
>>>
>>>You must also factor in that Hydra is hardware based and whatever advantage it
>>>had today can be gone as soon as tomorrow. Software can evolve faster than
>>>hardware, thus any advantage can easily be erased with a few key strokes.
>>>
>>>Personally I have stopped playing the "hardware" game in regards to chess. If it
>>>is fast enough to run the programs I use, then it is good enough for me. I tried
>>>keeping up with the hardware that comes out, but it gets costly, and frankly I
>>>can spend my money elsewhere.
>>
>>You are right if you're talking about a new PC every few years.  I paid $5000
>>for my current PC and it was only because my rich uncle died.  Normally, I would
>>never have that kind of money.
>
>
>Hi Bob,
>      What is your current PC?
>
>Sarah.

Dell XPS [Single processor] plus lots of expensive software.

Pentium 4, 3.2 GHz, 2 GB RAM, Windows XP Professional, 21" Flat screen monitor,
etc.  The Device Manager describes the hardware and I can answer specific
questions from that if desired.

Yes, I know.  I paid too much money.

Bob D.



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