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Subject: Collector's Corner...Reminisces

Author: Steve B

Date: 18:08:01 09/07/04


Steve over at ICD has taken alot of heat as of late so i thought i would take a
stroll down memory lane for a bit..

i remember the first chess computer i bought at ICD
i was living in Seaford NY(a sleepy seaside suburb of the big apple)
i was 27-28 years old and finally able to spend some serious money on a chess
computer

i saw the ads in Chess Life and Review(the official mag for the USCF) for ICD
then located in Bellmore NY
as luck would have it the very next town to mine!

it was a Saturday in May or June..1985

i pulled up into the tiny parking lot ,saw the small store front that had a big
sign"YOUR MOVE" ,hesitated a bit,then marched in

as soon as i walked in, i was gretted with  several chess computers on display.
a Novag Constellation Expert ..aka "the Monster"...amongst others
nice,shiny wooden board
beautiful pieces(the Constellation Expert has a nicer  piece set then the other
Super Experts)
price tag in front of the computer was something like $450

i came in wanting an Applied Concepts ARB,which was  pretty much old stock at
that point,but ICD ran an ad for it so there i was
if i recall the ARB was selling for about $300-$350 .

Steve was sitting in the back desk and asked me if i needed help
i asked for the ARB and was told they no longer had any left and probably
wouldn't be getting any more in as it was basically discontinued with the
company that made it  out of the chess computer business

Steve could see the disappointment in my face

he asked me..i noticed you were looking at the Novag??

yes i said.. but its about $100 more then the ARB and well.i simply cant go that
high..

Steve looked over at Bob Sostack(another great computer expert)and then back at
me

i turned to leave,head down,dejected,ready to take up another hobby like stamp
collecting..when a voice spoke up behind me..

"ok..you can have the Novag for the same price as the ARB"

the pain on my face was instantly turned to astonishment and joy

still have that computer and it still works fine
http://schachcomputer.at/expertco.htm

Steve and everyone at ICD...
thanks for the memories

Best Regards
Steve








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