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Subject: Re: DGT Board - How good is it?

Author: Robert Hyatt

Date: 07:00:53 01/18/99

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On January 18, 1999 at 00:53:40, Lawrence S. Tamarkin wrote:

>In visiting the page for DGT products, I came upon the following paragraph,
>
>
>"LOST BOYS INTERACTIVE, the producers of this software, have worked from 1997
>with the DGT board for the tournament presentations at top class events like
>Hoogovens, Fontys, the Dutch Championship and the FIDE World Championship. The
>board was intensively tested at these tournaments and passed "summa cum Laude" .
>It has no LED's so it can be used at chess tournaments or at your chess club.
>In the tournament hall the audience can follow the games on screen without
>disturbing the players. On the monitors the viewer will see:
>· the actual position,
>· the names and ratings of the players,
>· the score of the game,
>· the exact time, provided the special DGT TopMatch is connected."
>
>
>I have played against the TASC Smart board, and always thought it had one of the
>best presentations.  I own the Kasparov Auto Board, but it is no where near as
>responsive as the TASC board is.  It's a shame that the TASC Board is not
>currently not being produced.  And I really liked those LED's!  Question for
>user's of either board - Which do you prefer?  Is the prescence (or abscence),
>of LED's a good or bad thing for this board, and if so, is that only in relation
>to the type of playing program software used, as a program like Fritz5 will
>announce the moves.
>
>Is the price of this board worth it, for what you get? (I know that's a very
>personal call).  And if you have one of these boards, how has it stacked up in
>your chess playing/studying experience so far.  Heck, Perhaps this should be a
>poll question:)


This board is _very_ well done, with one notable omission.  The thing uses piece
recognition, so it is easy to set up positions and read them in to a program
that supports this board.  Edge sensitivity is very good so you don't have to
place the pieces precisely in the center of the squares for them to be
recognized.

It also has a clock that is part of the 'system' so that the computer can get
the time for both opponents right off of the clock, as well as be able to sense
which side is on move, etc. (the clock supports fischer increments and every
other option I have ever heard about).

The one omission is there is no way to show you a move by the program.  There
are no LED's, no 'computer has moved' led to let you know to look at the
screen, or anything.

Other than that it is _very_ nice.  Big wooden pieces with felt bottoms, normal
tournament-sized squares, the board is about 1/2" thick so it isn't a big thing
sitting on the table...

Comes with a serial cable for connection to a PC.  I have a linux/unix driver
for Crafty already working and am trying to find time to look at the windows
version.



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