Author: Matthew Hull
Date: 09:42:47 01/24/05
Go up one level in this thread
On January 24, 2005 at 09:57:55, Steve B wrote: >Perhaps we can say this computer is the exact opposite if the term RARE >however no anthology of the old computers could be complete without its >inclusion > >The Fidelity Chess Challenger 7 remains to this day ,and most probably for all >time, the largest selling chess computer ever made. > >programmed by Ron Nelson and released in 1979,it ran on the Z80 A processor at 4 >MHz >it had a small opening book of less then 100 positions and was rated at about >1300 Elo > >the computer was constructed out of cheap plastic which enabled Fidelity to >offer the computer to the buying public at the very attractive price of $100 This was my first chess computer. My brother had gotten one, and I was amazed and mystified that a computer could play the game. So I told my parents I wanted one for my birthday, and I got it. I knew nothing of computers at that time, so it was pure magic. I was not a serious player then either. I spent many long hours and games trying to beat level 2. It took a long time before I could. I was mystified how such a device could be so devious. I thought level 6 must be like a superstrong master player, but I played very few games at that level because they took so long and it was just too strong for me. Later when I began to study chess, it became quite a weak little unit. But I'd say it was a great value in the day. > >buyers who were not serious chess players bought them up as gifts,or as >curiosities,wanting the latest high-tech gizmo of the day. >much the same as we see today with the Palm,Pocket,PDA,Blackberry(or is it >Blueberry?)market. > > >Fidelity wound up selling close to 700,000 units > >there are always at least 5-10 CC7'S available on Ebay on any given day: > >personally i always get a kick out of the photo on the CC7 box > Dad and Son play chess while a loving and adoring Mom looks on approvingly and >in marital bliss > >http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/cpaa2@sbcglobal.net/detail?.dir=3353&.dnm=4ef0.jpg&.src=ph > >whenever my Wife complains about my collection i always refer her to this photo >her typical response..UH HUH > >Best >Steve
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.