Author: Alan Grotier
Date: 13:29:26 11/18/05
I have a small collection of eleven old and not so old dedicated chess
computers which I would like to share with you from time to time.
The first one is shown in the second link below.I was having trouble
sending my photos to the CCC so Mr.Steve Blincoe kindly included my photos
in his album.Once again Steve thank you.
The Mephisto XL was only really sold in North America.The reason was to
combat the onslaught of the Fidelity Mach11 and Mach111 machines.Both
strength and pricewise.The XL has the Dallas program but runs 20% faster
than the wooden Dallas models.See Computer Chess Reports 1987-88 page 29
by Larry Kaufman.
A brochure from the 80's promoting the XL may be seen using the first link.
Please see my photos of the list of contents.The XL has many options.
The Mach's,I think,were the first Fidelity models to incorporate hash
tables.It seems hash makes a big difference in the end game.
The XL does not have Hash tables.
As you can see from the close-up of the pieces I have played so much with
the machine I have removed the original silver paint from the white pieces.
( Should I spray paint them with a good silver paint?)
The bill of sale picture is in French.It says XL cost $800 cad.
Exchange (Reprise) Novag Expert $341.30 cad. Tax $41.30. XL cost $500 cad.
I do regret selling the Novag Expert but the XL has an info screen which,
at that time,I absolutly could not live without.
( Gotta tell ya though.I did a lot of washing-up in cold water in those
days to please the ball & chain)
http://photos.yahoo.com/tempusfugus
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/cpaa2@sbcglobal.net/album?.dir=/e2e5&urlhint=actn,ren%3as,1%3af,0
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