Has chess mentor help your playing ability?

Has chess mentor help your playing ability?

Any kind of chess study can potentially help your game. It's just not an overnight process, otherwise there would be millions of GM's.

I'm not trying to be a GM. I just wanted to get better than I was when I first learned how the pieces move. 

As a data point, I started using it only a week ago and I've seen a huge improvement already in my chess playing ability.  I've put in about 5 hours of Chess Mentor and I'm playing better already.

If you use it you will get better.  Simple as that.

I find chess mentor didn't do much for me.  Albeit that isn't a fair or accurate evaluation because I'm not a paying member so I get less than a fraction of the full benefit that CM has to offer.  

In particular, I found (and still find) doing the tactics trainer and playing a computer to be the best ways for me to improve.  I play my best against the computer, and after I get stomped I undo to where I felt like I started losing and examine why that position was bad for me and what moves led up to it.  This is especially helpful in openings where the computer is quick to punish mistakes.

Unfortunately, computers can't teach you theory or how to make plans, so I'm suffering in that area.

 Judging by your chess rating, you aren't suffering too much!

@winerkleiner

To the contrary, I'm stuck in a rut.  I don't think I'll ever surpass the 1800-1900 range until I learn more about things such as positional playing, weak/strong squares and colors, and especially end games.  

Also my blitz/bullet ratings really suck.

I'm sure I'ill never hit even the 1300 range.  I have never read a chess book, or done anything to inprove my game.  So I am the one who is really stuck in a rut.  I just don't have the drive or time to improve.  

 At least, unlike woodshoveller, you folks are under no illusions as to why you're stuck in a rut.

You don't know a damn thing about what I do or don't study.

On lonely beer soaked nights, chess mentor has kept me company. My chess suffers from beer, but benefits from mentor.

 Hey New York!!!  How's life in The Big Apple?  Anyway, there are also beer nuts, and oh chess nuts also.

Don't drink the kool aid.