I have a number of questions I hope you folks can answer.

1. Why would I go from the tactics trainer to chessmaster?

2. Which version of chessmaster should I buy?

3. Will the recommended version of chessmaster run under windows vista on  a laptop?

4. Why should I get chessmaster?

Well I guess that enough to get me started. Thanks for your help.

I was just looking at software. A review (on ebay) suggested that Fritz 10 (or 11) is much better than Chessmaster because the core engine is better as is the training stuff. They said that Chessmaster was more for beginners while Fritz gets into advanced stuff. 

However, Fritz 10 only has about 200 training puzzles, whereas Chess.com's tactics trainer has 34,900. Unless Fritz does some pretty amazing teaching, you'll learn more on this website. 

Thanks for the info. It agrees with my other info and my current thinking.

As far as I know the answers to your questions are respectively no and yes.

you should get the latest chessmaster which i think is chessmaster XI grandmaster edition

For what it is worth, I had always heard that Chessmaster was not that good!  That is false!  It is an excellent piece of software with some very basic to very deep tutorials on strategy, TACTCIS, endgames etc.  And the various playing levels are much more suited for educative sparring then Fritz.

Chessmaster is NOT good for database storage or for serious analysis of your own games.  For that you will need another engine and GUIm such as Fritz, Shredder, Rybka etc. etc.    But ChessMaster is an awesome product.

ChessMaster is good for playing people around your level of play, and I think it has puzzles.

OK I did. The joys of Amazon and Windows

You know what though, if you want to improve your chess, nothing beats being able to store and analyze your own games. When you play someone really good and get to see why they beat you...that's the best learning experience, right there. 

Chessmaster is an excellent learning tool. I'm to lazy atm to explain why, so you'll just have to take my words for it.

Thanks for the info.

 I started with I think it was Chessmaster VI and now have IX & X.  I think you will find that you've made a good purchase. Enjoy, there's a lot to explore in that software.  Worth every penny if you ask me.

To express a slightly different opinion:

I have CM 10 and it is excellent in both teaching and playing endgames.  It has no comparable feature to TT.  I know nothing of Fritz except what others have said and CM lacks the major Fritz advantage of giving different moves a score, thereby analysing your moves and games.  On CM, I often set up endgame positions and try to "fake it out" and invariably fail.  I don't see it as "better for beginners", but endgames are its forte.

Thanks for the info, it gives me a good feeling.

This site and Chessmaster: Grandmaster Edition go really, really well with each other.  Josh Waitzkin put an amazing effort into a long set of tutorials and annotated games, delving beyond mere chess instruction into every underlying facet of the game.  (as far as I know this is only in the Grandmaster Edition)

Aside from that, there is a huge variety of computer opponents with specific quirks or strengths, stretching from sub-1000 to the 'Chessmaster' at (supposedly) 2900+.  In addition, there is a nice opening book reference and a few annotated games by Larry Christiansen.  My only complaint with the program is that the AI players will use every minute of time you set for the match.  Because of this, it can be irritating to play 'ranked' matches.  You can set different timing structures in the practice mode, though, so it's not a big deal.

Chessmaster is far better for initial learning, I think, than this site.  Josh's engrossing tutorials are pretty much the sole reason chess became a fascination in my own life.  I come here for the drills/puzzles and the useful,  specific video lessons.  I would definitely recommend using this program with chess.com, as they complement each other nicely.  Oh, and I'm on a laptop in Vista right now, with CM in the other window, so #3 is a yes! :}

Thanks for the info, particularly the #3 answer. I'm waiting for CM GM to arrive.

Qoute:"CM lacks the major Fritz advantage of giving different moves a score"

Answer: no it doesn't goto "chess coach" and "display mentor lines" and it will display as many "best moves" as you like with a minus score or plus score.

minus score value: black is best. plus score value: white is best.

it will even tell you how many positions it has looked at to determine the score.

 if you run it for 10 seconds or more you will find out, why you should never force a move in chessmaster. (i have CM11.)

hope ubisoft will make chessmaster 12.

Chessmaster is no substitute for chess com, but you can't find anything like those Waitzkin lectures anywhere, they are simply the best I've ever seen, and by a great margin.

I find Chess.com a big cut above Chessmaster.