If you are not playing in a USCF OTB Tournament you really don't need a clock.
Am i too cheap?
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Tough question to answer, they are phenomenal clocks, maybe the best there is to obtain. I've read of a number of people who sent them in to the manufacturer for repair and had a hard time getting them fixed/returned. I believe and hope that it was due to the fact that they were unavailable for a considerable period of time. New ones weren't being produced, and they were bringing ridiculous prices ($300+) on ebay and other places for sale if they could be found at all. I get the picture in my mind of one lone fellow making them, and repairing returns, but I don't really know. They have since been reintroduced, and they can be easily found on wholesale chess dot com consistently now. I hope that means repairs would no longer be a big problem. I've never owned one, but I've used them a fair bit, and I love them. I'm thinking of purchasing one myself. This video details a good explanation of how to use it simply:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMKdDBe7hnw
No, you aren't being too cheap. The DGT NA is a great clock and more than enough for any tournament player. It is high quality and durable, and very easy to use. There isn't much reason to spend more on a clock if you aren't a chronos fanboy.
Some people complain about the way it displays delay time and that it doesn't display seconds if the time remaining is still over 20 minutes. If that's going to bother you, you can shop around, but I still wouldn't pay double what the DGT NA costs for any clock. I've always thought it was ridiculous.
Chronos clocks are really nice, especially for blitz. I haven't yet gotten my hands on a chronos but I have a ZMF II and i find it to be a nice and cheaper alternative. A lot of the guys at my local chess club have the chronos clocks and I think they are perhaps slightly nicer, especially the chronos GX (mini Chronos clock). The main drawback of the ZMF II is the super bright LED display which annoys some people (they always joke with me that it would be a great clock for a camping trip). Besides that they are great clocks and have the same feel and functionality as the touch sensor chronos clocks.
I own a DGT NA clock, and would recommend it.
Do NOT purchase any Saitek clock, however.
I owned a Touch Chronos for about 10 years and they are acceptable but I don't think they are worth twice the price.
They are reasonable but not perfect.
They occasionally will have problems being responsive and also some folks don't like the feel of the touch button since it doesn't move it may not feel as though you pressed the clock.
Also for some players but not all players there is a slight tendency for the touch Chronos clock to be touched near the touch button but not actually hitting the touch button so that occasionally will cause one to seemingly not have pressed the clock but you kinda did but didn't hit the touch button part.
I currently own a Dgt but not the North American one.
Resetting the Dgt isn't the most convenient since one must pick up the clock and turn it off and then on every game.
Not to big a deal but slightly inconvenient compared to simply double clicking the centre button on a Chronos.
9kick9 wrote:
If you are not playing in a USCF OTB Tournament you really don't need a clock.
Of course if I save 60 dollars on the NA, then I can join the USCF and still have enough dough left over to enter a few tournaments!
I bought a Chronos years ago and even though I don't use it that often, I've never regretted the purchase. It's built like a tank and I love its pared down look.
But. . .
Two things:
1. If you've never played OTB before, you don't need a Chronos. The DGT NA will do everything you want in a clock and they do take a beating. I play with a guy who owns one and I like it a lot.
2. I keep seeing reviews of Chronos clocks lately that do break for various reason. I'm thinking the newer ones aren't quite as bombproof as the older ones. Given DCI's spotty record when it comes to repairs, I'm not so sure I'd buy one these days.
If you really don't want to spend the extra money, don't. Buy the DGT and put the extra money into books or something.
Your other option is to go without a clock.If you want to play a slow paced game and you aren't interested in tournaments, there's nothing that says you need a clock. I have a friend I've been playing whenever we get together for going on 20 years and we've played with a clock twice.
Jan 18, 2015
0
#10
I own Chronos (both touch and button models), DGT NA, DGT Easy Plus and DGT 3000. I also used to own ZMF-II and Chronos GX but sold those.
Reading what you wrote about your needs, I would suggest you buy the DGT 3000. If you don't want to spend the extra money then I would suggest the DGT Easy Plus.
The Chronos is currently overpriced and there certainly is a concern about breakdowns over the last number of months.
The DGT NA is good but the problem with it is that it does not show seconds left in time until it is under 20 minutes left. It also does not show the delay countdown. The display size is also smaller.
The DGT 3000 has a larger display showing more information. The display size looks to be the same as the Chronos and Excalibur GameTime II, bigger. It shows seconds at all times. It also shows the delay countdown. The only drawback is that you the power button is on the bottom of the clock and when playing a number of games, you need to pick up the clock and press that power button to reset. Of course this is the same as the DGT NA and Excalibur. And yes, I do think the DGT 3000 is worth the price difference from the DGT NA. You can get the DGT 3000 on eBay for $89.99 with Free Shipping.
If you want a clock that can be reset from the front, the DGT Easy Plus is a good one, and it is less expensive. The only problem with this one is that it does not have multiple time controls as the others all have.
But, you are just starting out. At the $40 price, the DGT Easy Plus is really a nice clock. Most weekend and club night tournaments are single time control and sudden death timing. The DGT Easy Plus would work just fine for that.
Ebay and Craigslist; also there's prolly a bunch of folks in here looking to unload one.
Eyechess wrote:
I own Chronos (both touch and button models), DGT NA, DGT Easy Plus and DGT 3000. I also used to own ZMF-II and Chronos GX but sold those.
That's an impressive clock collection. I've been trying to justify buying a second clock for a while now but haven't quite made the leap.
Use ur cell phone .. Download a chess clock app.. Problem solved
Phone app clocks are not allowed in most if not all over the board tournaments which he specifically mentioned looking forward to playing in.
Thanks all, I took the advice from Eyechess and purchased the DGT 3000. The clock should arrive next week and I think it will be a great compromise between the two clocks I was looking at. I used the rest of the money to join the USCF and have already played in my first tournament!
I was gifted some money for the holidays and I am intending to spend it on a clock. Originally, my sights were set on the Chronos touch, however, now I am considering the DGT NA. I am new to OTB chess and have never played in a tournament, but I am looking forward to the experience. 15-30 minute games are my preferred time allowances. The Chronos costs more than twice as much... is it more than twice the clock? Thanks for your opinions!
Paul