Chess computers...Does anyone use them anymore?
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Nov 19, 2019
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#82
I also have the Kasparov Astral that on paper out specs the Saitek/RadioShack however the Kasparov takes 4 AA batteries, not 6 C sized - another curiosity.
Nov 19, 2019
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#84
Ok, thanks. I thought maybe Saitek had sold the rights and tooling to RadioShack to manufacture their own version.
Were Systema and Millennium both the same company? Some of their units share the same shell and appear to have the same algorithm just differing options.
I am aware Spacious Minds has an interesting website on retro chess computers - where can I find information on who owned who and who rebadged what?
Were Systema and Millennium both the same company? Some of their units share the same shell and appear to have the same algorithm just differing options.
I am aware Spacious Minds has an interesting website on retro chess computers - where can I find information on who owned who and who rebadged what?
Nov 20, 2019
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#86
I wish I kept the chess life magazines from the 1980's for the dedicated computer ads, and their claims lol. The US Chess Federation made alot of money selling them.
Nov 20, 2019
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#87
I can say for a fact that mephisto dedicated computers did not use the same Richard Lang program year after year
Nov 21, 2019
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#89
On Millennium’s website under ChessGenius Pro tab
https://computerchess.com/chessgenius-pro/
Under “The Software ChessGenius” tab, it talks about the Exclusive (for some reason) and mentions Richard Lang’s ChessGenius engine attaining a tournament win in 1994.
So is Millennium using an old engine unmodified in its new range of computers?
https://computerchess.com/chessgenius-pro/
Under “The Software ChessGenius” tab, it talks about the Exclusive (for some reason) and mentions Richard Lang’s ChessGenius engine attaining a tournament win in 1994.
So is Millennium using an old engine unmodified in its new range of computers?
Nov 21, 2019
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#90
“Rubicon0367 hat geschrieben:
Some might argue that Millennium were and are flogging a dead horse. It is hard to imagine they are making huge profits on the venture.
Sound67: A German blog by an actual vendor for chess material is making the same point (you can translate it with deepl): https://schach.computer/the-king-performance-schachcomputer/ “
I used Google Translate in the end.
It has been a learning curve and I thank the contributors for deepening my understanding of my retro chess computer collection.
Thank you.
Some might argue that Millennium were and are flogging a dead horse. It is hard to imagine they are making huge profits on the venture.
Sound67: A German blog by an actual vendor for chess material is making the same point (you can translate it with deepl): https://schach.computer/the-king-performance-schachcomputer/ “
I used Google Translate in the end.
It has been a learning curve and I thank the contributors for deepening my understanding of my retro chess computer collection.
Thank you.
Nov 21, 2019
0
#91
Sound67:
Could well be Lang's 1994 PC engine "Genius", adapted to an ARM CPU. The levels are different though.
It just took me by surprise. The article is right though, the general public isn’t going to know or care.
Thanks to you especially Sound67 for enlightening me on this fascinating topic.
Could well be Lang's 1994 PC engine "Genius", adapted to an ARM CPU. The levels are different though.
It just took me by surprise. The article is right though, the general public isn’t going to know or care.
Thanks to you especially Sound67 for enlightening me on this fascinating topic.
Nov 21, 2019
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#93
I will speculate that the Millennium dedicated computers are using old parts left over from the past
Nov 21, 2019
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#94
They could advertise their computers are good for the environment if they were.
Joking aside, design wise, I do not understand the need for them to use the now outdated piezo buzzer on their King Performance when we are in the age of affordable micro speakers - of which the latter would create a much warmer lower toned sound.
Joking aside, design wise, I do not understand the need for them to use the now outdated piezo buzzer on their King Performance when we are in the age of affordable micro speakers - of which the latter would create a much warmer lower toned sound.
Nov 28, 2019
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#95
I'll just drop these two links here:
Chess House does a quick review of the Millennium King Performance. Notice the absence of the piezo buzzer heard in earlier videos. https://youtu.be/W3b5v1hOW8I
In case anyone is interested, an old video from John Batholomew (IM) who demonstrates his Excalibur chess computer he used early in his chess journey. In the video, for the sakes of brevity, he uses an easy level which does not really do the computer justice. https://youtu.be/b59-NaWOmtg
Nov 29, 2019
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#96
sound67 wrote:
It looks like a promising machine, and you can easily replace the fairly dull pieces with any other set, since it's pressure-sensitive. I'm still a bit disappointed that they didn't upgrade the hardware (CPU).
Indeed, I should be able to use the nice chess set I bought originally for the Citrine assuming the scale is approximately the same.
For my meagre playing ability I do not anticipate the CPU being an issue. I think the "more human-like play" would be more important to me. It is a promise that is often made and seldom delivered convincingly.
I am not that keen on the brass plate they have on the nearside of the board but that is more to do with association with stuff I have seen and owned having brass plating being cheap and tacky. I am also perplexed about the choice of the USB-B socket on the back as even Casio and Yamaha have learned to leave those behind. Neither of those two things are deal breakers though.
The problem is I already own chess computers with pressure sensitive boards that are strong enough to defeat me. I am still interested though because it can actually play 960 with castling rights but mostly I am interested because it is Millennium and the brand has special relevance for me. I'll keep my eye on the reviews for now.
Dec 12, 2019
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#97
The Millennium King Performance Chess computer goes on sale in the UK. It id a bit more pricey than I was expecting.
https://shop.chess.co.uk/Millennium-King-Performance-Chess-Computer-p/cb07714.htm
For £75 more one could get the entry level DGT smart board and DGT pi at the same online store.
https://shop.chess.co.uk/Millennium-King-Performance-Chess-Computer-p/cb07714.htm
For £75 more one could get the entry level DGT smart board and DGT pi at the same online store.
I have the DGT Centaur and use it regularly.
Dec 12, 2019
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#99
It is cheaper in the US too (by half when considered through the exchange rate).
https://www.chesshouse.com/collections/electronic-chess/products/millennium-chess-computer-the-king-performance
https://www.chesshouse.com/collections/electronic-chess/products/millennium-chess-computer-the-king-performance
Maybe someone knows the story of how these two computers came to be so similar and what original computer they both originate from?