Chess computers...Does anyone use them anymore?

I envied my classmate who was gifted a Mephisto Mondial for his birthday. Since then I never lost interest in dedicated chess computers.

I bought a Millenium performance, which is mostly nice.  Using the King engine, it's customizable.  All those personalities, as probably just a set of parameters.  While the King performance lacks the personalities, it does have the personalities.  It also has a lot of levels, and you can adjust the clock speed as well I think.  Including adaptive levels.  So someone can probably find a way to get a game that's challenging, but not impossible.

Because of a good black Friday deal, I ordered the fancier, sensor board version called the Chess Classics Exclusive.  MSRP is USD $750, which I would find too expensive, had I not got it for 200 off or something like that.

The downside of the Exclusive, is that you have a separate computer module, making it less portable.  The King performance is a single board with built in computer...but no internal battery, so you need to buy their power pack or find something similar.

I did have some quality issues with the performance, such as some peeling veneer, and the brass plate seeming to not be glued down perfectly.

The exclusive, besides the disadadvantage of a separate computer, has the following advantages:

* Pieces might be slightly nicer on the Exclusive?  Not 100% sure

* Sensor board with piece recgonition...this seems very responsive, I am pleased with this upgrade

* Two chess engines, The King and the Chess Genius, which people might enjoy the variety ( I think they have different opening books as well)

* Display is bigger, which is a good thing when you are 57 like me.

I know some people have wondered WHY you would not just use a smartphone with a sensor board, and why you would want an embedded computer?  IMO, technology changes, maybe one day a newer phone simply won't support the board.  Having been burned before, I like the idea of a chessboard WITH computer of it's own.  Personal preference.

As for why not just use a computer or phone and no board, well, if you don't like a physical board, these products are not aimed at you

A voice from the future... I just came home from the park.  I played and won with just two takebacks against Alexandra the Great (Excalabur).

It's great to fill the gaps from real players without losing your eye for OTB play.

Bump

Make the forum alive again

Here is a video of someone flexing his toys as recent as two days ago

Wow, cool!

Found another channel flexing his Mephisto board using a Resurrection module against a modern Millennium dedicated computer a month ago.

I found YT videos on how to fix the lcd screens on electronics that stop displaying properly. With some isopropyl alcohol cleaning and electric tape, my precious Excalibur and Saitek dedicated handhelds can be refurbished back to operational capabilities. I’ll report back when I get the chance to apply this theory.

Strange but strong enough to get lucky against a talented future world chess champion!

One of the early polgar bio books discussed how a young Anand used to visit the Polgar’s home back in the day. There was one time that Vishi was practicing with the Polgar’s chess engine/dedicated computer and actually lost in front of Susan(?), but before she could save the game, Anand promptly restarted the computer. See below for the cover of the book I was referring to.

Please post a link here @chessroboto

^^^

I’ll be following this idea when I get the free time to do it. Need to open the devices, clean the contacts between the lcd and the board with isopropyl alcohol, secure the connectors with electrical tape, test then close
 
another solution is to resolder the lcd connector to the board with fresh solder if it’s soldered.

Thanks!