No need for any tape in the Chronos unless you have an OLD one. This thread concerns new clocks available.
Chronos Chess Clocks are Back!!!
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Oct 7, 2014
0
#103
This is a Simple PSA: IF you, or someone you know, wants a Chronos Chess Clock, THEY ARE BACK IN STOCK at Wholesale Chess. They claim they receuved a LIMITED NUMBER. I just went by the site to see how many clocks were still left and I could not find any -- it might be they have yet to update their website. On the other hand, it could be those who were on their waiting list jump in and snatched them up while they had a chance.
If you have been trying to find a Chronos (I suspect these were the Chronos II) and IF they already sold out of the "LIMITED NUMBER" my advice is to check in with Wholesale Chess. I suspect more clocks will be on thweir way, and this was just a preview of more to come.
Again this is juist a PSA for those who have been trying to find a Chronos. Hope this helps.
azbobcat wrote:
This is a Simple PSA: IF you, or someone you know, wants a Chronos Chess Clock, THEY ARE BACK IN STOCK at Wholesale Chess. They claim they receuved a LIMITED NUMBER. I just went by the site to see how many clocks were still left and I could not find any -- it might be they have yet to update their website. On the other hand, it could be those who were on their waiting list jump in and snatched them up while they had a chance.
They definitely updated their website before sending out the email. I got their email at 2:08 PDT, 2 minutes after they sent it. I already have a Chronos, but went to their site to see what they had. The site was listing several color and button style combos available.
They were at the same $114.99 price as last time.
For people that like the Chronos because of its display showing more digits than many other clocks, and it having more flexibility on modes than many other clocks (in particular, support for both Bronstein delay and the simply delay most commonly used in the US), it looks like DGT has a new contender: the DGT 3000.
It's similar to the DGT 2010 and DGT North American in shape, but with a larger display that can show hours, minutes, and seconds, and it supports both Bronstein and simple delay (and has a separate display of the delay when in simple delay).
Oct 8, 2014
0
#105
Thanks Real_Tzs. I was just checking my email for the evening and noticed it in the e-mail. Like you I have Chronos -- actually two, one being a backup -- which I like for a) Their weight b) Low Center of Gravity which makes it hard for me to knock over.
Thanks also for the info on the DGT 3000, I'll have to go check it out.
For those of you who could settle for a Chronos-like clock I would urge you to check out ZMF II made by Zmart. It does not have all the Bells and Whistles of Chronos GX Touch Sensor, but it costs about half as much as a Chronos GX. It also has one thing that no other clock on the market has: an LED display, rather than a LCD display. The ZMF II has had many positive reviews.
For those of you who MUST have a Chronos the best advice is to frequently check Wholesale Chess, The Chess Store, Chess House and American Chess Equipment (ACE). Wholesale Chess however is *usually* the first to get clocks in.
Hope this helps.
They are back again at Wholesale Chess. Black, white, and blue in both button and touch switch.
Oct 10, 2014
0
#107
Why are they so hard to get and why are there complaints about not getting them back in a reasonable time under warranty? Just reading all the threads on gthe chronos as I was going to buy one.
Oct 11, 2014
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#109
wiscmike wrote:
Why are they so hard to get and why are there complaints about not getting them back in a reasonable time under warranty? Just reading all the threads on gthe chronos as I was going to buy one. "
OK I will *try* to answer this question. The Chronos is probably THE most popular clock on the market, and it is subject to the laws of supply and demand.
For example DCI, who makes the Chronos, sells clocks in lots of 10. Whilesae Chess has juast got in a day or two ago lots of White, Black, and Blue Push Button clocks, out of 30 Push Button clocks they have only 3 clocks of each color remaining, or 30% of what just came in.
On the Touch Sensor side they have only Black and Blue Clocks -- if they had White then they are already SOLD OUT . Assuming ONLY Black and Blue lots came in they have 6 Black clocks remaining and 2 Blue Clocks remaining, or about 40% of the Touch Sensors that came in.
DCI apparently has a very hard time keeping up with the demand and getting ahead of the curve. For the most part the Chronos is a TANK! I have two Chronos II (Push Button) clocks. One clock I have been using 2-3 times a week more for skittles than anything else -- originally I bought it because I had a mad idea that I could make a comback, but due to a neurological disease, that never came to be. Still, this clock gets a REAL workout, and I have NEVER had a problem with it.
The weak point on the Chronos , as with every LCD clock, is the LCD display. When it became apparent that there was a run on Chronos clocks I bought a 2nd clock. Why?? Because I too had read about the delays in getting them fixed, and IF something goes WRONG it will be with the LCD display, so its sole function of this clock is to serve as a backup clock, or as loaner.
I suspect DCI has a hard time obtaining enough LCD displays. Whatever they get in goes into building new clocks, and thus is the limiting factor both in terms of production, as well as in fixing existing clocks and returning them in a timely manner.
Would *I* buy a clock today?!? The answer is YES!! Most people have had their Chronos clocks for years without a problem. Probably the number one killer of LCD displays is excess HEAT and too much light -- both will kill an LCD display. Resonably taken care of your Chronos will not give you any trouble.
And just for the record *any* LCD Chess clock -- which is all of them except for the ZMF II which uses LEDs rather than LCDs -- will have the exact same problems with their displays going on the fritz, the difference is that every other clock is anothing more than a cheap pile of plastic -- if the LCD goes, you throw it out and buy another.
As is testimony by the current run of the stock at Wholesale Chess, when a batch of clocks do come in they sell out quickly. If taken care of properly, these clocks will last for YEARS, and chances are can be handed down to your childrren before the LCD needs to be replaced. If you WANT a Chronos then you need to act quickly; if you are still having doubts about their quality, I can recommend the ZMF II so long as you don't mind using a "Touch Sensor" clock -- Me ?!? I HATE Touch Sensors as grew up using BHB analog clocks and prefer the feedback of a button -- the ZMF II is nothing more than a cheap knock-off of the Chronos GX Touch Sensor at half the cost, BUT these clocks have had nothing but positive reviews.
I hope this helps and answers your questions.
Oct 11, 2014
0
#110
Yes you did. I am guessing more and more might be going to the LED displays in the coming years.
Can't be more than 1 or 2 people making these clocks as you can see WSC is the only store in the USA right now with the Chronos in stock except for one reseller hoarding them and selling them on eBay for $299 to $349 in the last 6 months. 30 or 40 clocks released in 6 months sounds like a one person part time operation to me. Yes I see people at the local chess club witht he clock and yes they are very very nice. The only other one that has some class is the Garde Turnier Digital but that is even higher priced and no one seems to have it right now.
I have had a chronos for 6 years now; no complaints. I just bought a second one this week from WC as a back up. The main complaint I hear is programming (actually not that hard) not breakage.
Oct 12, 2014
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#112
Yes, built like a tank, heavy, low profile. It's not hard to program if you RTFM (Read The Factory Manual), but it's a bit tricky to remember how without it if you don't do it frequently. You can preset popular settings as a user mode and simply recall them. I often do this before leaving for a tournament so I don't have to fumble with it at the site.
Oct 13, 2014
0
#113
mldavis617 wrote:
Yes, built like a tank, heavy, low profile. It's not hard to program if you RTFM (Read The Factory Manual), but it's a bit tricky to remember how without it if you don't do it frequently. You can preset popular settings as a user mode and simply recall them. I often do this before leaving for a tournament so I don't have to fumble with it at the site.
You hit the nail on the head: Built like a tank, heavy, and low profile which were the #1 reasons I bought it (plus when I did, the Chronos was considered the defacto digital chess clock in the U.S. at that time).
Once I had the Manual in Hand, it really was not that hard to program: With 12 "User Defined Modes", I programed the thing for 4 common tournament modes and 4 skittle games modes. Still have another 4 I could add. Once programed it is the easiest clock to use. No picking up the clock to turn the c lock off, make sure the paddles are in the "Neutral position" push the on/off button... With the Chronos, all you do is hit the center button, and cycle through to the time control you want, then hit either the right of left button (or touch sensor) and you are off to the races. This clock was well worth the money I spent on it, even though my planned "comback" was not to be.
Still miss the BHB "Special" analog clock of long ago. SIGH!!! Those were the days....
Oct 14, 2014
0
#114
Wholesale Chess seems to have just gotten in yet another shipment of clocks Black, White, and Blue in both Push Button and Touch Sensor modeles. If Past is Prologue, expect these to sell out quickly too. If you plan to buy a Chronos do it now when there is still a variety in terms of both Models ( Push Button or Touch Sensor ) and colors.
Hope this helps.
Is there a time setting with increments in the Chronos II (the bigger chronos)? My Chronos GX allows for delay or increment. I can't seem to find increments in the Chronos II I just received from wholesale chess (not that I need it because tournaments in the US almost always require delay).
Oct 14, 2014
0
#116
Well I am now leaning to the Chronos. Do you prefer the touch sensor or the push button.
WSC shows on you tube setting the delay.
http://www.wholesalechess.com/shop/chess-clocks/digital-chess-clocks/chronos-digital-chess-clock-ii-touch-switch-beige
My GX is a touch and My II is a push button. The push button is more pleasant to play with (tactile feedback), the touch appears to be more robust (no switch to break). If I only have one or if the clock is for a scholastic player, my preference is for the touch.
Kycoo wrote:
Is there a time setting with increments in the Chronos II (the bigger chronos)? My Chronos GX allows for delay or increment. I can't seem to find increments in the Chronos II I just received from wholesale chess (not that I need it because tournaments in the US almost always require delay).
Take a look at CH-P4 and CH-P5 mode.
Also take a look at the PR-Cx modes, which are described in the addition to the user's guide.
Oct 14, 2014
0
#119
wiscmike wrote:
Well I am now leaning to the Chronos. Do you prefer the touch sensor or the push button.
WSC shows on yout tube setting the delay.
http://www.wholesalechess.com/shop/chess-clocks/digital-chess-clocks/chronos-digital-chess-clock-ii-touch-switch-beige
Well I'm Old School all the way. I grew up using a BHB Special Analog clock (1970's). If you have been playing for some time my guess is that you'd want the Push Button model, OTOH if you are recently new to chess -- say the last 5 years its a coin toss. If you are a scholastic player, many scholastic plaerys for reasons unknown prefer the Touch Sensor.
For me a Touch Snsor clock is a distraction as there is no feed-back, and a friend relatively new to chess and about my age, also has a Chronos but he bought the Touch Sensor. He laughs because when we use his clock because I spend a lot of time cussing out his stupid clock.
If you are an old timer and have been playing chess for years get the push button model and save yourself some stress.
Oct 15, 2014
0
#120
Yea, my first clock was a Pacesetter (Pal Benko clock) bought in 1964 from Chess Review, actually picked it up and I A Horowitz was the person who sold it to me and my mom. Also have a BHB after that clock since it didn't hold up well.
Just watched the movie Brooklyn Castle on Amazon and I see that all the kids use Chronos about 97% in that movie and most of those are all sensor touch. I saw a couple kids double tapping their clocks at moves and have no idea why. if I got a Chronos I would go for the sensor touch since that is 2 less parts to wear out.
Now I did like the Garde Turnier because of the traditional clock look but for $159.95 for the deluxe model they have priced themselves out of the market by $45.00. The Basic Model is price more resonable at $119.95 but that is way high for being a basin model.
So after all of this I bought a DGT N/A for $39.97 which included Priority Shipping and it has all the features I want. It will last longer than I will live I am sure. 
I still would like a Garde Turnier Digital if they ever started making them again. My guess is the reason they are so high is because they are out of stock at the factory web site.
Duct tape is probably the best in terms of holding power. Some clear packaging tape will become brittle and the adhesive dries out and releases. Probably not a problem if you change batteries yearly, however.
Well with this and the comment before that, perhaps the Chronos truly is a piece of junk. Never had any problems with my Made in China Analog Quartz, perfect for the coffeehouse, which I just used last week. As for a real tournement I'd more likely get the one that has the green LED display, just for the looks...and it probably has all those fancy settings too. Can you go wrong with $60? Probably better have your own batteries because they charge too much to add batteries.