There's a New Clock A'comin

I'm letting you all in on something just as it's about to come out.

I just received this image from my friend as he got a model to see and try.

This is the new, metal version of the Zmart Fun Clock, ZMF.

The body is metal and it obviously has a very large display that is now LCD compared to their original LED.  It will use 3 AA batteries instead of the C batteries the ZMF-II clock.

The program and programming is the exact same as the ZMF-II.

Now there are 3 versions of timing:

1. You can have the colons flash like the Chronos does in certain settings.

2. It alternates the delay time left with the clock time.  This is the original way that currently is on their other clocks.

3. A continuous delay countdown with no alternation, then you see the clock time.

My friend says he thinks the fellow that makes and sells these ZMF clocks will set the price at about the $100 range.  So this clock will price-wise compete with the Chronos, DGT 3000 and the new clock that Shelby Lohrman is coming out with at the end of this month.

From what they tell me, and they are the ones producing these clocks, it isn't that easy.

The displays for both the LCD and LED have distinct lines or bars that can be activated to give the letters and numbers.  It is not at all like a computer or even smartphone screen where you can customize every little pixel on the screen.

Also, the LCD display takes a lot less energy than the LED one.  The LCD displays are powered by AA batteries where the LED ones need the larger C batteries.

And realize they need to pay money for the displays as well as all the other components before paying the cost to have it all assembled.

This price point is not high enough to get all the latest technology you might think.

Zmart clocks suck. 

http://www.uscfsales.com/chess-clocks/digital-chess-clocks/dgt-3000-digital-chess-clock.html

That's the top digital out there right now. 

They do? Why?

Look at it. It's trapped in 1987.

Warbringer, I don't agree with you and there are a lot of people that don't agree with you either. Those bright green and blue displays look pretty modern to me.

Again - Why would you want to play with anything other than this? 

http://www.uscfsales.com/chess-clocks/digital-chess-clocks/dgt-3000-digital-chess-clock.html

Official clock of major FIDE events. 

Warbringer, that clock sucks. I would go with the Chronos.

LOL @ "that clock sucks". Right. That's why it's what FIDE uses. 

That doesn't mean anything. It still sucks.

I'm quite sorry but there's something wrong with you if you think that DGT3000 "sucks". That's the nicest digital on the market, period.

Girls, you are both pretty.

No, I am prettier.

This clock looks great.  I really like the large display. I hope it has features comparable to the competition, otherwise a $100 + price tag seems pretty steep.  I don't own a ZMart, so I don't know how the features compare to the Chronos or DGT.

I'm hoping DGT will offer a lower priced version of the 3000 (without e-board capability).

The ZMart has a much better interface.

I can't remember an interface as bad as Chronos since the first VCRs.

DGT 3000 definitely doesn't suck, but I won't say it's the nicest clock. I think there is too much information on. Who needs seconds displayed if there's still 1 hour left? I'd say DGT 2010 is the nicest. It felt awesome.

Does this clock have 25 hours?

A rocker switch is clearly more functional as from any angle you can instantly tell who's move it is.

The zmart metal clock price at 100 ? At that price I might go with chronos.. I have the smart plastic clock.. The power button will break and required fixing. But at 50 buck that clock is a champ. Shelby clock stinks its price at 150.. No thanx

 I definitely agree. It would be nice with options to hide most of the stuff on the display on the 3000. The only thing I don't like about the 2010 is that you have to turn it off and on to reset it.  I'm also quite fond of the Easy+, but it feels a bit too cheap.

The new Zmart clock looks nice, wonder if it will turn up this side of the pond.