The main gauge of whether or not something works is your own progress.
I see your ratings have gone down since you joined although the ratings are based on only 50 games total and may therefore not be very accurate.
Why don't you play more often so you can at least get an accurate assessment of where you stand?
I'm not sure there's a very similar tool to Chess Mentor online.
For what I know, ICS is a written course, with some additional videos online.
The only alternative I can think is the ChessOK system. I've used many of their downloadable materials and found them quite good.
As a training tool Chess Mentor is very efficient but efficient doesn't mean magic. Only consistent focused hard work on it will produce lasting results, and even that's a crapshoot. What if you're old and/or going a bit daft? Think it matters? Anyway I've done 70% of the courses in 3 years and been reviewing the tactics courses every few months. I guess it helps. I hadn't played Chessmaster in a while and found beating some of the characters easier. I can almost follow most chess analysis, at least sometimes. 
And I learned the king has to lead his passed pawn, not drive it in front like herding sheep: hey it used to sometimes work...
So yeah, I started on a very basic level and thanks to the CM and the TT and the videos and the televised live coverage, I've gotten better. That's enough for me.
Hello everyone,
I have been using Chess Mentor on and off for a year or so now. I have used Chess Tactics also but not much since I'm not very fast. I do find Mentor very helpful but I am wondering how it stacks up against other chess courses online?
I have been looking at International Chess School (ICS). I know there are others like it. I'm just wondering how you would rate them compared to one another.
I'm not concerned about the difference of a few dollars a month if the training is more effecient and effective.
Please feel free to share your own experiences and increases with whatever course of action you have taken.
Thanks!
Steven