"Little" Question

[rjand]

I'm looking to purchase a small chess computer, The features I'd like are a nice easy to see display, touch screen,seconds per move levels, saves current game in memory with a playing strength around 1700 - 1800 elo and quality built. Would one of the experts here be able to steer me in the right direction. Ballpark figure on the price would be nice too.
Thanks, Rick

[Steve B]

This seems to be a very popular question these days Rick
i seem to get emails/PM's regarding this at least once a week

Sadly the pickings for NEW hand held chess computers are slim these days
gone are the days when portables can be bought with Elo's in the low 2200 Range
i guess the best recommendations i can make would be the Mephisto Maestro which has an LCD display(no pieces to lose) however it will only play at about 1600 USCF strength

another portable (but not really a hand held) is the Saitek Expert Travel Chess which is a peg sensory but will play at a much higher 2200 USCF
they both can be bought for about $70

more details here:
http://www.chessusa.com/Merchant2/merch ... ct_Count=1

http://www.chessusa.com/Merchant2/merch ... ct_Count=2

Regards
Steve

[rjand]

The Mephisto looks to be about exactly what I'm looking for. The 15 to 30 minute games I like to play it would probably play stronger than it's 40/2 rating. Do you feel it's decent quality?
Rick

[Steve B]

Yes
very nicely built and will last for years

this design has been used by Saitek/Mephisto for many years now and many models came out in this housing
it has a nice weighty feel to it

Steve

[rjand]

My mistake, I met the Maestro... The one with the touch screen. The picture of it looked like it said Mephisto.( My eyes aren't what they used to be)
Rick

[Steve B]

Actually Rick it was my mistake
i thought you meant the Peg Sensory and answered accordingly
however i have since modified my reply above

either computer has a fairly solid build quality
Regards
Steve