Wanted: LCD Chess Computer

[RadSurfer]

I checked with Amazon.com so far, to see what might be available in a portable,
affordable LCD Chess Computer, and have listed a few of the "better" ones below.

I am looking for recommendations from the forum, some of my "criteria" are:

1) An LCD Chess Computer (if it handles real peices thats ok also)
2) Must play a decent and sane game of chess, of a reasonable ELO rating
3) Not looking for a "toy", but a real chess-playing machine that will
be challenging and rewarding, yet portable
4) Portable means its size should be under 12 inches
5) Would be helpful if it also supports an DC adapter/charger

Has anyone invented a Portable Chess Computer that allows its games
to be saved via USB to a PC ? I always thought that would be cool!
and the ability to upload PGN or other game formats to examine games
by a portable computer!

$99.00 LCD
$39.99 LCD
$56.99 LCD
$57.95 Peices

[Cubeman]

Get a cheap 2nd hand Pocket PC and load either free or commercial chess software.Graphics, speed, and features would be much better than any that you listed.

[Steve B]

Seems to me that the Novag Star Sapphire or Star Ruby fits your list of must haves
sadly however these cannot be bought as new any longer as they have been recently discontinued
however you can find used ones on Ebay fairly Frequently
both have Ports to connect to a PC and both play a strong game
in fact the Star Sapphire is the strongest handheld portable ever released for sale ..tipping the scales at 2186 Elo ..with the Ruby clocking in at about 2050

more here:
http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/in ... r_Sapphire

http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/in ... _Star_Ruby

current auction for a Star Ruby:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Novag-Star-Ruby-Ele ... 0318344999

Regards
Steve

[Bill Rogers]

I was about to recommend Ebay but you beat me to it. A few months ago I went on a buying binge and bought about 25 machines there. Some of them were real nice too.
Bill

[Steve B]

25 all at once Bill?

good timing.. as prices are lower due to the Market meltdown
now that is what i call sound economic policy

feel free to post a list here of the collection

xxx Hardcore Collecting Regards
Steve

[sje]

Consider getting an Apple iPod Touch and one or more chess programs from the iTunes Store. The unit has a good display, a nice interface, and decent battery life. You can save some money by getting a second hand unit.

[RadSurfer]

I was looking around chessusa.com, and saw two things that fascinated me,

I am thinking that perhaps this unit might be worth my consideration:

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

Afterall it has approximately a 2000 ELO, it Talks! and there's no peices to lose,
portable as can be, and has all these other features... and it Talks!

Comments as to this unit? So far it's the best I've found for buck.

on the other hand, if I ever win the lottery category:
Wouldn't this be a cool toy to have prominently displayed? I could watch this all day long, especially with the snow finally here... Erie,PA area.

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

There is also a swell video that shows the robot in action...

//Rich//

[Steve B]

I was looking around chessusa.com, and saw two things that fascinated me,

I am thinking that perhaps this unit might be worth my consideration:

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

Afterall it has approximately a 2000 ELO, it Talks! and there's no peices to lose,
portable as can be, and has all these other features... and it Talks!

Comments as to this unit? So far it's the best I've found for buck.

while the price is very attractive Rich you should remember that the 2000 Estimate is a USCF estimate which translates to a 1850 ELO Rating
in addition the rating estimate is provided by the company(Excalibur)..this computer really has the same chess program as the earlier Deluxe Talking Touch Chess(model 404d) in addition to the NYTimes chess puzzles
the DTTC has a more realistic rating of 1700 Elo(not USCF)

It should be noted that the ratings for the Novag Star Sapphire and Ruby(mentioned earlier in this thread) are ELO ratings
so they are much stronger

Regards
Steve

[meschle]

I was looking around chessusa.com, and saw two things that fascinated me,

I am thinking that perhaps this unit might be worth my consideration:

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

Afterall it has approximately a 2000 ELO, it Talks! and there's no peices to lose,
portable as can be, and has all these other features... and it Talks!

Comments as to this unit? So far it's the best I've found for buck.

on the other hand, if I ever win the lottery category:
Wouldn't this be a cool toy to have prominently displayed? I could watch this all day long, especially with the snow finally here... Erie,PA area.

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

There is also a swell video that shows the robot in action...

//Rich//

Dont buy new york times deluxe

see here
http://www.chess.com/article/view/chess ... reen-chess

[RadSurfer]

I only wish I had the unit to test myself....

I do not like the extremely tiny size of the Excalibur Touch II, so the slightly bigger size of
the NYTimes model is fine...

The screen quality/resolution and the quality of the sound of the voice do concern
me. Actual photographs taken with a personal digital camera of this unit would
help better convince me more...

Right now, it's on the list of possible units... but no commitment.
I'm in no hurry.

The voice feature is a nice addition in such a small unit; and might prove
encouraging somehow...

I already own the EXcalibur Sabre IV... paid locally $19.00 for it.

I'd welcome your reviews of this unit; I'm not parting with it.

Can't believe some places get $40.00 or even more for this same unit.
I rather like it. It can either wipe me out instantly or give me a chance to
make it at least into the start of the "middle game"... and thats on the
lower levels... but I'm only a casual player -- not trying to be a chess
champion.

//Rich/./