Ruby Vs Star Saphire. User opinions

[fern]

Both machines were made by the same company, Novag, as hand held units, in different moments and with very different strengths. Sapphire is by far stronger, but it is so a cumbersome piece of hardware that it makes unpleasant to play it. Ruby, lot weaker, has a simple alphanumeric keyboard and a screen to see the moves. Simple and clear to handle. Sapphire try to go further with a screen representing the board, but it scarcely let the user to see what's going on. Too many functions, too many things to learn instead of playing chess. It reminds me of these new generation of PDA and/or mobile phones so full of features you need a year to learn them just to make a call.
I wonder when these kind of contrivances will be at last designed taking into account the comfort of the user. An engineer mentality pervades everything and the result is preposterous.

Still trying to play Sapphire regards
Fernando

[Steve B]

i found both units easy to learn and operate
in fact the operation is almost identical except the Sapphire has some more options and features and of course is much stronger

i also have no problem with the LCD pieces which so many others complain about..they are the same for both units

it must be remembered that the Star Sapphire is THE STRONGEST portable dedicated chess computer EVER released for sale

the Star Sapphire had been discontinued so you are a VERY lucky man to have one of these

SS-SR-SB
Regards

oh you are meaning the regular Ruby and not the Star Ruby??

a nice little computer but it cannot be compared to the SS or SR
Calculator style like the Sapphire I and 11
however the Ruby cannot be connected to the Wooden Universal Chess Board as the Super Vip and Sap I and II can
Steve

[fern]

I am happy I have BOTH units, but I cannot deny that sapphire is less easy to use, I at least have problems to identify the LCD pieces in the tiny board.
BTW, I pugged the cord to connect it to my PC but nothing happened. What I am missing?

Fast reponse please
Fernando

[Steve B]

I am happy I have BOTH units, but I cannot deny that sapphire is less easy to use, I at least have problems to identify the LCD pieces in the tiny board.
BTW, I pugged the cord to connect it to my PC but nothing happened. What I am missing?

Fast reponse please
Fernando

you should know by now i do not even try to connect a dedicated computer to a PC

for that answer .. others will reply

No Way Jose Regards
Steve

[fern]

I am asking you in your capacity as an EXPERT in these machine, not asking you to connect YOUR hardware.
I would want to connect precisely to play at easy the bloody thing, for God sake..

The elders already frown regards
Fernando

[Steve B]

I am asking you in your capacity as an EXPERT in these machine, not asking you to connect YOUR hardware.
I would want to connect precisely to play at easy the bloody thing, for God sake..

The elders already frown regards
Fernando

for connecting to a PC i am NO expert
i know it is not documented correctly in the manual and you need special hardware(PC-Serial Adaptor) to make this connection
you cannot do it only with the supplied cable
Robert Weck and Alain Zanchetta can help you more with this

but i will tell you...
you will not gain much by connecting to the PC
i think you can only see a list of moves and perhaps some evaluations
but no board diagrams and you cannot play against the pc with other engines

now leave me to my Phantom Force Regards
Steve