41 Euros???????????????????????????'''

[fern]

New SmartThink 1.1 cost 41 euros and some cents. Just the download. If you want also the CD -I advice NEVER to purchase just a download package: you will have problems sooner or later- you must add some extra bucks.
Don't you think this is a bit too much?
Just a bare engine 41 euros?
I still remember an age when this kind of merchandise could be got at around 29 dollars, at most.
Someone will say that in even earlier times these products were still more expensive, but by now, with the abundance of freeware of almost same and sometimes better quality, which is the sense to ask these prices?
I was prepared to purchase the thing at 29; at more than that I can do it the same, but I feel somewhat extorted and so I will not.
Opinions?

Fernando in a Tight Mood

[F. Bluemers]

Included is the chesspartner gui,so its not just the engine.
however:the upgrade is just 10 euros
and you can upgrade from these versions:

Upgrade prices for owners of the following products (Lokasoft version only):
Chess Tiger 15/2007, Deep Sjeng 1.0/1.5/1.6, Gandalf 5/6, Rebel 12, Ruffian 2, ChessPartner 5.x, Ktulu 7.1/8, SmarThink 1.0

Best
Fonzy

ps: Not that i would buy a smarthinka

[fern]

Of course when I complain I am in the situation of someone without any of those programs they and you mention.
Last time I bought there was a rebel 11, I think.

My best
fernando

[F. Bluemers]

Of course when I complain I am in the situation of someone without any of those programs they and you mention.
Last time I bought there was a rebel 11, I think.

My best
fernando

Too bad
Then its either an expensive smarthinka or save the money for a fish in a tank...

Fonzy

[Eelco de Groot]

Hi Fernando,

In light of what Fonzy is saying my advice is to also buy ChessTiger 2007, it is not the strongest maybe, not like a Rybka for best Playchess strength if that interests you, but very good tactical, very much endgame knowledge that you just won't find elsewhere, Gambit Tiger as an extra playing style, anti-human mode etc., Christophe as you know is a pioneer in search techniques that I think are unique for his program and maybe Rebel (since Ed and Christophe collaborated), and who knows it may be the last version unless the programmer would find some more time for it in the future!

Best, Eelco

[Christopher Conkie]

Of course when I complain I am in the situation of someone without any of those programs they and you mention.
Last time I bought there was a rebel 11, I think.

My best
fernando

Too bad
Then its either an expensive smarthinka or save the money for a fish in a tank...

Fonzy

Looking back.....



And once again....



Christopher

[Tony Thomas]

Of course when I complain I am in the situation of someone without any of those programs they and you mention.
Last time I bought there was a rebel 11, I think.

My best
fernando

Too bad
Then its either an expensive smarthinka or save the money for a fish in a tank...

Fonzy

I dont know why, I always support the underdog. I have yet to buy Rybka, but I have all the other commercial engines besides Fritz and Loop.

[Albert Silver]

New SmartThink 1.1 cost 41 euros and some cents. Just the download. If you want also the CD -I advice NEVER to purchase just a download package: you will have problems sooner or later- you must add some extra bucks.
Don't you think this is a bit too much?
Just a bare engine 41 euros?
I still remember an age when this kind of merchandise could be got at around 29 dollars, at most.
Someone will say that in even earlier times these products were still more expensive, but by now, with the abundance of freeware of almost same and sometimes better quality, which is the sense to ask these prices?
I was prepared to purchase the thing at 29; at more than that I can do it the same, but I feel somewhat extorted and so I will not.
Opinions?

Fernando in a Tight Mood

I agree that there was a time when they were a lot more expensive, and can remember when the single diskette of Genius 3 or Mchess 3 cost 100 smackers. I readily paid the same for Rebel8 when it came out, but then again, all the above had impeccable credentials to justify the expense. Genius was the program that had beat Kasparov in an active chess game, Mchess was the first PC program to beat a GM in a serious game, and Rebel8 was being raved about at RGCC, and topped the SSDF list when it came out (justifying my investment).

The prices have obviously dropped since then, and for an engine to justify top-dollar it must offer something special, whether being the best (Rybka or Zappa)), having a great GUI (Fritz, Chessmaster), or compensating a bit of strength with great style (Hiarcs 12 - will be very curious about Junior 11). If not, you have to really depend on the goodwill of the CC geeks, and must adjust accordingly. So yeah, 41 euros is a tough one.

That said, I have to disagree with you on the online download issue. For one thing, I prefer to be able to enjoy my purchase ASAP if I have that option. Furthermore, a CD is much much less than ideal. A CD would hold a single program, be subject to scratches and damage, and is just plain big for a program that will no doubt occupy 1% of the space at most. DL it, buy a pendrive or memory card for cheap (here in Brazil a 4GB pendrive goes for US$30 now - in the US it is less than half that), and stick all your favorites on it. Nowadays, I buy most of my software (the ones I can) via online DL.

Albert

[F. Bluemers]

Of course when I complain I am in the situation of someone without any of those programs they and you mention.
Last time I bought there was a rebel 11, I think.

My best
fernando

Too bad
Then its either an expensive smarthinka or save the money for a fish in a tank...

Fonzy

I dont know why, I always support the underdog. I have yet to buy Rybka, but I have all the other commercial engines besides Fritz and Loop.

Well,if you ever chance your mind and want to be a member of the inner circle,here is my advice: buy a quad or octa,put a fish in a bowl on top of it and watch the little critter swim in circles
Fonzy

[fern]

As I said, in earlier time they were even more expensive. I know that. But, my dear Conkie, we do not live anymore in the age of Fritz 3.

Fernando