Who has a dedicated computer?

[Spacious_Mind]

I know this is mainly an engine Forum, and perhaps a little off topic, but I was just curious about how many Members here still have a dedicated computer and if they still from time to time play with them.

I also have the same question for anyone who still possesses and uses old Home Computers from time to time to play chess or even other games or programs.

I know most of us Baby Boomers grew up with these these and I am just curious about who else sometimes reminisces about the 80's computer boom and then pulls out their old home computer or dedicated chess computer for a game or two.

I collect Dedicated Chess Computers and therefore I have lots of them, but I also love old Home Computers of which I also have quite a good collection ... Ataris, Commodores, Apple, Sinclair, Tandy, Texas Instruments etc... with pretty much all the chess software that was ever made for these.

So anyway this post is to hear from people who still tinker with the oldies of our youth from time to time ....... as well hearing about what first influenced your youth.

My first dedicated computer was a Novag Chess Champion MK III, which I bought out of hard saved apprenticeship money while I lived in Germany in 1979. I remember that it was expensive at the time and so very weak . I used to let it take 24 hours to play a move hoping that it would be stronger but it wasn't. It used to take me a month or so to play a game..

My first computer was a Sinclair Spectrum 48K, it was horrible (nowadays I dont mind it), the keypad was horrible, therefore after a couple of days I took it back to the store, making some excuses and upgraded it to a Commodore 64. I think the Spectrum 48 back then cost GBP 99 whereas the C64 cost GBP 199. I really loved the C64. A couple of years later the Amiga came out which I then bought next and still is my all time favorite. I also loved the Sinclair QL which I bought at around the same time as the Amiga. The QL was great with it's unique Microdrive system, but unfortunately there was never really much software available for it. I did however use it all the time for business purposes because it had a great spreadsheet and wordprocessing package that came with it. Also of course for a while it also had the best chess program since Psion Chess first came out for the QL.

Anyway that is my introduction to this Post. Hopefully you will use this to share some of your first experiences.

Best regards

Nick

[Larry]

Hi Nick,
The year was 1981 when a friend invited me to his place, since he
remembered I used to play chess in school. He showed me this chess
computer, and suggested I play a game against it.
The machine was a Fidelity '8' level. I beat it easily enough, and still
remember sitting there for several minutes watching all the pretty
lights, all 64 of them, flashing as it announced it's defeat. I was
immediately hooked. "A machine that can play chess?...wow!"
I went from that machine to a Fidelity Voice Champion, which was
stronger , but unreliable. And boy were they expensive in their day.
My next was a Fidelity '9', followed by a Novag Constellation 2mhz.
I was raising a family so could only afford one at a time. I remember
keeping in touch with the new model release dates and selling the one
I had while it was still the current model.
My last dedicated purchase in that era was a Novag Expert, in used
condition, but reliable as clockwork. I've still got it and it still works
perfect. Never had the back off it.
It was around that time that the 'AT' technology arrived, along with
sharp resolution monitors, and I saw an ad for the Genius2. Like others, I had little use for the dedicateds for quite some years, although I admit I bought a used Fidelity '9', since that particular
machine is my all time favorite model.
About four years ago I was in a chess retail store when I spotted a
Novag Super Constellation, dirt cheap. I took it home and tinkered
with it, and was hooked all over again. Since then I have built up a
collection of 30- odd machines, ranging from the strong Berlin Pro
London, Atlanta, RISC2500 down to the Fidelity CC1.
Once you develop a feel for the values of these things, you can pretty
much rest assured you will not lose. They appreciate in value over
time, and so you virtually have a free collection.
One annoyance is the occasional break down. Collectors will
invariably accumulate a graveyard of non working machines, even
though you get good at simple repairs.
The dedicated machines have character, something a software
chess program, for all it's playing strength, can never have.
I let go a buy-it-now $750 Fidelity Designer Mach4 once. A guy called
'Nick', from Alabama took the offer up, and presumably he still has
it to this day.
all the best from a fellow collector
Larry

[Spacious_Mind]

Hi Nick,
The year was 1981 when a friend invited me to his place, since he
remembered I used to play chess in school. He showed me this chess
computer, and suggested I play a game against it.
The machine was a Fidelity '8' level. I beat it easily enough, and still
remember sitting there for several minutes watching all the pretty
lights, all 64 of them, flashing as it announced it's defeat. I was
immediately hooked. "A machine that can play chess?...wow!"
I went from that machine to a Fidelity Voice Champion, which was
stronger , but unreliable. And boy were they expensive in their day.
My next was a Fidelity '9', followed by a Novag Constellation 2mhz.
I was raising a family so could only afford one at a time. I remember
keeping in touch with the new model release dates and selling the one
I had while it was still the current model.
My last dedicated purchase in that era was a Novag Expert, in used
condition, but reliable as clockwork. I've still got it and it still works
perfect. Never had the back off it.
It was around that time that the 'AT' technology arrived, along with
sharp resolution monitors, and I saw an ad for the Genius2. Like others, I had little use for the dedicateds for quite some years, although I admit I bought a used Fidelity '9', since that particular
machine is my all time favorite model.
About four years ago I was in a chess retail store when I spotted a
Novag Super Constellation, dirt cheap. I took it home and tinkered
with it, and was hooked all over again. Since then I have built up a
collection of 30- odd machines, ranging from the strong Berlin Pro
London, Atlanta, RISC2500 down to the Fidelity CC1.
Once you develop a feel for the values of these things, you can pretty
much rest assured you will not lose. They appreciate in value over
time, and so you virtually have a free collection.
One annoyance is the occasional break down. Collectors will
invariably accumulate a graveyard of non working machines, even
though you get good at simple repairs.
The dedicated machines have character, something a software
chess program, for all it's playing strength, can never have.
I let go a buy-it-now $750 Fidelity Designer Mach4 once. A guy called
'Nick', from Alabama took the offer up, and presumably he still has
it to this day.
all the best from a fellow collector
Larry

Hi Larry,

Yes I remember it well!

Actually I remember feeling a little guilty when I read your post about wanting to buy it a day or so later.

I almost never bought it because at the same time there was a Fidelity Prestige for the same price and I was so tempted to get that one instead. But then what decided it was that I had my fill of large wooden boards, they just take up too much space really and also the Designer Mach IV completed my collection of the Fidelity Designer series, so that clinched it.

But the Prestige would also have been nice maybe someday...

You have a very nice collection and thanks for sharing your story!

Best regards

Nick

ps... I see you also still remember the price

[CRoberson]

I have:
CXG Super Crown
Fidelity Excellence 4 MHz
Fidelity Elite A/S Challenger (Budapest)
Novag Sapphire II
Excalibur Karpov 2294
Novag Citrine

Also, I have my old (still operational) Nintendo NES with BattleChess.

An old Pentium 90 with the floating point flaw.
A 386 sx 25 MHz PC.
An 8086 PC.

[Spacious_Mind]

I have:
CXG Super Crown
Fidelity Excellence 4 MHz
Fidelity Elite A/S Challenger (Budapest)
Novag Sapphire II
Excalibur Karpov 2294
Novag Citrine

Also, I have my old (still operational) Nintendo NES with BattleChess.

An old Pentium 90 with the floating point flaw.
A 386 sx 25 MHz PC.
An 8086 PC.

Wow, the dedicateds are starting to come out of the woodwork

Also a nice collection of good dedicated machines. Have you ever tried to connect your Citrine to Arena? The Karpov 2294 marketed by Excalibur, is actually a Novag. It is the same as the Novag Emerald Classic Plus, they actually have a bug at seconds per move settings. If you set it at 30 seconds per move, it ends up speeding up as the game progresses. I normally set it to 40 moves in 20 minutes where I think it doesnt do that.

btw... I wouldnt mind your 386 25 Mhz... I am thinking of getting a 486 33 MHz or something, if I could get it to load Wndows 98 or something so that I can use Winboard and try some engines against dedicateds at that speed.

Best regards

Nick

[CRoberson]

Yes, I have connected my Citrine to Arena. I played a few chess programs on Arena through the Citrine. A few times, I manage to get a fully automated game to run between the Citrine and an engine on Arena.

The 486 predates windows 98. So, 98 may not work on it. 95 might.

[Spacious_Mind]

Yes, I have connected my Citrine to Arena. I played a few chess programs on Arena through the Citrine. A few times, I manage to get a fully automated game to run between the Citrine and an engine on Arena.

The 486 predates windows 98. So, 98 may not work on it. 95 might.

The problem with 95 as far as I know is that Winboard won't work with 95. Or is it 3.11 that it can't use? Can't remember will have to check.

If you had a Novag Universal Board, you can also connect it and your Sapphire II to Arena with a program that Alain Zanchetta wrote. This works very well where you can actually run a Tournament in Arena against Engines with Sapphire II or Star Diamond playing as well. I tried that once with a Star Diamond and it worked quite well.

Since the Citrine really is a Universal Board, I was surprised that I could not get it to do the same.

Best regards

Nick

[Hood]

hi,

i do have the 'dedicated' computer somehow.

It is lap-top Compaq I 486 DX2, Dos 5.0. I am running on it such a software as Fritz 2, Hiarcs 3, Genius 3, Rebels family. etc

rgds
chris

[Steve B]

Well as for me...
it was the Xmas holiday season 1977

i bought the very first chess computer that you could take home and play a game of chess with
it cost about $500 and learning how to work it was the hard part
the ranks and files were reversed in error..
so the simple e2-e4 had to be keyed in as 5b-5d
a real nightmare..
however the strength of the program was very poor so the bonus for all of that hard key-in work was a won game

have been collecting these marvels ever since then

as to PC Engines..
not much use for them


2b or not 2b Regards
Steve

[Kempelen]

I have a Novag Citrine with a bluetooth adapter I bougth a couple of years ago. I still play with it connected to Arena and my engine as sparring. It is a pity that no company release a similar more modern version as citrine characteristics.