My website reviews some chess computers, so if you're going to be doing any
computer chess shopping soon, feel free to check out:

http://home.earthlink.net/~kantack/lcdchess/home.htm

Here's a quick rundown of the products I review as well as links directly to
those reviews:

- Talking LCD Chess (This powerful handheld speaks out the moves and
is only 20 dollars!)
I consider Talking LCD chess to be probably the single "best buy" in
chess computers. My TLCD review can be found at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~kantack/l...talkinglcd.htm

- Excalibur Touch Chess (typical price $45.00)
Another one of my favorites. A PDA-style dedicated chess computer
for under $50 bucks! Very easy to use. Only one downside, which
is poor screen visibility in low light. Check out my Touch Chess
review at: http://home.earthlink.net/~kantack/l...excltchess.htm

- King Arthur Tabletop Chess Computer (now only $46.00!)
Here's a great buy in a tabletop chess computer. King Arthur is now
considered an "older model" so its price is especially competitive.
Go to: http://home.earthlink.net/~kantack/l...kingarthur.htm
to learn more about one of the best buys in tabletop chess computers.

- Chess Station (a combo handheld and tabletop for only $30)
A unique product for sure! A slick handheld with a docking port to a
custom designed pressure sensory board. Chess Station truly is "two
products for the price of one". My review of Chess Station can be
found at: http://home.earthlink.net/~kantack/l...essstation.htm

- Chess Tiger on the Palm (best chess program for Palm PDAs $20)
For those of you who need a stronger opponent then the Excalibur
offerings - (if you are USCF rated at 1600 or higher, I put you in
this group) then consider a Palm PDA and ChessGenius or Chess Tiger.
I have a review of Chess Tiger at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~kantack/l...chesstiger.htm

I also review Excalibur's GameTime II Chess Clock and I do a comparison of
the original Excalibur LCD Chess vs. Gameboy comparison

--
Chris Kantack
http://home.earthlink.net/~kantack/lcdchess/home.htm
(remove the "nospampls" from my email address if replying to this posting by
email)

- Excalibur Touch Chess (typical price $45.00)
Another one of my favorites. A PDA-style dedicated chess computer
for under $50 bucks! Very easy to use. Only one downside, which
is poor screen visibility in low light.

This is a gross understatement! I have one and am unable to use it in almost
any typical light conditions. The low contrast and lack of any light in the
unit makes the screen *very* difficult to see in anything but the brightest
lighting. Even in excellent lighting my eyes really suffer after a game or two
using this device.

I never use it anymore and probably will simply toss it into the trash the next
time I pick it up.

Dick Schneiders

In article ,
says...
- Excalibur Touch Chess (typical price $45.00)
Another one of my favorites. A PDA-style dedicated chess computer
for under $50 bucks! Very easy to use. Only one downside, which
is poor screen visibility in low light.

This is a gross understatement! I have one and am unable to use it in almost
any typical light conditions. The low contrast and lack of any light in the
unit makes the screen *very* difficult to see in anything but the brightest
lighting. Even in excellent lighting my eyes really suffer after a game or two
using this device.

I never use it anymore and probably will simply toss it into the trash the next
time I pick it up.

Dick Schneiders

It's funny how I get hundreds (and I mean several hundred) of letters
praising Touch Chess. But never any trashing it. (Though I do see the
rare occasional post trashing it such as Dick's opinion above.)

Dick is certainly entitled to his opinion. Though I disagree with his
extreme view. While I'm the first to say that Touch Chess' screen is less
than ideal, it is still quite usable. Just don't expect to use it in rooms
without good lighting.

The Touch Chess screen is no worse than the Nintendo GameBoy Advance.
(Best for young eyes I guess!)
--
Chris Kantack
http://home.earthlink.net/~kantack/lcdchess/home.htm
(remove the "nospampls" from my email address if replying by email)

On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 05:18:21 GMT, Chris Kantack
wrote:

The Touch Chess screen is no worse than the Nintendo GameBoy Advance.
(Best for young eyes I guess!)

How does it compare to a Palm organiser?

kafooey
-
- http://www.pluggedout.com/blog

In article ,
says...
On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 05:18:21 GMT, Chris Kantack
wrote:

The Touch Chess screen is no worse than the Nintendo GameBoy Advance.
(Best for young eyes I guess!)

How does it compare to a Palm organiser?

kafooey
-
- http://www.pluggedout.com/blog

Well, the oldest Palm in my house is a Palm IIIxe. (Which I've been told
has better contrast than the original Palm and Palm Pilots but probably not
as good as the newer Palms.)

The Palm IIIxe is much better than Touch Chess when it comes to overall
screen visibility. Of course, there are many other advantages to running a
chess program on a Palm. (Automatic recording of games. Ease of loading a
played game or position into a PC, etc.)

The only place, where Touch Chess will win out is in the bright sun on a
warm day. I've seen where my Palm's screen will go totally black if in the
hot sun for more than a few minutes. Touch Chess does not seem to have
that problem. (Perhaps because my Palm has a black casing it overheats
easily while Touch Chess is a shiny gold?)

But in any case, if you've already got a Palm, a good chess program (Chess
Tiger or ChessGenius) is the way to go!
--
Chris Kantack
http://home.earthlink.net/~kantack/lcdchess/home.htm
(remove the "nospampls" from my email address if replying by email)