The ugliest chess computer

This forum is for general discussions and questions, including Collectors Corner and anything to do with Computer chess.

Moderators: Harvey Williamson, Steve B, Watchman

Forum rules
This textbox is used to restore diagrams posted with the fen tag before the upgrade.
User avatar
Monsieur Plastique
Senior Member
Posts: 1014
Joined: Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:53 am
Location: On top of a hill in eastern Australia

Post by Monsieur Plastique »

I like the looks of every chess computer described thus far in this thread as ugly. :shock: Except for the fantasy Disney Inter Galactic type of stuff. Now that stuff really is ugly. Even to me.
Chess is like painting the Mona Lisa whilst walking through a minefield.
User avatar
chesspcmac
Member
Posts: 250
Joined: Sun Feb 05, 2012 2:58 am
Location: Richmond, Virginia

Post by chesspcmac »

IvenGO, yes !!! thats a top contender!!!



sometimes the beholder's eyes are wrong regards

Mike
"Sir, the slowness of genius is hard to bear, but the slowness of mediocrity is insufferable"

Henry Thomas Buckle
JeffB
Member
Posts: 420
Joined: Sat Mar 07, 2015 6:36 pm
Location: Seattle, WA USA

Post by JeffB »


OwOwOwOwOwOwOw! Can I un-see that one, please? Made my eyes hurt. I do believe we have a winner here!
Cheers,

Jeff B.
User avatar
Steve B
Site Admin
Posts: 10140
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:02 am
Location: New York City USofA
Contact:

Post by Steve B »

JeffB wrote:

OwOwOwOwOwOwOw! Can I un-see that one, please? Made my eyes hurt. I do believe we have a winner here!
I own a Poppy
actually I like it
it is the Sensory 6 housing with no Display (display screen is taped over with the Poppy Sticker)
fairly rare computer
the shocking Red is a great eye opening wake-me-up on those mornings where I am a bit groggy from sleep
legend has it that the computer was released in several other bright colors
yellow..green and others ..although I have never seen one other then in Red
perhaps there are collectors out there with a non-red Poppy and they are ashamed to admit it?

Stand And Be Counted Regards
Steve
JeffB
Member
Posts: 420
Joined: Sat Mar 07, 2015 6:36 pm
Location: Seattle, WA USA

Post by JeffB »

I own a Poppy
actually I like it

I'm so sorry. :wink:
Cheers,

Jeff B.
Larry
Senior Member
Posts: 2269
Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:42 am
Location: Gosford, NSW Australia

Post by Larry »

JeffB wrote:

OwOwOwOwOwOwOw! Can I un-see that one, please? Made my eyes hurt. I do believe we have a winner here!
Rumour has it that every original purchase of the Poppy came with
a pair of sunglasses, so you could play a game against it.
I also remember the Poppy came in a few bright colors. The intention
was to entice small kids into hounding their parents into buying one.
L
User avatar
Monsieur Plastique
Senior Member
Posts: 1014
Joined: Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:53 am
Location: On top of a hill in eastern Australia

Post by Monsieur Plastique »

Steve B wrote:the shocking Red is a great eye opening wake-me-up on those mornings where I am a bit groggy from sleep
legend has it that the computer was released in several other bright colors
yellow..green and others ..although I have never seen one other then in Red
And let's not forget competing brightly coloured machines from the Mephisto stable.

Bistro:

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


Beach:


http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/in ... isto_Beach
Chess is like painting the Mona Lisa whilst walking through a minefield.
User avatar
Steve B
Site Admin
Posts: 10140
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:02 am
Location: New York City USofA
Contact:

Post by Steve B »

Monsieur Plastique wrote:
And let's not forget competing brightly coloured machines from the Mephisto stable.

Beach:

http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/in ... isto_Beach
Actually I Own A Beach as well
strangely also in Eye Popping Red
never even opened up the box
still waiting to get to the beach to use it
I still wonder what that thing is on the right side of it
Looks like a Baby Rattle to me...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@ ... 922171154/

Pauline à la plage Regards
Steve
User avatar
Monsieur Plastique
Senior Member
Posts: 1014
Joined: Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:53 am
Location: On top of a hill in eastern Australia

Post by Monsieur Plastique »

Wow Steve, you show incredible restraint. I don't think I could have resisted opening it up if only to see what on earth that thing is off to the right. Don't you toss and turn at night wondering? I now want to buy one in order to answer this mysterious question.

But...

What if in many years to come on your deathbed you still don't know? Then you ask the assisting nurse to hand you the boxed machine from the combination safe, you begin to open it, then cark it before you even get the box flap open?

Pragmatic Regards
Chess is like painting the Mona Lisa whilst walking through a minefield.
User avatar
Monsieur Plastique
Senior Member
Posts: 1014
Joined: Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:53 am
Location: On top of a hill in eastern Australia

Post by Monsieur Plastique »

Incidentally, brightly coloured and aimed at kids or not, the Mephisto Bistro could actually be considered a semi serious machine. It appears to be the same under skin as the Sensor XL which in turn is an earlier, half speed, version of the Saitek Bullet - a machine that gives a Mephisto Europa an extremely tough time (if anything, I think it is mostly the size of the opening book that really makes the Europa superior).

So the Bistro is solid 1500 ELO machine - well above "toy" level.
Chess is like painting the Mona Lisa whilst walking through a minefield.
User avatar
Steve B
Site Admin
Posts: 10140
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:02 am
Location: New York City USofA
Contact:

Post by Steve B »

Monsieur Plastique wrote:Wow Steve, you show incredible restraint. I don't think I could have resisted opening it up if only to see what on earth that thing is off to the right. Don't you toss and turn at night wondering? I now want to buy one in order to answer this mysterious question.

But...

What if in many years to come on your deathbed you still don't know? Then you ask the assisting nurse to hand you the boxed machine from the combination safe, you begin to open it, then cark it before you even get the box flap open?

Pragmatic Regards
OK OK
i opened it up
its some sort of Wrist Watch with band .. Summer Fun Thingy ..with a snow globe type of watch face ..with liquid in it and a floating ball type thing
i guess its meant to stimulate a Beachy Atmosphere

Fun In The Sun Regards
Steve
User avatar
paulwise3
Senior Member
Posts: 1505
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2015 10:56 am
Location: Eindhoven, Netherlands

Post by paulwise3 »

Larry wrote: However I would like to nominate Mephisto's ugly duckling. speed bump.
aka, Explorer Pro.
http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/in ... plorer_Pro
L
Like Steve, I like the Explorer and the Explorer Pro, it is really a functional design, no need to turn the board upside down to get to the pieces. The only thing I dislike, is that they only run on batteries. And talking about futuristic design, this is so much better then those unrecognizable pieces of the galactic chess board (http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/star_ ... ode_1.html), allthough I do like the design of the board itself.

And (sorry Steve) I agree with the Poppy voters that it is a pain to the eyes...

Voting for Poppy regards,
Paul.
2024 Special thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12741
2024 Special results and standings: https://schaakcomputers.nl/paul_w/Tourn ... 25_06.html
If I am mistaken, it must be caused by a horizon effect...
User avatar
chesspcmac
Member
Posts: 250
Joined: Sun Feb 05, 2012 2:58 am
Location: Richmond, Virginia

Post by chesspcmac »

A video is worth a million words......UGLY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHJyf4bZMII
"Sir, the slowness of genius is hard to bear, but the slowness of mediocrity is insufferable"

Henry Thomas Buckle
User avatar
paulwise3
Senior Member
Posts: 1505
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2015 10:56 am
Location: Eindhoven, Netherlands

Post by paulwise3 »

Okay, okay,
That hurts the eyes even more ;-)
2024 Special thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12741
2024 Special results and standings: https://schaakcomputers.nl/paul_w/Tourn ... 25_06.html
If I am mistaken, it must be caused by a horizon effect...
Post Reply