Novag Star Ruby arrived yesterday...

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Larry
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Location: Gosford, NSW Australia

Novag Star Ruby arrived yesterday...

Post by Larry »

Unfortunately this unit and it's big brother Star Sapphire were released onto the market
about a decade too late. They would have sold very well in the early 90's or so.They are both just glorified handheld Pocket PC's that
will only play chess. Still, they have a certain collector value about them, and
this particular unit is mint.
On the lookout for a Star Sapphire now
rainy days down here....
Larry
RadioSmall
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Re: Novag Star Ruby arrived yesterday...

Post by RadioSmall »

Larry wrote:Unfortunately this unit and it's big brother Star Sapphire were released onto the market
about a decade too late. They would have sold very well in the early 90's or so.They are both just glorified handheld Pocket PC's that
will only play chess. Still, they have a certain collector value about them, and
this particular unit is mint.
On the lookout for a Star Sapphire now
rainy days down here....
Larry
Novag Computers are hard to enjoy because of the fact that the rotating display never goes away.I do not want to take a peak at what the computer is thinking!!This is an option in all other models.Could you tell me if this model has the same opening problems that I talk about in my post here concerning the Obsidian?
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IA
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Location: Spain

Post by IA »

Hi Larry, the Novag Star Ruby is a wonderful machine chess play very well but it fails the backlight, to play day is good or good lighting the machine is very good, his style of play is what best from Novag, however Novag Star Sapphire is very strong but very delicate, as you drop stops working, I have one and throw it away, is the worst by far Novag machine, I recommend a Novag Sapphire I - II, in my case I can tell you is the worst computer I bought, you enjoy magnificent Novag Star Ruby with +2.000 Elo.
Larry
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Posts: 2269
Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:42 am
Location: Gosford, NSW Australia

Re: Novag Star Ruby arrived yesterday...

Post by Larry »

RadioSmall wrote:Novag Computers are hard to enjoy because of the fact that the rotating display never goes away.I do not want to take a peak at what the computer is thinking!!This is an option in all other models.Could you tell me if this model has the same opening problems that I talk about in my post here concerning the Obsidian?
Hi RS, Just checked the Star Ruby's openings and yep, it seems to always
respond to 1.d4 with 1...d5. I restarted about 7 or 8 times and it always played
the same first move for black. A bit disappointing to see, given the overall
quality of the unit, and the good selection of other options. Of course you can
get around the problem by simply forcing a different opening move, but you
should'nt have to do that. According to the owner's manual the 'random'
function refers not to the opening but to the playing style after the opening,
just like you said weeks ago. I activated 'random' anyway, and the thing still
played 1...d5 in response to 1.d4.
Hi to IA as well... you are right the SR is a nice machine and will I'm sure
give a lot of hours of enjoyment. I'm not sure you were serious about throwing
away a dropped and no longer functional Star Sapphire, it would be still probably
worth near $100 as a non working unit. I know SR and SS are both nice, but
I just made the point that they were unfortunately badly timed in their
development and public release. Also, they should have a dc jack in them so
they can run on a power adaptor. The battery door should not have to be
screwed shut, especially as I believe the Star Sapphire munches batteries.
The controls, instead of being on the display, would have been better lined
up alongside the display or under it with easy to read and press buttons.
Finally, the display itself could be brighter. Hard to please little critter, aint I?
Someone out there got a Star Sapphire they don't want?
regards,
Larry
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Steve B
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Post by Steve B »

i remember one of the big complaints about the Star Sap/Ruby when they first came out were the depiction of the chess pieces
personally i never had an issue distinguishing the pieces and when i use these models i dont even think about it ..doesnt bother me at all

i guess this is because i was raised on LCD chess pieces dating back to
the early 1980's

now these pieces did take a bit getting used to...
Image

Squinting Regards
Steve
Larry
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Posts: 2269
Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:42 am
Location: Gosford, NSW Australia

Re: Novag Star Ruby arrived yesterday...

Post by Larry »

Larry wrote:Unfortunately this unit and it's big brother Star Sapphire were released onto the market
about a decade too late. They would have sold very well in the early 90's or so.They are both just glorified handheld Pocket PC's that
will only play chess. Still, they have a certain collector value about them, and
this particular unit is mint.
On the lookout for a Star Sapphire now
rainy days down here....
Larry
Just yesterday I came across a Star Sapphire, by chance. It was,
however, just the game in it's vinyl cover. The game would not work, the
right hand side of the screen being dead. This to me means that it will
more than likely never work, and could be the result of it being dropped
sometime. I know LCD screens don't like impacts. I think the guy was
insulted at my $20 offer, even after I prompted him to come back with
a counter offer. He turned his head sharply to one side and in an
indignant tone told me that these things are worth about $300. Yes
they are, but that is for one working and complete.
I probably would have stretched to $50 or so, on the offchance that I
could somehow get it going.
I did notice that, unlike the Star Ruby, the Star Sapphire does in fact
have an adaptor jack, and even a small USB port. I also noticed that
the screen on the Star Ruby is the better of the two, ie, more visible.
Oh well, that's life...back to my ebay search for the elusive SS.
LH
Larry
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Posts: 2269
Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:42 am
Location: Gosford, NSW Australia

Post by Larry »

Steve B wrote:i remember one of the big complaints about the Star Sap/Ruby when they first came out were the depiction of the chess pieces
personally i never had an issue distinguishing the pieces and when i use these models i dont even think about it ..doesnt bother me at all

i guess this is because i was raised on LCD chess pieces dating back to
the early 1980's

now these pieces did take a bit getting used to...
Image

Squinting Regards
Steve
Steve, Is this the comp that has a picture of a young Bruce Pandolfini on
the box? I seem to remember one with his picture. Regarding the graphics,
computer horsepower was in short supply back then and they had no option
but to supply very spartan, but quaint, graphics. Later manufacturers did
not have the same excuse.
flooding down here regards,
Larry
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Steve B
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Post by Steve B »

Larry wrote:
Steve, Is this the comp that has a picture of a young Bruce Pandolfini on
the box? I seem to remember one with his picture. Regarding the graphics,
computer horsepower was in short supply back then and they had no option
but to supply very spartan, but quaint, graphics. Later manufacturers did
not have the same excuse.
flooding down here regards,
Larry
Yup..very same one
in fact this was the very first hand held chess computer with Lcd Pieces
in todays world of mobile hand held devices ..this was the very first to play chess without real pieces

Bruce Would like to say hello Regards..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N ... 922174174/
Steve
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Steve B
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Re: Novag Star Ruby arrived yesterday...

Post by Steve B »

Larry wrote: Oh well, that's life...back to my ebay search for the elusive SS.
LH
http://cgi.ebay.com/Novag-Star-Sapphire ... 0519942760


Good Luck Regards
Steve
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ricard60
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Location: Puerto Ordaz

Post by ricard60 »

Somebody wants to end this auction early in a question that is making to the seller. Is this possibble on e-bay?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Novag-Star-Sapphire ... 0519942760
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Steve B
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Post by Steve B »

ricard60 wrote:Somebody wants to end this auction early in a question that is making to the seller. Is this possibble on e-bay?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Novag-Star-Sapphire ... 0519942760
Yes..Sadly it happens all the time
If there are more then 12 Hrs. still remaining then the seller can end the auction at any time and sell to the highest bidder at that time
but we all know that the sales price will be the latest bid+whatever extra the buyer is offering the seller"under the table" to close early
sometimes you see the seller just cancel all of the bids ..close the auction and then sell"around ebay"
that is clearly prohibited

Legal but perhaps unethical regards
Steve
jcbillyjack
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Star ruby

Post by jcbillyjack »

Hello Larry, ...so how much did you pay for the used Star Ruby? Thanks
Larry
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Posts: 2269
Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:42 am
Location: Gosford, NSW Australia

Re: Star ruby

Post by Larry »

jcbillyjack wrote:Hello Larry, ...so how much did you pay for the used Star Ruby? Thanks
It was a long time ago now... but maybe $100 or so. It's all complete
and mint. I never use it, it's just a part of the collection. It's a handheld
version of the Obsidian. Neat little machine.
L
jcbillyjack
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Post by jcbillyjack »

Hello Larry a friend of a friend who lives out of town has one of the Novag star ruby computers for sale. I haven't seen it yet but I've read online that the pieces are hard to see especially the white ones. what is your opinion about the LCD display on this unit ?thanks
Larry
Senior Member
Posts: 2269
Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:42 am
Location: Gosford, NSW Australia

Post by Larry »

jcbillyjack wrote:Hello Larry a friend of a friend who lives out of town has one of the Novag star ruby computers for sale. I haven't seen it yet but I've read online that the pieces are hard to see especially the white ones. what is your opinion about the LCD display on this unit ?thanks
Ok, we have to be sure we are talking about the right unit, as there is
confusion sometimes. The Star Ruby is the mauve coloured one, as
opposed to the earlier blue Star Sapphire. The Star Ruby you are
considering is not as strong, nor as rare, but it's graphics, ie, the display,
is fine IMO. Its rated around elo1970, plenty for most players. And
it will hold its value. Make sure it doesn't suffer any impacts. Just dropping it
from waist level onto a thick carpet may well finish it. Confirm with the
seller that it has no problems before buying. All the best...
L
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