Collector's Corner..On Collecting Dedicated Chess Computers

[Larry]

This Novag Printer cable is actually a hard to find item

One of these cables came with my Expert 6mhz from New Zealand. The
seller was clueless as to what it was, calling it an "upgrade". It was
positioned in the photo at an odd angle so it was'nt until it arrived that
I could see what it actually was. I seem to remember reading in some
documentation that the Expert takes a different cable to the Super Connie.
L

[Steve B]

This Novag Printer cable is actually a hard to find item

One of these cables came with my Expert 6mhz from New Zealand. The
seller was clueless as to what it was, calling it an "upgrade". It was
positioned in the photo at an odd angle so it was'nt until it arrived that
I could see what it actually was. I seem to remember reading in some
documentation that the Expert takes a different cable to the Super Connie.
L

Actually the Super Connie attaches to the printer without a cable
you remove a plastic cover on the left side of the computer revealing a connecter to the printer
you then press the printer and computer together
shown here with the clock attached as well:



a super rare auxiliary item is the Novag Robot Adversary printer card
needed to connect the Robot to the Printer

https://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@ ... 0923814103

House Of Cards Regards
Steve

[Larry]

Here's one for the gamblers:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/121457376521 ... 1438.l2649

Zero feedback and no photos of it working. The current high
bid makes it tempting for those looking for one of these.
L

[Reinfeld]

Here's one for the gamblers:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/121457376521 ... 1438.l2649

Zero feedback and no photos of it working. The current high
bid makes it tempting for those looking for one of these.
L

Call me Mr. Vegas. I rolled the dice on this one. 860 USD. A big thank-you to Steve B. for sage advice and a tip on the London EPROM.

The seller is a middle-aged ebay newbie. As Larry stated, the photos didn't show the thing working. I asked the seller for proof of life. He sent me photos of the machine playing a Caro-Kann, and a short video where he made moves. Lights functioning, display functioning, all the appropriate beeps. He said the original adaptor stopped working, so he purchased a universal substitute.

Another Berlin Pro is out there on auction now on German ebay - it looks almost new, but I know that one will soar out of my price range when the bids start rolling, given Euro exchange rate and international shipping.

For those with knowledge, a question: The London mod is actually slightly lower in rating than the original Pro. Yet it seems to offer a larger menu of features. Can anyone speak from experience on the differences?

We'll see if this gamble pays off. More news when machine arrives.

- R.

[Steve B]

For those with knowledge, a question: The London mod is actually slightly lower in rating than the original Pro. Yet it seems to offer a larger menu of features. Can anyone speak from experience on the differences?



- R.

Congrats On The Berlin Pro
the London Update was released by Lang after Mephisto went out of business..he released it for six different Mephisto computers
one of which was for the Berlin Pro
you can download the new features of the London update from my Web site:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@ ... 0922171154

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

As to the rating...
i guess that depends on the rating list you look at
Selective Search rates the Berlin Pro-London 2266 and the Berlin Pro 2232

London Calling Regards
Steve

[Steve B]

Seems like Berlin Pro's are coming out of the woodwork all of a sudden

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Electronic-Ches ... 19f5068daa

Strangely ..as with the previous auction ..this seller is also newly registered and has no completed transactions

Hmmm Regards
Steve

[Brian B]

Speaking of gambling, another Berlin Pro:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Electronic-Ches ... 1485029802?

This one looks suspicious.

Obvious cropped photos
zero feedback seller
ID created in the past two weeks

Might be legit, who knows?

Regards,
Brian B

[Brian B]

Seems like Berlin Pro's are coming out of the woodwork all of a sudden

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Electronic-Ches ... 19f5068daa

Strangely ..as with the previous auction ..this seller is also newly registered and has no completed transactions

Hmmm Regards
Steve

Ah, you beat me to it! I wonder how much financial worry dictates people selling these higher priced units? Stock market is down, maybe people think it is time to sell some toys? Look around the house, and here we have a chess computer that no one plays anymore. They aren't registered on Ebay so they have to create an ID to sell something. We might see more of this type of thing if the markets show more volatility.

Regards,
Brian B

[Steve B]

Look around the house, and here we have a chess computer that no one plays anymore. They aren't registered on Ebay so they have to create an ID to sell something. We might see more of this type of thing if the markets show more volatility.

Regards,
Brian B

Actually its not all that uncommon for auctions to show up for the same model computer soon after folks see how high the first one sold for
happens fairly regularly
what is strange here.. is BOTH auctions are from new members with no transactions

Somewhat Skeptical Regards
Steve

[BlackSails911]

Hi, I guess I was bidding against you on the Vegas gambit (sorry about that). I stopped bidding at around 600. I need a stronger dedicated, my MM IV does not put up enough opposition (I was a 2400 FIDE in another life). Any recommendations? I hate playing vs software. Where can I get a decent standalone around 2300 strength? Maybe somebody on here wants to sell something? I own an exclusive board and would love to get some stronger cartridges for it.

Ebay claims to offer buyer protection, so I assume it is safe going after some of these pricey units. Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks

Roger

[Larry]

Hi, I guess I was bidding against you on the Vegas gambit (sorry about that). I stopped bidding at around 600. I need a stronger dedicated, my MM IV does not put up enough opposition (I was a 2400 FIDE in another life). Any recommendations? I hate playing vs software. Where can I get a decent standalone around 2300 strength? Maybe somebody on here wants to sell something? I own an exclusive board and would love to get some stronger cartridges for it.

Ebay claims to offer buyer protection, so I assume it is safe going after some of these pricey units. Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks

Roger

Hi Roger, I think about the best advice I can give you is to go for the
Canadian Berlin Pro.It's rated around 2240elo, and at tournament time
control is the strongest pressure sensory chess comp ever made. The
elo2300+ monsters are quite rare and expensive. You will have to wait
for one to appear and go into a bidding war.
The Berlin Pro is a good solid unit with good options and a light on every
square. It does NOT run on batteries, only through an adaptor. It will make you put your thinking cap on, even with your playing strength.
The German Berlin Pro went for 900 euros. Hopefully the Canadian
one will be more affordable.
L

[Larry]

Sorry Roger, forgot to mention. Ebay does offer insurance and will
refund your money in the event of an outright ripoff. At least they did
for me. I had a seller take my money and then just flat out refuse to
send my stuff.
Having said this, there is always the element of risk. An example is
the computer arriving not working and the seller putting up an excuse
that it worked when he sent it and you must have cooked it with a
bad adaptor. Electronic goods cause disputes.
L

[BlackSails911]

Thanks, great advice Larry. I will throw some money at the Berlin Pro. 2250 is fine, I am a school teacher and usually grading while I play. Additionally, my skills have waned over the years, so 2250 will probably give me more then a run for my money.

[Monsieur Plastique]

my MM IV does not put up enough opposition (I was a 2400 FIDE in another life). Any recommendations? I hate playing vs software. Where can I get a decent standalone around 2300 strength?

To be honest, if you were a 2400 FIDE player I think you will ultimately be dissatisfied with any dedicated machine bar the very expensive Resurrection II. You might get a fun game out of the lower rated machines but long term I think you will be yearning for more. And at your level, you really need to play a very large program with a heavy emphasis upon sophisticated heuristics which again pretty much means Resurrection II. Either that or a DGT bluetooth board and a discreet laptop computer. I know the latter isn't a dedicated but at least you won't have to worry about playing style / strength.

[BlackSails911]

The mainstream software beats me up. I need to use all my ability to keep the game within reach until I finally error. And I am weaker now, maybe 100 points or more. I think a 2250 level would be fine. The resurrection is like $3000 I believe, which is probably more than I wanted to spend. A tasc R30 would be great, but they are impossible to find these days.