Most beautiful Chess Computer

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Fernando
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Most beautiful Chess Computer

Post by Fernando »

Not difficult to guess it is a wooden one, but, which one?
The quality of the wood and design of the pieces and the board must be taken into account, what else, but perhaps the way the electronics are embedded is important too.

In doubt regards
Fern
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Monsieur Plastique
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Post by Monsieur Plastique »

I have always felt that the Mephisto Monte Carlo / Academy style small wooden boards are far and away the most attractive chess computers ever marketed.
Chess is like painting the Mona Lisa whilst walking through a minefield.
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pr1uk
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Post by pr1uk »

At this moment in time i think the ESB 6000 is a great board nice size great pieces and a joy to use.



Peter
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JeffB
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Post by JeffB »

Tough to pin down to just one, maybe because there are so many I haven't yet seen. It's almost like asking "Who's the most beautiful woman in the world?" Well, maybe I can narrow that one down to about my top 100.

As for chess computers, of those I own, it's close to a tie between:
  • - Mephisto Monte Carlo / Academy
    - Mephisto Exclusive
    - Novag Citrine/UCB
    - Novag Autosensory Board
The Novags would lose points because of their not-as-nice chess pieces (I use non-Novag pieces on my Novag boards) and the funky displays (Citrine's external module, Autosensory's pullout Super VIP shell).

Honorable mention may have to go to SciSys Renaissance (love the four LEDs per square) or the Saitek Corona.

(I suppose I didn't go a very good job narrowing that list down. I'd better stop now before I think of others...)
Cheers,

Jeff B.
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Dave C
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Post by Dave C »

Great question Fern. I'd list contenders in this order:
  • Saitek Renaissance (very beautiful large board, very plain chessmen)
    Fidelity Elite A/S & Avant Gardes (beautiful solid boards, excellent chessmen)
    Novag Diablo/Experts (beautiful smallish boards, fair chessmen)
    Mephisto Munich/Exclusive (nice/reliable boards, poor chessmen)
On the Renaissance, Diablo and Mephisto boards a nice set of aftermarket chessmen look a lot better than the original chessmen.
I haven't seen a Revelation II in person but the beauty of those boards and chessmen may put them at the top of the list.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder regards,
Dave
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dedicate computers
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EAG

Post by dedicate computers »

Elite Avant Garde, ideal size, few buttons, excellent design, two clocks, I think was the best machine built. Secondly, I consider Mephisto Monte Carlo and Academy, both in wood!
with my EAG regards
Oswaldo
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Eric Wainwright
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Post by Eric Wainwright »

Yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I have to disagree with JeffB. I think the chessmen that come with the Novag Experts are just about perfect. All the pieces are slender and elegant. The knights are a nice balance between plain and ornate. The wood isn’t overly glossed and feel good in the hand.

Second place goes to Mephisto Exclusive and Fidelity EAG boards.
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Theo
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Post by Theo »

The most beautiful chess computer ever is the Revelation I, hands down.
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pr1uk
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Post by pr1uk »

Theo wrote:The most beautiful chess computer ever is the Revelation I, hands down.
You may be right there Theo now if only i could afford one :-(
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mclane
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Post by mclane »

I would say fidelity avantgarde or mephisto Excalibur (anybody with a picture?).
What seems like a fairy tale today may be reality tomorrow.
Here we have a fairy tale of the day after tomorrow....
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Steve B
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Post by Steve B »

mclane wrote: mephisto Excalibur (anybody with a picture?).
Why Certainly....

Image

Sword Of Excalibur Regards
Steve
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Fernando
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Post by Fernando »

Steve B wrote:
mclane wrote: mephisto Excalibur (anybody with a picture?).
Why Certainly....

Image

Sword Of Excalibur Regards
Steve
Beatifull...with an air of 18 century furniture

Louis XIV send his regards
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Steve B
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Post by Steve B »

Fernando wrote:
Beatifull...with an air of 18 century furniture

Louis XIV send his regards
actually you hit upon the perfect impression
the computer is an historical masterpiece
first computer to ever utilize the...

Motorola 68000 Processor Regards
Steve
JeffB
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Post by JeffB »

I have to disagree with JeffB. I think the chessmen that come with the Novag Experts are just about perfect. All the pieces are slender and elegant. The knights are a nice balance between plain and ornate. The wood isn’t overly glossed and feel good in the hand.
If it the Knights didn't have pointy noses that make them look more like greyhounds or can-openers than horses then I would have no objection. Otherwise, yes, they're very nice pieces. But that knight! Oh, the pain! (That observation applies to some Novag sets, not the German Knight sets that come with the smaller computers like the Obsidian.)
Cheers,

Jeff B.
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