Rybka 2.2 + Chess Openings = P.O.S.

Main

Date: 29 Nov 2006 09:25:38
From: Ange1o DePa1ma
Subject: Rybka 2.2 + Chess Openings = P.O.S.

I recently purchased a Rybka 2.2 plus Chess Openings download from Convekta.

BIG MISTAKE.

The interface is complex beyond comprehension. Assorted boxes and windows
appear with no rhyme or reason and I never know if closing one will "wreck"
the setup. Supposedly there is an openings training mode but I have no idea
how to access or otherwise take advantage of it. Even tasks as simple as
entering one of my OTB games and saving it to a database is a mystery.

Convekta provided a link to the user manual, but the file is written in
Microsoft Word and is nearly 10 Mb. Only the first two pages (out of 56) of
diagrams and graphics are visible. Even though I have 1 GB of RAM on my
machine I get an "insufficient memory to display or print graphics" message.
I tried converting the file to PDF and various other portable formats but
the graphics still did not come through.

Even if the manual were of reasonable size, for $53 I should NOT have to
print out a freaking 56-page book in 4-point type on my inkjet. You'd think
customers would deserve a printed manual no matter how they purchased it, or
at least have the option of obtaining one for a reasonable fee.

Most annoyingly, the fonts do not load (or display) properly. Instead of
"Nxb3" or a figurine representation I get boxes, Pound Sterling signs, Yen
signs, etc. Nothing I do in the "options/fonts" menu affect this in any way.

"Customer service" -- central/eastern European style -- available by email,
takes a full day for one turn-around, even though I am up and at my computer
for 12 hours a day. (By contrast, yesterday I was having problems with a
spam blocker and had three exchanges with the product's US-based customer
service department). When Convekta does respond they completely
mis-understand my questions. My luck: to buy a product from the only company
in Europe that does not employ people who speak English better than I do, or
at all.

Consequently the responses generally have nothing to do with my questions. I
am still waiting for another link to the manual for the product I purchased
because "Sasha" still doesn't grasp which product I own (he originally
thought I was running the Rybka 2.2 UCI under Fritz and chided me for asking
him to support a product that he didn't sell!).

His solution for my fonts problem was to re-send me the font file, which I
had already located in the program folder, three days earlier. By the way
it's a RAR file -- what am I supposed to do with that file, Sasha? Move it
to what folder? Install it how? Invoke it through which commands in the
interface? Should I copy it to a floppy disk and pray over it in Russian???
It's already in the correct folder. Obviously the problem is in some setup
step. Oh well, I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out --
naaaaaaa!!

I get the feeling looking at the product, working out whatever I can from
the on-screen menus, and reading between the broken graphic links in the
manual, that this is a very powerful, versatile product that could easily
replace ChessBase as my priy database, analysis, and generally speaking
chess training suite. And of course it uses Rybka, which is supposed to be
stronger than CB engines. Unfortunately in software, an ounce of
accessibility (or usability) is always worth a pound of features.

Rybka 2.2 + Chess Openings is a very bad presentation by Convekta, showing a
non-existent appreciation for common problems users outside of Ukraine are
likely to experience with it. This group may know me as a CB-basher but I'll
tell you something, Convekta's customer support makes Hans und Franz from
ChessBase GmbH seem like fawning sycophants by comparison.

Perhaps the CD purchase would have worked out better, but it's too late for
that. It looks like an invasion of Convektastan SSR is our only option now.

Seriously, anyone considering purchasing a Convekta product should have
their head examined.

Angelo

Date:
From: Martin Brown
Subject: Re: Rybka 2.2 + Chess Openings = P.O.S.

Date: 05 Dec 2006 13:26:22
From: David Richerby
Subject: Re: Rybka 2.2 + Chess Openings = P.O.S.

tin Brown <

Date: 05 Dec 2006 06:50:26
From: Mike Murray
Subject: Re: Rybka 2.2 + Chess Openings = P.O.S.

On 05 Dec 2006 13:26:22 +0000 (GMT), David Richerby
<[email protected] > wrote:

>tin Brown <

Date: 04 Dec 2006 03:11:25
From: Sanny
Subject: Play at GetClub.com Chess Unlimited

Ange1o DePa1ma wrote:
> I recently purchased a Rybka 2.2 plus Chess Openings download from Convekta.
>
> BIG MISTAKE.
>

Play Chess with Human Opponents as well as Computer. No download
needed.

Play Chess at: http://www.GetClub.com/Chess.html

You can play with 5 different Levels very Strong or Beginner Levels.
Your each Game is recorded for future analysis. You get Ratings on
winning Games and also Prizes to purchase more Games.

Bye
Sanny

Play Chess at: http://www.GetClub.com/Chess.html

Date: 29 Nov 2006 23:06:16
From: Chess One
Subject: Re: Rybka 2.2 + Chess Openings = P.O.S.

Angelo, although I usually avoid commercial references, we sell Rybka 2.1
upgradable to 2.2 and 2.3 for less than anyone else in the USA, and to
accommodate communication issues gave Convekta use of our forum pages to
answer questions posed directly by customers. Did you get a video file, btw,
"video help for rybka..."

There are 2 basic Rybka products, the engine itself, and 'with Chess
Openings'. I usually recommend buying the CD to avoid any extensive
download.

While I will not apologise for something which I am not responsible for, did
you send your note below to Rybka so that they can appreciate what seem like
real problems for you? My Rybka contact in Moscow speaks excellent English -
which is not to diminish your problem, but to seek to want to solve it.

Can you say what problemns you have, post them to our forum, and we will
note the result?

Cordially, Phil Innes
Business Manger, Chessville.com

"Ange1o DePa1ma" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I recently purchased a Rybka 2.2 plus Chess Openings download from
> Convekta.
>
> BIG MISTAKE.
>
> The interface is complex beyond comprehension. Assorted boxes and windows
> appear with no rhyme or reason and I never know if closing one will
> "wreck" the setup. Supposedly there is an openings training mode but I
> have no idea how to access or otherwise take advantage of it. Even tasks
> as simple as entering one of my OTB games and saving it to a database is a
> mystery.
>
> Convekta provided a link to the user manual, but the file is written in
> Microsoft Word and is nearly 10 Mb. Only the first two pages (out of 56)
> of diagrams and graphics are visible. Even though I have 1 GB of RAM on my
> machine I get an "insufficient memory to display or print graphics"
> message. I tried converting the file to PDF and various other portable
> formats but the graphics still did not come through.
>
> Even if the manual were of reasonable size, for $53 I should NOT have to
> print out a freaking 56-page book in 4-point type on my inkjet. You'd
> think customers would deserve a printed manual no matter how they
> purchased it, or at least have the option of obtaining one for a
> reasonable fee.
>
> Most annoyingly, the fonts do not load (or display) properly. Instead of
> "Nxb3" or a figurine representation I get boxes, Pound Sterling signs, Yen
> signs, etc. Nothing I do in the "options/fonts" menu affect this in any
> way.
>
> "Customer service" -- central/eastern European style -- available by
> email, takes a full day for one turn-around, even though I am up and at my
> computer for 12 hours a day. (By contrast, yesterday I was having problems
> with a spam blocker and had three exchanges with the product's US-based
> customer service department). When Convekta does respond they completely
> mis-understand my questions. My luck: to buy a product from the only
> company in Europe that does not employ people who speak English better
> than I do, or at all.
>
> Consequently the responses generally have nothing to do with my questions.
> I am still waiting for another link to the manual for the product I
> purchased because "Sasha" still doesn't grasp which product I own (he
> originally thought I was running the Rybka 2.2 UCI under Fritz and chided
> me for asking him to support a product that he didn't sell!).
>
> His solution for my fonts problem was to re-send me the font file, which I
> had already located in the program folder, three days earlier. By the way
> it's a RAR file -- what am I supposed to do with that file, Sasha? Move it
> to what folder? Install it how? Invoke it through which commands in the
> interface? Should I copy it to a floppy disk and pray over it in
> Russian??? It's already in the correct folder. Obviously the problem is in
> some setup step. Oh well, I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow to find
> out -- naaaaaaa!!
>
> I get the feeling looking at the product, working out whatever I can from
> the on-screen menus, and reading between the broken graphic links in the
> manual, that this is a very powerful, versatile product that could easily
> replace ChessBase as my priy database, analysis, and generally speaking
> chess training suite. And of course it uses Rybka, which is supposed to be
> stronger than CB engines. Unfortunately in software, an ounce of
> accessibility (or usability) is always worth a pound of features.
>
> Rybka 2.2 + Chess Openings is a very bad presentation by Convekta, showing
> a non-existent appreciation for common problems users outside of Ukraine
> are likely to experience with it. This group may know me as a CB-basher
> but I'll tell you something, Convekta's customer support makes Hans und
> Franz from ChessBase GmbH seem like fawning sycophants by comparison.
>
> Perhaps the CD purchase would have worked out better, but it's too late
> for that. It looks like an invasion of Convektastan SSR is our only option
> now.
>
> Seriously, anyone considering purchasing a Convekta product should have
> their head examined.
>
> Angelo
>

Date: 29 Nov 2006 21:46:34
From: Ange1o DePa1ma
Subject: Re: Rybka 2.2 + Chess Openings = P.O.S.

"Chess One" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:Inobh.8504$Kw2.3290@trndny05...
> Angelo, although I usually avoid commercial references, we sell Rybka 2.1
> upgradable to 2.2 and 2.3 for less than anyone else in the USA, and to
> accommodate communication issues gave Convekta use of our forum pages to
> answer questions posed directly by customers. Did you get a video file,
> btw, "video help for rybka..."
>
> There are 2 basic Rybka products, the engine itself, and 'with Chess
> Openings'. I usually recommend buying the CD to avoid any extensive
> download.
>
> While I will not apologise for something which I am not responsible for,
> did you send your note below to Rybka so that they can appreciate what
> seem like real problems for you? My Rybka contact in Moscow speaks
> excellent English - which is not to diminish your problem, but to seek to
> want to solve it.
>
> Can you say what problemns you have, post them to our forum, and we will
> note the result?
>
> Cordially, Phil Innes
> Business Manger, Chessville.com
>
> "Ange1o DePa1ma" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> I recently purchased a Rybka 2.2 plus Chess Openings download from
>> Convekta.
>>
>> BIG MISTAKE.
>>
>> The interface is complex beyond comprehension. Assorted boxes and windows
>> appear with no rhyme or reason and I never know if closing one will
>> "wreck" the setup. Supposedly there is an openings training mode but I
>> have no idea how to access or otherwise take advantage of it. Even tasks
>> as simple as entering one of my OTB games and saving it to a database is
>> a mystery.
>>
>> Convekta provided a link to the user manual, but the file is written in
>> Microsoft Word and is nearly 10 Mb. Only the first two pages (out of 56)
>> of diagrams and graphics are visible. Even though I have 1 GB of RAM on
>> my machine I get an "insufficient memory to display or print graphics"
>> message. I tried converting the file to PDF and various other portable
>> formats but the graphics still did not come through.
>>
>> Even if the manual were of reasonable size, for $53 I should NOT have to
>> print out a freaking 56-page book in 4-point type on my inkjet. You'd
>> think customers would deserve a printed manual no matter how they
>> purchased it, or at least have the option of obtaining one for a
>> reasonable fee.
>>
>> Most annoyingly, the fonts do not load (or display) properly. Instead of
>> "Nxb3" or a figurine representation I get boxes, Pound Sterling signs,
>> Yen signs, etc. Nothing I do in the "options/fonts" menu affect this in
>> any way.
>>
>> "Customer service" -- central/eastern European style -- available by
>> email, takes a full day for one turn-around, even though I am up and at
>> my computer for 12 hours a day. (By contrast, yesterday I was having
>> problems with a spam blocker and had three exchanges with the product's
>> US-based customer service department). When Convekta does respond they
>> completely mis-understand my questions. My luck: to buy a product from
>> the only company in Europe that does not employ people who speak English
>> better than I do, or at all.
>>
>> Consequently the responses generally have nothing to do with my
>> questions. I am still waiting for another link to the manual for the
>> product I purchased because "Sasha" still doesn't grasp which product I
>> own (he originally thought I was running the Rybka 2.2 UCI under Fritz
>> and chided me for asking him to support a product that he didn't sell!).
>>
>> His solution for my fonts problem was to re-send me the font file, which
>> I had already located in the program folder, three days earlier. By the
>> way it's a RAR file -- what am I supposed to do with that file, Sasha?
>> Move it to what folder? Install it how? Invoke it through which commands
>> in the interface? Should I copy it to a floppy disk and pray over it in
>> Russian??? It's already in the correct folder. Obviously the problem is
>> in some setup step. Oh well, I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow to
>> find out -- naaaaaaa!!
>>
>> I get the feeling looking at the product, working out whatever I can from
>> the on-screen menus, and reading between the broken graphic links in the
>> manual, that this is a very powerful, versatile product that could easily
>> replace ChessBase as my priy database, analysis, and generally
>> speaking chess training suite. And of course it uses Rybka, which is
>> supposed to be stronger than CB engines. Unfortunately in software, an
>> ounce of accessibility (or usability) is always worth a pound of
>> features.
>>
>> Rybka 2.2 + Chess Openings is a very bad presentation by Convekta,
>> showing a non-existent appreciation for common problems users outside of
>> Ukraine are likely to experience with it. This group may know me as a
>> CB-basher but I'll tell you something, Convekta's customer support makes
>> Hans und Franz from ChessBase GmbH seem like fawning sycophants by
>> comparison.
>>
>> Perhaps the CD purchase would have worked out better, but it's too late
>> for that. It looks like an invasion of Convektastan SSR is our only
>> option now.
>>
>> Seriously, anyone considering purchasing a Convekta product should have
>> their head examined.
>>
>> Angelo

Thanks Phil. I wish I had seen your ad before I plunged ahead into this
purchase. I do recall seeing reference to a video file, but I don't think I
received it. Do you have a link?

Anyway, Sasha finally helped me solve my fonts problem by suggesting I
re-install them. He even sent me directions on how to do so, despite the
fact that Convekta doesn't support Microsoft Windows :)

However, he told me there was no way I'd get a printed manual.

Poor Sasha must have forwarded my email, which threatened to withold credit
card payment until my questions were answered satisfactorily, to his
supervisor because a very nice lady emailed me out of the blue some time
later saying they'd be happy to send me a printed copy of the manual,
apparently gratis.

I admit I was a bit hot-headed about this. Among my personality quirks is an
aversion to having my time wasted by others, especially after they've taken
my money. I actually don't mind having to read the manual for such a
complex, powerful product as Rybka 2.2 + Chess Openings. I'm even looking
forward to working my way through it, because from what I could see in the
MS Word version it is well written, informative, and at 56 pages in length
(at 4-point type) probably comprehensive as well. I was miffed, however, at
having spent perhaps 6-7 hours with my new toy and not being able even to
find the "ON" button.

I'll check out the forum as well.

Thanks,

Angelo

Date: 30 Nov 2006 22:37:54
From: Chess One
Subject: Re: Rybka 2.2 + Chess Openings = P.O.S.

"Ange1o DePa1ma" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> Thanks Phil. I wish I had seen your ad before I plunged ahead into this
> purchase. I do recall seeing reference to a video file, but I don't think
> I received it. Do you have a link?

Mine loaded with the CD, but I also used 2.1 with Openings - if you are
still stuck tonight send me e-mail and I'll get the nice people in Moscow to
send you a downloadable file. If you try/fail tonight and wizz me a note by
tomorrow morning - we'll still get to them before their weekend dacha stint!

> Anyway, Sasha finally helped me solve my fonts problem by suggesting I
> re-install them. He even sent me directions on how to do so, despite the
> fact that Convekta doesn't support Microsoft Windows :)
>
> However, he told me there was no way I'd get a printed manual.
>
> Poor Sasha must have forwarded my email, which threatened to withold
> credit card payment until my questions were answered satisfactorily, to
> his supervisor because a very nice lady emailed me out of the blue some
> time later saying they'd be happy to send me a printed copy of the manual,
> apparently gratis.
>
> I admit I was a bit hot-headed about this. Among my personality quirks is
> an aversion to having my time wasted by others, especially after they've
> taken my money. I actually don't mind having to read the manual for such a
> complex, powerful product as Rybka 2.2 + Chess Openings. I'm even looking
> forward to working my way through it, because from what I could see in the
> MS Word version it is well written, informative, and at 56 pages in length
> (at 4-point type) probably comprehensive as well. I was miffed, however,
> at having spent perhaps 6-7 hours with my new toy and not being able even
> to find the "ON" button.
>
> I'll check out the forum as well.

Okay - I had some of the same problems as you but am fighting through them.
Beaten it yet? I have one draw at 10 minutes, and more loses than I am going
to mention ;(

I haven't figured out how to switch the same game in progress from Rybka to
Crafty yet, maybe I can just copy/paste the moves? I'll try it.

Phil

> Thanks,
>
> Angelo
>

Date: 01 Dec 2006 15:23:33
From: Ange1o DePa1ma
Subject: Re: Rybka 2.2 + Chess Openings = P.O.S.

"Chess One" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:63Jbh.12290$gJ1.4402@trndny09...
>
> "Ange1o DePa1ma" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>> Thanks Phil. I wish I had seen your ad before I plunged ahead into this
>> purchase. I do recall seeing reference to a video file, but I don't think
>> I received it. Do you have a link?
>
> Mine loaded with the CD, but I also used 2.1 with Openings - if you are
> still stuck tonight send me e-mail and I'll get the nice people in Moscow
> to send you a downloadable file. If you try/fail tonight and wizz me a
> note by tomorrow morning - we'll still get to them before their weekend
> dacha stint!
>
>> Anyway, Sasha finally helped me solve my fonts problem by suggesting I
>> re-install them. He even sent me directions on how to do so, despite the
>> fact that Convekta doesn't support Microsoft Windows :)
>>
>> However, he told me there was no way I'd get a printed manual.
>>
>> Poor Sasha must have forwarded my email, which threatened to withold
>> credit card payment until my questions were answered satisfactorily, to
>> his supervisor because a very nice lady emailed me out of the blue some
>> time later saying they'd be happy to send me a printed copy of the
>> manual, apparently gratis.
>>
>> I admit I was a bit hot-headed about this. Among my personality quirks is
>> an aversion to having my time wasted by others, especially after they've
>> taken my money. I actually don't mind having to read the manual for such
>> a complex, powerful product as Rybka 2.2 + Chess Openings. I'm even
>> looking forward to working my way through it, because from what I could
>> see in the MS Word version it is well written, informative, and at 56
>> pages in length (at 4-point type) probably comprehensive as well. I was
>> miffed, however, at having spent perhaps 6-7 hours with my new toy and
>> not being able even to find the "ON" button.
>>
>> I'll check out the forum as well.
>
> Okay - I had some of the same problems as you but am fighting through
> them. Beaten it yet? I have one draw at 10 minutes, and more loses than I
> am going to mention ;(

You gotta be kidding! I'm rated 1890 at this point, and sinking. I couldn't
draw Rybka if it gave me a Knight, much less beat it.

> I haven't figured out how to switch the same game in progress from Rybka
> to Crafty yet, maybe I can just copy/paste the moves? I'll try it.

I have a feeling, despite my original customer support problems, that this
program is a keeper, a great value. I'm going to go through the manual very
carefully when I get it. I just hope they don't send me the
Slobovian-language version.

adp
>
> Phil
>
>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Angelo
>>
>
>