Some additional information:
- Version 3.01 is available for download from the site; however, the "Search for Updates" menu choice doesn't update the software, as of this writing. Downloading 3.01 from www.personalchesstrainer.com and installing worked fine -- I installed over the 3.00 installation, and my history and preferences were saved (though a backup never hurts!) I didn't need to re-activate.
There's no changelog, but the one change I've noticed (and appreciated): the playing board, which was slightly too small on my 1280x1024 monitor, is now much larger at that resolution. - The activations are limited to 2 computers (the license agreement also specifies 2 computers.) I tried to activate the software on a 3rd computer (desktop, laptop, work!) and activation failed.
- I've been unable to get a response using the Support form on the website. I sent the same question twice, two weeks apart, but did not receive an answer. Though I checked my spam folder, it's possible I missed the reply; I'll try again. Has anyone used the support form and received an answer? Maybe I'll try using the contact form, instead.
By the way, the support question I asked was "I've already activated the software on 2 computers; I wish to deactivate the software on one of the computers, and activate it on a new computer: how do I do this?" I'll let you know if I get a response -- I'll have to go through this all over again when I upgrade my computer. Thank you, Microsoft, for putting the idea of activation in these developers' heads.
Update: Instead of using the support form on the website, I emailed support@personalchesstrainer.com directly. I received a reply almost immediately: to deactivate a computer, go to Help/Check Code; email the code to support; they'll email back, authorizing you to install the software on a new computer.
Personal Chess Trainer website
7 comments:
Hey abend,
Thanks for the notification. I wonder if they've fixed the 4-5 problems in module-3 that crash the program when the last move is played?
I guess I'll see,
Ron
Wow, I went to download it and they've already released 3.02
Ron
Thanks for the review of the new Personal Chess Trainer. I downloaded the free trial today.
I've used CT-ART in the past, but as I get back into chess I feel like a change-up. Perhaps this is the ticket. :)
By the way, what do you think of the "strategy" mode of PCT? It seems to me that his training method is better suited to tactics and possibly endings than strategy, because a single position may suggest multiple reasonable plans, only some of which the author considered.
Hey likesforests, I wondered the same thing about the PCT strategy module. Partly for that reason, I've mainly used PCT for tactics training.
I remember a post on a chess blog, probably one of the knights, that discussed this very topic -- he felt that PCT strategy helped him -- but I can't find the post.
What I said about strategy seems to also apply to PCT's endings. For example, in this position:
Diagram
I played b4!, which is mate-in-14. PCT insists I'm wrong and that I play Kb6, which is mate-in-15?! And yes, I checked a tablebase.
I still think the endgames section is worth training, especially since a Crafty analysis board can be popped up instantly to check how good your moves are when you disagree with PCT. The refutations are often enlightening!
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