I just got fritz 9, and I'm having all these same problems as so many others seem to. is there a comprehensive tutorial on using fritz anywhere in the net? I seem to remember wulebgr gave some links in some thread, but couldn't find it. I looked around chessbase, but found only tidbits.
here come the blue part: I must say I'm a bit disappointed in the quality of it's software engineering. which shouldn't be a surprise, because all chess software seems to be badly designed, most of them far worse than fritz. - the 'manual' is pretty useless. I mean, it's as thin as the 'excalibur publishing' leaflet that came attached to it. you get broader manuals purchasing a mouse! -the 'help files' are even worse. fortunately, the functionality of fritz seems very promising, you can do A LOT with it. but the usability is just weak. it's a step up from the usability-horror of other chess programs, but it's still sub par. and the graphics! in the 2d-board pieces don't have antialiasing and there's some weird red & blue pixels sticking out in their edges. that's not the way to impress. the way you adjust board graphics is also very awkward. and the 'celebrated' 3d-board would've been ok in the 90's, now it's just very basic (which is not a problem in itself, but they advertise it was something novel). 'the turk' is just stupid. If it was 'fritz 1' I could understand, but this is an _old_ project from an established company, and it still looks a bit like a school project. anybody used old modelling software? it's almost as bad. (and they at least had thick manuals covering all the functionality, although usually in an obscure way).
don't get me wrong, I actually do really like it! but there's a lot room for improvement. 4/5 thumbs up for the functionality, 3 big opposable thumbs down for the usability and graphics. there's a looong way from wanting to do something to figuring out how to get it done. they really really need an usability engineer in their team...
Originally posted by wormwooddo you have fritz 8? if you do, how fritz 9 differs from fritz 8?
I just got fritz 9, and I'm having all these same problems as so many others seem to. is there a comprehensive tutorial on using fritz anywhere in the net? I seem to remember wulebgr gave some links in some thread, but couldn't find it. I looked around chessbase, but found only tidbits.
here come the blue part: I must say I'm a bit disappointed in the ...[text shortened]... figuring out how to get it done. they really really need an usability engineer in their team...
Originally posted by Oddjob291He seems to be saying that the engine itself is ok. I have Crafty 20.0 and that only has a text interface - you use Win/Xboard or Scid as an interface. Fritz comes with it's own graphical interface and I think that that is what wormwood is complaining about.
Does it really matter about the graphics side of things?! I don't think the likes Kasparov, Kramnik, Anand and co would go out and get this thing then moan about the graphics rather than using it for opening analysis.
Have you actually played it against it?!
Deepthought - unfortunately I haven't yet ordered Fritz9 yet but I'm currently using Fritz7 which is pretty good stuff and I only use the 2D view (with mouse) which is more than adequate. Now that you have mentioned text based input moves, I now understand what the problem(s) with that, especially in blitz games hahaha!!
I'll try to make myself clearer: there's nothing wrong with the engine. there's also nothing wrong with the functionality. and given time and sweat, you'll eventually figure out how to do things in it. there's great potential. - I just wanted to give another perspective to the matter instead the usual 'fritz is the rolls royce of chess software'. it is good, maybe even the best, but it still doesn't reach what is expected of a mature high standard commercial software.
good software engineering is a lot more than having the funtionality. it can, and has, been argued that usability is the most important aspect in a software product. if you have a shovel without a handle, you can use it, but it's still a crappy shovel. a good user friendly piece of software doesn't need manuals, it should be self-evident and intuitive how the program works. fritz doesn't even come close to that. it should also be pleasing to the eye (ergonomics, class), and easily customizable if need arises.
I probably am biased by the graphics, my backround and education being in media arts & novadays computer graphics engineering, and that makes me also a bit sensitive about bad graphics... but the problems in 2d-board really are elementary. you'll see what I mean if you compare it to say, 2d-board in babaschess.
and no, I don't have older versions. I hear the difference is marginal. (what does it matter to average joe if 9 sometimes beats 8...). oh, and there's not really that much training material. a couple of short clips from commercial dvds and some introduction to basic rules and concepts. but I gather the training material has never been one of fritz's strengths...
Originally posted by wormwoodI found the software easy enough to use that I did not need to consult the manual, and there are plenty of alternate piece sets that have no obvious graphical glitches. Plus, there's cool stuff like being able to cut-n-paste chess notation right into the notation window. So far, I'm highly impressed with the program.
I just got fritz 9, and I'm having all these same problems as so many others seem to. is there a comprehensive tutorial on using fritz anywhere in the net? I seem to remember wulebgr gave some links in some thread, but couldn't find it. I looked around chessbase, but found only tidbits.
here come the blue part: I must say I'm a bit disappointed in the ...[text shortened]... figuring out how to get it done. they really really need an usability engineer in their team...
Originally posted by wormwoodWithout flying off at a tangent (from what this section of the forum should be discussing), do you have example(s) of pieces of software which fall into this category?
it still doesn't reach what is expected of a mature high standard commercial software.
To me, there is no such thing as 'perfect' piece of software and not even Windows, Linux, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Borland C++, Dreamweaver etc. fall into this category.
I work in technical support supporting our naff software developed in-house and I would be a millionaire for the number of times the users of our software complaining about the usuability of our systems - some want it this way, some want it that way and you can't have both ways.
Originally posted by Oddjob291
Without flying off at a tangent (from what this section of the forum should be discussing), do you have example(s) of pieces of software which fall into this category?
not relating to chess. well, babaschess gave no trouble using. everything was pretty self-evident right from the start. even with the underlying unix-like fics console.