I just ordered a playing kit that includes a DGT960 clock. Does anyone have any thoughts on strengths and weaknesses of this clock? I was impressed by its compact and foldable nature but since I know nothing else of chess clocks in general, I figured I would ask (even if it is after placing the order!).
Thanks.
There are only so many variations you can have on a digital clock. Generally it boils down to several things.
Can you have multiple time controls on the clock?
-Some clocks are easier to program, but lack the ability to have more than one time control.
Does it have Bronstein or Fischer time delay? (Or both?)
Can it shuffle chess positions?
-I think DGT960 and Chronos Clock are the only clocks that can generate shuffle positions. The Chronos can be made to shuffle every possible combination, including the Fischer 960 subset.
How do you like the buttons? Every clock’s buttons have a different feel. You can even get a clock with non mechanical “touch sensitive” buttons.
A good example of buttons is the Excaliber II (official USCF clock): many people don’t care for the buttons since its fairly easy to not push them down all the way (but think you did). Its not a huge problem, in that it doesn’t take but a couple games to get used to pushing them down all the way, but still problematic from the “out of the box” experiance.
I personally have both the Excaliber II and the Chronos “touch sensitive” clock. I love the chronos “touch sensitive” clock, but many of my opponents don’t care for it, so I take both clocks with me. I do want to get another chronos clock with the mechanical buttons though. That seems to be the favorite clock for many chessplayers. I think the reason is many players like the mechanical “click” you get with regular clock, even though the touch sensative buttons have a beep to them. Some people think the Excaliber II is more noisy than a chess clock should be, although I don’t play in tournaments, so it hasn’t been an issue to me.
Truthfully, chess tournaments in general are pretty noisy affairs anyway (at least, for game thats suppose to be quiet!). I think alot of people that don’t play chess would be suprised at how much background noise there is in a tournament hall with scores of players.
You can (and should) use the no-beep option on the Chronos. I use the touch sensor on the recommendation of my chess teacher when I complained about the people who like to bash their clock on the completion of their move (unless they are the 2008 US Woman’s champion, and complete their move before their opponent has even pushed her button; but that’s another story…).
The Excalibur clock is just plain ugly, clunky, and belongs nowhere near a nice chess set.
I prefer to keep the beep option on. Its very quiet compared to the racket a normal clock button has when being smashed down.
We’ll use my chronos with the beep off then, if we ever play! (o;
hnduke, on behalf of the forums I apologize that no one so far has answered your question, and has instead decided to jump in with their opinions on clocks other than the DGT960. If you truly care about the pros/cons of clocks OTHER than what you ordered, the older thread Which digital chess clock do you prefer? is a great resource.
To answer your question, the DGT960 is a suitable clock for tournament and skittles play. It’s a single time-control clock with delay (true delay) and bonus (cumulative add-back, or “increment”) modes, and you can pause to adjust the time levels during the game. Those options make it OK for USCF or FIDE time controls. For operating demonstrations I recommend checking out the videos on the DGT website at How to operate the DGT960. Although I personally prefer other digital clocks, I’m a big believer in “working with what ya got” until you have the interest and resources to start a collection…unless you host the local club, you only use one clock at a time anyway 
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Thanks to all for your inputs, both DGT960-specific and general.
Think of playing short time controls like G/30 to G60 or less, speed chess and even 40/2 with SD/1. Many times you will get into time scrambles and that clock will be pounded. It may not be you doing the pounding but surely some opponents. Can it withstand that? That would be my only concern. There is no concern with the Chronos. Also as a speed player, the access and size of the buttons are a concern to me. I have not actually used this clock. I have only seen the pictures. A recent opponent had a Dueltimer Champion Wood Chess Clock and of course at G/90 it came down to a time scramble and I had difficulty locating the small button without thinking about or looking for it. Also, with no tactile feedback(mechanical click buttons in Chronos), twice I once thought I hit the button enough but did not.
But for the price and for use as just a regular slow timer, I think it will be fine.
The portability makes it a big plus.
Having recently started carrrying this clock in my line of equipment sales, the DGT960 has had excellent feedback from those who’ve purchased it. I was concerned initially about the strength of the case & buttons, but users have reported no such problems. Still, I would be hesitant about using it strictly for blitz or for young scholastic players (who have a remarkable tendency to hit the clock with their pieces). Overall, the adults & older kids who’ve actually used it in tournaments have loved its portability, sleek design, size of display, and ease of setting. Looks like you made a good purchase!
I always complain to the TD when some person does this; and he always makes them turn the beep option off. It is distracting; it is a nuisance; and it is rude.
There’s a huge difference in the beep volume among different brands of clocks, and sometimes even within the same brand. With some clocks, for that matter, the beep volume is adjustable.
How I would rule as a TD would likely depend on the beep volume. I remember one tournament (I was playing, not TD’ing) where one player’s Chronos on a board near mine was extremely loud. After the game I convinced him, in future rounds, not to use the beep, and showed him how to turn it off.
Bill Smythe
You can change the volume of the Chronos beep.
His was an older model (first of the switchless versions). I don’t think the beep was adjustable. It was either loud or off.
Bill Smythe
Ahh. Ok. Didn’t realise that.
Anyway, my main point is that I agree with you – beep-on-move is not necessarily annoying, if it’s low enough and brief enough, especially if it resembles a “click” rather than a beep. In fact, it seems to be a useful idea for clocks like the touch-sensor versions of the Chronos, which otherwise would provide no feedback at all when the button is pressed.
Bill Smythe
On my touch-sensor Chronos I keep the beep on very low. On my other Chronos I don’t keep the beep on. After sitting next to two adults on Thursday, one who kept smashing the down the button on his Chronos, I think I know why I prefer the quiet of the touch-sensor buttons. I could just hear the frustration in the player’s clock strikes. :mrgreen: The funny thing is, I think he won the game. You wouldn’t have known it the way he was pounding the clock.