It has come down to two computers, the Excalibur grandmaster, and the Novag Citrine, I like the size of the excalibur, but it uses only batteries, I like the ac plug in. At any rate I am open for any comments. I always seem to have bad luck at picking and I know there are some great heads here! Please advise
Now I have another entry, just came across DGT Electronic chessboard USB & Bluetooth, at chesshouse.com this is a interesting its made in Holland, and interact with all your computer games and on line chess, any opinions on this one? I also read reviews that Excalibur Grandmaster may have to go to the repair shop often because of problems with the sensory wires, any truth in that?
I would like to buy from USCF, but at the same time want to make the best choice 
Why? Get a real computer and a real program like Fritz or Rybka4 Aquarium. Or, get a DGT board like another poster suggested. If you get the DGT and don’t like it, I’d be happy to take it off your hands. 
I have a DGT board and it is fantastic! Right now you can get one for $699 at ChessCentral:
chesscentral.com/DGT_e_Board … d-rose.htm
Best price I have seen in years.
I mentioned that to my wife who, for some reason, wasn’t impresses. 
Buy it for her anyway. She will love it.
Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know I can save on the DGT board. I feel its the right way to go! I just want to make sure it will work with what I have, Windows7, and Vista. Do you know if it would work with chess.com, and chess magnet School, I am a pay member of both, and I have been doing too much work on the computer screen, and when I go to the board, I feel like I am lost, not to mention the strain on my eyes 
I do have RYBKA 4 Extreme, and CT-ART 4.0, and three others all made by chessOK.com it would be a dream come true if they all work with the DGT board!
To my knowledge, chess.com does not allow any input method other than their in-screen board.
I know it definitely works with Windows 7 and Vista because I upgraded from Vista to 7 and it went smoothly. Here is a list of interfaces, but neither chess.com or chess magnet school seem to be on it. You could email them and ask:
TOMA: DGT Projects’ professional chess tournament broadcasting software. Great for live tournament broadcasting, but also for publishing existing games.
World Chess Network: Play against internet opponents with the electronic board!
ChessBase Products: Fritz 8, Fritz 7, Fritz 6, Fritz 5.32, Fritz 5, Hiarcs 7.32, Junior 5, Nimzo 99
Arena (All versions)
A graphical user interface to play with many chess engines like Crafty, GNUChess, LambChop and many, many more!
Internet Chess Club: Play live online chess with BlitzIn + the WoodIn plugin.
US Chess Live: Use US Chess Live Windows Version 4.0 to play on the game site, using the DGT Electronic Chess Board.
Pocket Grandmaster: A fully featured and extremely strong award winning chess playing program for Pocket PCs running Pocket PC 2002 or Windows CE 3.0. This new version also supports the DGT Electronic Chess Board.
Please note that not all Pocket PC’s are supported. It does not seem to work with the DELL Axim.
Arena: A graphical user interface to play with many chess engines like Crafty, GNUChess, LambChop and many, many more!
Internet Chess Club: Play live online chess with Blitzin
and more!
Thanks for your input, just out of couriosity, does any one own the Novag citrine, just wondering if it only plays fron a new game posistion, or if it could start from a middle game position?
I used to own a Novag. Mine had defects from the beginning. After a month of frustration I tried to return it. No luck, (7 day return policy). I was told to contact the manufacturer, that it was still under warranty. No answer from the Novag after repeated attempts to email them.
Novag, I later found out, is located in Hong Kong so even if they did answer, the cost of paying for the set to ship to Hong Kong was prohibitive.
I would go with Saitek for an inexpensive computer.
JeremyP, I was very sorry for your experience with the Novag Citrine, wish I read your message before I went and ordered one. Got my Citrine on a tuesday , and and darn it would not get passed the opening moves before it would not except my move and the LCds lights would not go off to allow any more move. I finally found away around the problem, by hitting the menu button and quickly making my move and then picking up my king to force its move, I had to do it on every move for the rest of the game.
I bought mine from chesshouse.com, and they have a 90 day return, so I am about to call them and see if this can go back? What blows my mind is some people are so happy with theres that they even built special tables for the Citrine, and even buy an upgraded pieces for the board, $200+. I see where the pieces tip over VERY easily and when that happens the game would freeze up on me, after I set the tipped piece back on it original position.
Anyways have a great Christmas, hope you get some good toys from santa, and thanks for your input, I was thinking about having them send me another one or work on this one, but now I feel it wise to pass on this one!!! But I will say the looks and pieces are really outstanding, too bad they did not do there home work of the function part. 
Bob
Hi Bob,
Sorry to hear you had troubles too.
If you like the set ask Chess House to test one before they send it out. The place I buy my chess products will do that if you ask.
Make sure to ask for a UPS return tag so you do not have to pay the shipping back to Chess House.
Merry Christmas to All,
JP