@Dennis_Petersen Woah. You finally received your Square Off Neo via Kickstarter? It's a holiday miracle!! Hah!
Any chance of you posting a YouTube video showing real world usage? Surprisingly, out of the 1 billion YT videos, there are only about 5 videos of the Neo from 3-7 months ago. There are more videos of Bigfoot sightings in the wild than there are of the Square Off Neo (from buyers).
I unfortunately am clueless about posting video. My Kickstarter number was 485 so there should be at least 500 of them delivered to Kickstarter people. Maybe they are wrapped and under the tree.
I completely understand the troubles with posting a video. Hopefully there will be more updated videos available in the coming weeks. Thank you for the detailed write up highlighting both the pros and cons. I've been intrigued by the NEO but have been put off with the lack of company transparency regarding the shipping delays and overall lack of "real world" information. I'm glad your two SqO NEOs arrived in time for the holidays. Enjoy!
Considering I bought the original Square Off and it worked for like 2 hours before it started to malfunction, the company is now DEAD to me.
I unfortunately am clueless about posting video. My Kickstarter number was 485 so there should be at least 500 of them delivered to Kickstarter people. Maybe they are wrapped and under the tree.
They are fulfilling by location and not by Kickstarter number.
Here is an update. My neo's chessboard has delaminated and bubbled. Square off had me send a picture and then agreed to replace the board by sending me a return ticket within 15 days. The return label has never shown up and they are not responding to my email. They apparently closed the ticket.
I have the NEO board also and ran into a problem with the board not working. After repeated unanswered emails with square off, I filed a complaint with the BBB. After the complaint was filed, square off finally answered my email. I was told the board needed to be replaced and that they would send a return label by email in 15 business days. The label has never arrived and they have since stop returning any emails. They have no intention of honoring their warranty. The Better Business Bureau said they have no way of going after the business but have given them an F / 1 star rating. If you do decide to buy a chess board from square off, you better hope you get a good one because square off has no plans to ever honor their warranties.
I have had the time to play four or five games on my Kickstarter Neo. I like the unit, I have come to understand some of it's nuances when playing a game. It is ultra quiet when moving pieces, it does seem to move faster than my Grand Kingdom. It is nice that you don't have to touch the squares. I have noticed that the computer is constantly searching where the pieces are as sometimes you will move a piece and it does not register, you will notice by looking around the playing surface that almost any of the pieces will have its square lighted as it sometimes doesn't think the piece is centered in the square properly or it is not sure there is a piece sitting where it should be the unit will light up that square. I have come to realize if I can't make a move to scan the squares to see if it wants me to pick a piece up and set it down somewhere on the same spot, when doing so the light will go out and you can make your move. Doesn't happen often.
I also have come to understand that the surface material of the board may well be printed on something very thin, paper? I have no idea. I do know and you should realize that you absolutely do not want to clean the surface with any liquid as it will bubble the board. If you sneeze on it, or cough on it, you will damage the surface. Sit anything with a wet bottom on it and it will leave a ring spray it with a cleaner you will definitely ruin the surface. Absolutely Dry cloth wiping only.
Mine being one of the first has a built in battery, and it is discontinued in the current production model. I guess that would make mine very collectable, hum.
I had also noticed at different times of the day the light bouncing off the surface will indicate the moving arm below the surface. I thought the board was bubbling at first then I realized after a few days that the bubbling effect moves around and it is just the movement arm underneath. So I would say do not lay anything on top of this playing surface with any weight it may well cause an issue with the mechanism.
All in all I very much like the unit I am currently using it in my RV trailer, it takes up little space on the dinning table where real estate is lacking. Keep it mind keep your coffee or drink away from the board. Think of it like your laptop don't spill or splash.
The plastic pieces are actually very nice, my Grand Kingdom has wood pieces but the plastic is of great quality. Not sure why the knight design is so popular with the chess playing manufactures but you see them in World Championship sets which I will never understand.
Of the Three Square Off Products I like my Square off Pro likely the most when it comes to a more or less full sized board. My wife gets tired of seeing it in the living room on the coffee table thought. Oh well yes you have to move the pieces for the opponent but oh well it is auto sensory. Will Square Off eventually include clocks in the marginal plastic that would be nice.
I waited 3 years for my Neo Kickstarter, bought two gave my son one. I will defiantly get the most out of my neo as I have forest property I go to regularly and the Neo is going to get the biggest work out due to real estate it takes up, the amount of time I spend there, and portability. I will not take it outside unless its a sunny day though. Likely in the shade would be best. Was the small investment in Kickstarter worth the wait. Yes actually but I did wonder if it was going to materialize, I am still waiting for the storage bags though. Square Off likes to operate on your order money, but slow to deliver has got to change people may get tired of the routine.
My advice is buy it from an online chess shop in the US or in your country that has it in stock. Ordering it direct can be painfully slow. You may well have to pay a little more but it beats waiting for an extended period when a local dealer that has stock can get it to you in a couple days.