Hi Donny,

That sounds like a good idea. But there are several issues from the manufacturer’s point of view that makes this kind of tough and also can be a disadvantage to the consumer.

First the (never become obsolete) notion is a great idea. However, as new features/functions are thought of down the road that require additional hardware, it is still up the original hardware to be able to integrate the new circuitry into the existing system. Yes that can be done to a point, but as new technology is created, most of the time requiring faster processors and vastly more memory, there comes a point when the original hardware won’t be able to support the new circuitry.

Second, it costs a lot of money to design and manufacture these optional hardware upgrades. If the manufacturer does the proper homework on deciding just what to produce, then it’s not so bad. But as is seen in this and other forums, users have many varying ideas of what the proper options are. How many times do you go to a music store and see a case full of expansion modules for various brands of keyboards that are no longer in production? This is partly due to the habit of manufacturers to introduce new products on a more than regular basis. Many time a re-package of older products, but with enough difference to make the old expansion boards obsolete. This causes a problem for the dealer who was overstocked with these expansion boards in the first place, which is yet another reason why the dealer needs to make a profit. It also causes a problem for the end user who purchased an instrument and now wants to sell it but the buyer doesn’t want the expansions that you chose so you either throw the money away and give them to the buyer for free, or you take out the unwanted expansions and they collect dust in your basement for the next 10 years. Another thing to consider is every time there is another non-permanent connection; there is another potential problem of failure.

To think that manufacturers hold back technology just to string consumers along is ridiculous. Of course I can only speak for the manufacturers I have worked for. It takes a long time to design a new product, sometimes several years. Technology does not sit idly by. The design of current electronics products is many times based on technology that is a year or so behind times. When a new technology is introduced, it is possible that the original design has no way of incorporating that new technology, at least without a major re-working of the internal hardware and operating system. All of which costs money and a lot of man hours. Designing a product is a very lengthy and costly process, and manufacturers really do try to make the most of those efforts and expenditures.

I do agree with some of what you and Alex are saying and would love to see some of your ideas implemented. But you have to consider the things that I have pointed out as being the cause for the way things are.

There are alternatives like the PC based keyboards that can accept plug-ins and are somewhat modular. But for me, I have enough problems with my desk PC that has never moved from the desk without the worry of relying on a keyboard at a gig that is running a multitude of third party software.

Just some thoughts.

Dave