Everything you guys mentioned is true except for that non of those keyboards coming out is in the $1000 range.
For brand new keyboard as George Kaye or Vic said the WK2 and the EM55 are both in that price range.
Other wise see if ur friend would find a used keyboard, in which case he may get something better for that price range. I have the wk2, and I used it for about 3 years, and it did a good job for me. Ever since I got the X1 though I kind of put it aside.
If anyone knows of a way for me to save my user styles and sounds from the wk2 WITHOUT the use of the disk drive (dead on my wk2), please let me know.
_________________________
Samer