as always when i visit my friends in sweden, i MUST go to see the main music store in goteborg, musikbörse, and i did it again, even if only for 30 minutes.
i got to see the new yamaha psr s500 (no s900 tho) and i played it a little bit. even tho you can tell is a low cost keyboard, the sounds and styles were not bad at all, i especially liked the flute. the keybed is still not extraordinary.
i played also the roland e50, and i am glad i bought e60, because the keybed is quite different. e50's keys are not that firm and feels like cheap plastic. but the rest of it is great, as e60.
i loved the look of x8 fantom. it's beautiful! i did not play it, but looks fantastic. what a piece of art. i'd love to have it one day in my house.
i sow also the pa800, but was not pluged-in, so i only could check it... visually. i liked it. i thought the blue was a good colour for it, and all the buttons and screen and so seems to be in their place. the buttons are firm, plastic, not rubber like my old pa50.
i hoped i'll see the ketron sd5, but no luck. maybe they dont have it for sale at all.
and there was no t2, s900, e60, nor e80, sd1, g70... or maybe they keep these in a separate room, that i did not find.
i also played some piano, and some guitar, just to check-up things... and then my 30 minutes were up. i ended-up buying a set of strings for my guitar and that's it. i had to run to the airport!

that was my annualy time spent in a music store. i (always) hope next time i will have more time for it! that is at least until some serious music stores will open in romania too!

Adimatis,
It must really be hard for you to buy a new keyboard with no more exposure to them that half an hour.
How do you manage to make a decision?
Bebop

yes, i wonder that too sometimes...

40% read and compare specs, internet websites, compare prices vs. features
30% read and compare and read again the forums users posts
20% listen to demos and watch videos
10% inspiration and "clever decission"

it worked until now. i bought two keyboards from internet without playing them ever before, and they were both good. the other users appreciate them almost unanimously. korg pa50 and roland e60.
and some other things like audiocards, mixer, mics, and other equipment.

[This message has been edited by adimatis (edited 06-12-2007).]

Ditto here in Pakistan i do.

[This message has been edited by shakeel Ahmed (edited 06-14-2007).]