spalding..... I'm confused. Does the OS3 REPLACE the waveform ROM that came when you bought it (flashROM? that's hard to believe), or do the new styles only address the old sample ROM?

You talk about this new piano (from the PA800), that HAS to be new samples, doesn't it? So no styles can address this until it is loaded into RAM?

How about new drumkits or guitar sounds? I realize that the new OS allows for much more multi-sample switching, etc., which will breathe new life into the old sample ROM quite a bit, but at the end of the day, it IS still the old ROM, isn't it?

Don't get me wrong, the new OS looks to be an amazing boon to current owners of PA1X's, but personally, I would still, if I were thinking about a new arranger, think it possibly worth the wait for Korg to come out with a new TOTL (top of the line) arranger with the PA800's engine. MUCH greater polyphony, MUCH greater addressable RAM memory, probably faster response (latency), and that thing we all crave, NEW ROM waveforms that address the shortcomings in the current set.

But that's just me.... others may not be able to wait that long. But I imagine that Korg are thinking they will sell more TOTL arrangers by bringing out a new model than simply putting a brand new paint job (with racing stripes!) on the old one. So don't be surprised at a new TOTL Korg at summer NAMM or thereabouts. Some new ROM (from PA800 and maybe M3 ), the new OS, the old TC Helion stuff and the new RAM specs and color touch screen, it wouldn't take long to cobble all that together.

I think I see OS3 as having great value for their existing customers, but I can also see the advantage to Korg of a greater pool of beta testers than just the few PA800 users so far to test the new OS for bugs before they roll out a new TOTL arranger........