It's my perception that there are more arranger keyboards in the world than any other kind in sum total. They run the gammit from $100 to $16k. And if you compare say a $500 arranger from 1985, 1995 and 2005 you'd see a lot of technical advances.

But the answer to the question is no, we haven't come anywhere near what technology offers. Keyboard technology has not advanced nearly as quickly as computer technology, and it's maddening to see such tiny advances in year-to-year models. I think manufacturers are purposely witholding technology so they don't suddenly make their previous models completely obsolete. The prices haven't followed the computer model either... prices of keyboards have gone up steadily while computers tend to have more features for less cost annually.

That's why I think we'll reach a point where manufacturers will concentrate more on selling Wal-Mart arrangers and low-priced entry-level arranger/keyboard instruments rather than investing the R&D into pro-level models. Meanwhile we'll integrate laptops into our keyboard systems more and more, and I expect to see some more "generic" keyboard shells come out from independent manufacturers that house laptops and provide the audio/midi interface, control surface features, and a desktop program to assign softsynths to the keyboard and midi channels. I'd really like to see something like a 76-note weighted action keyboard built into a travel case with a locking lid and a place to dock a laptop.