I was reflecting that kbd manufacturers definitely juggle features to meet certain price points. Ie., if you could take features a-m from manufacturer 1, and add features n-z from manufacturer 2, you'd have a $2000 kbd for $600!

So maybe the solution is to COMBINE features with a computer in a creative way. I had this crazy idea, maybe you can tell me if it would work. I'm totally MIDI-stupid, so this will be my comeupance.

You can get a decent, old, used laptop with Win 98 on eBay for under $250, right? Plenty of music software will work with Win 98, right? RIGHT? So here's my goofy idea: You get a cheap 88 key weighted MIDI controller, and have all your sounds and controls ON THE COMPUTER. You play the keyboard. It tells the computer how hard you hit the note(s), how long you hold it, etc. And the computer spits back the correct sound (mixed in with whatever rhythm track, etc.) to the kbd speakers. All in real time (of course)!

Why does anyone need any sounds or controls whatsoever on the keyboard? I have an idea this is either 1) the dumbest idea anyone ever heard of, or 2) a totally idiotic question, since this is what everyone does already.

But I'm askin anyway, cause I dunno the answer an' you don't know where I live.

Rick