One option if your itching for a new keyboard might be one of the new low-cost Kurzweil KME-61's, which are selling around $600 new reportedly:
http://www.kurzweilmusicsystems.com/html/kme61.html

As far as new synths go, I'm enjoying my softsynths a lot. My latest is the Arturi Moog Modular V... now that's a fat synth! The May '03 issue of Keyboard has a review on it and gave it a KeyBuy award. Great having a virtual analog synth that I can really use once again. I don't think that softsynths have hit their full stride yet, and there's lots of new controllers out or coming that offer the knobs and stuff for the touchy-feely part. Fatar just released it's 13.5 lb 88-note controller for MSRP of $399. The new Novation ReMOTE 25 is loaded with knob/sliders and even an X/Y touchpad. I've seen lately where programmers on working on generic ASIO drivers that'll work with any soundcard to give low latency performance... so developments in the softsynth world are on the fast-track. They work fine in my desktop in my studio, which is where I would use synths anyway, and laptop usage isn't difficult but I'm not quite ready to show up for a gig with one. None the less, if you want a new synth on the cheap and have a decent computer then softsynths can be fun.

[This message has been edited by The Pro (edited 04-30-2003).]