Here is my quick summary of the Tyros having upgraded from the Psr 9000.

Positives
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1. Value - I paid 2200 for the 9000 new in 2001 and 2500 for the Tyros. I would say an excellent price performance upgrade in value.
2. That LCD screen. I use multiple keyboards when I perform, and I can now angle and read the display when the Tyros keys are just below eye level. The quality of display is very clear and easy on the eyes.
3. Speakers. Big improvement over PSR9000 and other internal speaker systems. I think the engineering of the on/off design is outstanding and the bass response is also killer.
4. Lighted buttons. Great for performing.
5. Weight. The huge reduction is weight is great for transporting to and from gigs.
6. Hard Disk implementation. Tyros uses the Hard disk much more efficiently and logically.
7. Improved styles. Really invigorates a performance and adds much more of a "Groove" and "Pocket" factor. Performances are a long way from the old "oom Pah" type styles of years ago.
8. Piano patch is very respectable although I like the Korg Tritons much better.
9. Brass and Sax patches are very good.
10. Strings are much more authentic.
11. Extra footages, distortion, and roto speaker effects on the Organ Flutes.
12. Score and Lyrics feature. One of the greatest teaching and convenience tools available today on a keyboard. Just a wonderful feature.
13. Revoicing. Breathes new life into old midi and song files.
14. USB feature and PC software support.
15. Guitar voice patches are probably the best in the industry. Just killer.
16. Operating System. Although I'm not fully up to speed yet, it is starting go grow on me. It is very logical and visually appealing.
17. Separate buttons for tap tempo, tempo, transpose, octave select, and metronome.
18. Separate tape controls for playing back midi files.

Negatives
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1. Lack of Sample playback. I don't necessarily want to do sampling with the Tyros, but I surely want to acquire samples on my PC and load them up in the Tyros to expand my patch inventory.
2. USB Implementation. This is clearly a huge black mark on Yamaha. Why didn't they implement Firewire 1394 instead?
3. Keys and keyboard. I think they are to light and very "home keyboardish". I love my Triton Pro keyboard feel.
4. LCD screen vibrates when speakers are mounted. I get a vibration noise on the adjustable LCD screen.
5. Registrations won't load on startup.
6. Various settings must be linked to a registration rather than saved in flash rom.
7. Configuration of the rear connections is not very ergonomic. If I want to plug in a patch cord from the keyboard to an amplifier while standing in front of the keyboard, I have to use a mirror and a flashlight. On my Korg, the connections are labeled on the top of the keyboard and the connections are right under those labels -- very user friendly.
8. Mega Voices. I don't really use the Tyros styles in my performances, therefore Mega voices do not help me one bit. To me very overrated.
9. Modulation controller should be spring loaded to center off. How many times does this controller get moved during transport, I have to remember to set it to zero prior to performance.
10. Would rather have 76 keys than 61 keys.
11. Key layout is a bit confusing. I would rather have some of the keys that are on the right, positioned on the left instead. Expecially the DSP key.
12. No ability to remap the modulation wheel to any other effects -- such as the Drawbar Rotors
13. Leslie simulation seems a bit less authentic than it was on the PSR 9000. Maybe this is just the way I have it setup, but I thought the 9000 Leslie sounds sounded better.
14. Direct Access key. Some of these settings are puzzling. Why when you press Direct Access and User/Disk bye tghe style buttons do you get the Equalization Screen?


Summary
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I personally think Yamaha did a wonderful job putting together this keyboard. Between price, performance, value, quality, they have done a superb job. I will be very, very, very, upset if they come out with a Pro model after having spent my money on this model, but I guess that's a risk we all make when we buy new equipment. The sound engine on the Tyros is outstanding. Clearly Yamaha made a lot of compromises when they created this keyboard. Most of them are winners.

I would love to be a part of their focus group, however, since I would have made a few tweaks here and there.

REgards,
Al G