The Tyros has been out over a year now and we've seen two incremental updates for it, ie., OS 1.10 and the latest OS 1.20. Do you think Yamaha is bending over backwards trying to R&D new features, bug fixes or extra features in their Flagship Arranger for us Tyros owners? Do you really??

Is it because the Tyros was not the red hot seller Yamaha thought it would be so they can't afford to do R&D on the Tyros' OS or offer other enhancements? Let me say emphatically that Yamaha does have the cash reserve to do R&D for software updates but there has been nary a peep from them since OS 1.20 came out 'several' months ago.

Which leads me to ask the question: Which Keyboard company has the best customer support when it comes to offering OS and other kinds of updates and enhancements (hardware, etc.) to its customers?

To give you an example: I own a Garmin GPS Satellite Navigation device that has an updateable OS in it. I've owned it for about 2 years now and it cost me around $350. Guess how many OS updates (bug fixes, extra add ons and features) there's been since it first came out? There has been a total of "16" OS updates! Talk about being keen on supporting a product!! That's what I call putting your customers first and foremost. Garmin realizes that their success stems directly from the owners and buyers of their products so they seem to do everything in their power to protect that loyal following and satisfy their customers by supporting them through diligent product support.

I'm really questioning myself as to whether I will ever buy another Yamaha Keyboard again. Sure, the Tyros OS is updateable but except for two minor updates and many things still unresolved - one of which is the repeat to Fill function with a common foot controller + there's other bugs and quirks too. Sigh....

So how does Roland, Korg, GEM, and Ketron stack up? Does any one stand out as a company that truly cares for its customers by supporting them with diligent product support?

We've all seen what happened to the 9000PRO owners just recently. Yamaha just swept them under the rug as if in their mind they now don't exist. No more OS or any other updates for them sad to say.

One thing I can say about Garmin is that I would buy another one of their products in the blink of an eye because of the outstanding customer support they offer besides the fact that they make some of the best GPS, Chartplotters and Fishfinders around IMO.

Can I say the same thing regarding Yamaha and its products?? I think you know my answer to that one. Although the Tyros is a very good sounding Keyboard and has many nice features, sound is not everything. There's other things that matter too - like customer support and following up on a product by supporting it even though it may have been discontinued.

Car manufacturers supply parts and even recalls for their vehicles for "10" years regardless to whether its a discontinued model. Should we hold Keyboard manufacturers to any less of a standard??

Any thoughts or opinions? And if anybody could answer my question about which Keyboard manufacturer offers the best product support it would be greatly appreciated. First hand knowledge of your experiences is always the best indicator.

Thanks again.

Best regards,
Mike