Before finally deciding on going with the MusicPad Pro, I spent a lot of time analyzing and comparing not only the costs, but the setup work required, in going with a MusicPad Pro, vs a standard laptop PC, or even a Tablet PC. I wrote-off tablet PCs from the 'get go' because they're a lot more costly than even the MusicPad Pro is, of which is a tablet PC too.

My findings are that even though a standard laptop PC may be cheaper, a laptop's landscape mode format with flip down keyboard really interferes with viewing accessibility, on stage mounting, as well as appearance on stage. No matter how positioned on stage, it always looks (to the audience) like you're working at your computer, not creating live music. A few years back, working acoustic piano bar gigs, I used to utilize a laptop PC for lyrics & chords, as well as for occasionally running midi backing tracks. The patrons often seemed more interested in what was coming from the laptop screen than what I was playing live, In my experience, a traditional style laptop PC on stage has become more synonomous with hi-tech geek-dom then acoustically inspired LIVE keyboard-vocals. Whether it's being asian (asians & computer geekdom have become stereotypically synomomous), or something else, I've found a laptop PC on stage more a distraction giving my audiences the impression I'm a karaoke DJ rather than legitimate musician.

On the other hand, the MusicPad Pro is (on my gigs) not perceived as a computing device (even though it is) and instead, a non-distracting screen, similar to the LCD screen on my Tyros. The MusicPad Pro seamlessly integrates un-noticeably in my setup, resulting in no bulky distracting music stands, fakebooks, or loose sheets to contend with anymore either. I've got any one of many hundreds of song charts stored in my MusicPad called up (as required) by merely tapping the screen, and in under 8 seconds (or less), and because I only utilize the device for viewing charts/lyrics as a road sign reminder, it gives the desired audience impression that I'm able to play just about anything off the top of my head now.

In the rehearsal studio, all on the MusicPad alone, I'm able to arrange, make editing changes, add arranger instructions & notations to the music writing directly on the screen itself (no pencils or erasure marks) and the results look as clean as the original score because it all remains in digital format. Yes, the MusicPad is more expensive, but its superior viewability specifically designed for Music format Display & editing cabilities outpace a PC laptop in all areas of music display. . . period. In addition, the size of the notes and text of the music can often be auto resized to appear significantly larger than on the original paper version of the music because all margins are cropped to eliminate ALL wasted surrounding white area, and the bright no glare backlight screen afforeds ez view from most all angles: both close, to the side, and well as pretty far away from the screen as well, making for convenient viewing by not only the primary player, but other musicians on stage as well. With the MusicPad Pro, no screen scrolling (via having to press a key) as a PC laptop requires, as you have the option of triggering page turning via footpedal, or simply tapping the screen anywhere. I'm not knocking the laptop for its power to do many different things not music display related, but think that for the performing musician, the MusicPad Pro a far better value, for the music display/editing tasks it was specifically designed for.

My dad taught me to utilize the best tool designed for a specific task. I'm glad I listened to him.

Scott

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 05-01-2005).]