Good Morning Mike,

As you know, I expressed my feelings regarding your critique of the current issue of the techplus magazine so I won't comment further in that regard.

You raise two issues in your new post: the perceived obsolescence of keyboards; and, the advantage those of us who are "connected" enjoy as opposed to those who are not in terms of our ability to get information about, and help with, our keyboards.

Obsolescence can be a state of mind. I still have my KN6000 and am happy with it. I don't feel it is old technology or out of date. The marketplace is changing constantly. Producers of everything from cars and keyboards to washing machines and electric coffee makers are just trying to keep pace with the demands of the consumer. It seems to me that there is a majority of people now who always want the latest and greatest. My youngest son is a good example. He is constantly upgrading his four computers with the latest sound and graphics cards, microprocessors etc. I am still running the computer he built for me more than four years ago. I don't feel my computer is obsolete anymore than I feel that way about my keyboard. I may eventually buy a KN7000, wait for the next generation from Technics, or keep my KN6000 for a few more years. My decision will not be made on keeping up with the latest technology, but rather on sound quality and features I need to create MY music.

You are quite right in observing that folks like me are left by the wayside by publishers as new keyboards hit the market. Magazine publishers cannot continue to include "how to" articles indefinitely on previous generations of keyboards. If they did, their magazine would quickly become a thick book and no longer viable or affordable. Again, it is a reflection of the marketplace.

Those of us who are "connected" are in an enviable position. We can post a request for an answer to a problem on a forum like this and someone somewhere will answer, and the model or age of our keyboard is immaterial.

You raised the question, ". . . but what about those without one?, meaning those without a computer. How do they get the information they need? Through organ/keyboard clubs perhaps, or friends and family. Maybe you should consider whether there is a market for a magazine that caters to earlier generation Technics keyboards since you have a background in the business.

Finally, it seems to me that it is impossible to meet the needs of all the people all of the time. Someone is going to be left out or left behind. People without computers are left out, and those of us who do not buy the latest flagship keyboard are left behind. That is the real world. I doubt there is anything we can do to change it.

Chuck