Let me preface this post as follows:

I am a cynic and a sceptic.

I have a serious aversion to marketing and consuming (my only major weakness being music CDs of which I have consumed several thousand). Generally my first impression of any new product is more negative than positive. However I can be swayed with time.

So here goes.

Today I went to the Consumer Electronics Show Australasia in Sydney (where I live). My brother who works for Sony had free passes otherwise there is no way I would pay to let somebody try to sell me something!

It never occurred to me that the KN7000 might be there, but THERE IT WAS! Sitting in a forgotten corner next to various laptops and other computer related products. Not only that but it was switched on with a pair of headphones at the ready.

On a little plaque was written “KN7000, available September 2002, recommended retail price $6,999.00”. That’s Australian dollars of course.

The appearance:
In a word, plasticy. Probably more so than the 6000 (my current keyboard). The flip-top control panel doesn’t appear to lock when in the closed position. It just sits closed on its own weight. I could be wrong though because I didn’t check closely. The black stuff above the keys is soft material probably shielding the connectors between the 2 sections of the keyboard.

The screen as can be seen from already available photos is unchanged. The panel memories are now in a circular push button arrangement with the set button in the middle as mentioned in another post.

Sound:
First of all I tried it through the speakers but it was hardly audible due to all the surrounding noise, so on went the headphones. As a result I can’t comment on the speakers.

Styles and sounds:
Now I don’t have a photographic memory so this is what I remember from 2 hours ago, and about 10 minutes at the keyboard in less than ideal surroundings. Most of the styles I recognised by name from the 6000. Auditioning them confirmed that they were essentially identical to the 6000 styles. Same with the sounds. Of course the additional sounds and styles that were added on the 6500 (which I haven’t played) were also included (I recognised these by name only). Undoubtedly there must be a few new styles and sounds on the 7000 but I believe it is no more than a few and in the short time I was there I can honestly say I couldn’t find them!

Summary:
Very disappointing. The 7000 is NOT a revolution. I am hard pressed to even say it is evolutionary. This is a keyboard with basically one innovation, namely the SD memory storage card.

However having said that, I am not computer literate and I did not check the rear connections and even if I did I don’t think I am qualified to comment. So perhaps there is more innovation going than I am aware of.

I am disappointed. Not disappointed in it as a keyboard because I love the 6000 and therefore I should logically also love the 7000. But disappointed in it as a legitimate upgrade. That it isn’t.

Is it worth the upgrade? I can’t answer that of course. Many people on this forum upgraded from 6000 to 6500 and were satisfied, so to each his/her own I guess.

In the end, and once all the hype has died down, the surprising conclusion might be that the improvements/additions from 6000 to 6500 (I guess I’m talking styles and sounds here) might end up being greater than those from 6500 to 7000, if you ignore the superficial design changes.

………..but remember, I’m a cynic and a sceptic!