electronics replacing pianos?

[Avery]

Well, Ric. Maybe so. Maybe no. At least until they all realize that 
an acoustic doesn't have to be replace every 5-10 years to stay 
"current"! We can always hope!

Avery

At 01:14 PM 1/3/2007, you wrote:
>Hi Alan, and others.
>
>I know my position on this is an uncomfortable one.  But I think I 
>really have to stick with it because I really do think sooner or 
>later the electronic version of the piano will simply become to 
>attractive an alternative to the market for the industry to be able 
>to sustain itself.  I see the first serious stage of electronic 
>replacements happening already now in schools and in various less 
>serious minded concert situations.  In hotels over here there are 
>very few acoustic pianos left around.  They rip out the guts of a 
>grand and stick a keyboard in there.... literally.
>As the electronic piano becomes more and more like its acoustic 
>ancestor the market will realize that they are cheaper, do not need 
>tuning, are portable and can do all kinds of things the acoustic 
>piano cant.  When that happens all the low end pianos will start to 
>disappear.... and the companies that make them as well.... the 
>knowledge base will be substantially weakened exasperating the 
>situation.  In the end.... not in my life time certainly... but 
>sooner or later... only a handfull of makers will survive as 
>specialty/nostalgic builders who only put out a few hundred world 
>wide each year.
>
>We are entering the age of virtual reality folks....  the industrial 
>revolution is going to look bleak compared to whats in store for us 
>in the comming 100 years. (if we can keep from blowing ourselves to 
>smithereens that is).
>But for all you acoustic lovers out there... and I am one of them... 
>we can all hope I am dead wrong. :)
>
>Cheers
>RicB
>
>
>    Ric and List,
>
>    A hundred years ago the "home entertainment system" was a 
> piano.    The piano's place took a hit when radio came along, but did not
>    disappear.  T.V. stole much of radio's thunder, but did not replace
>    it entirely by a long shot.  Electronic keyboards are, IMHO, a
>    welcome replacement to the lowest PSOs, but haven't had a
>    significant impact on pianos of good quality.  Computers are another
>    predominant distraction from all of the aforementioned technologies,
>    yet we have new piano manufacturers throwing their hats into the
>    ring, satellite radio, more television stations than ever, and
>    electronic keyboards available for the price of a decent meal.
>
>    I guess what I am getting at is that the world has become more
>    crowded with things that vie for our attention, but the competition
>    posed by the new doesn't necessarily mean the extinction of the old.
>
>    Cheers,
>
>    Alan Eder
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