----- Original Message -----From: athomikSent: Monday, October 08, 2007 2:38 AMSubject: Re: [disklavier] Re: Digest Number 1666
Until the Disklavier MkIV came out, all Disklaviers were basically hardware-based. Each successive model was electronically & physically different from the previous model. This means that it is not economically viable to produce an updated control unit. It is much cheaper to trade in your old piano and buy the latest model. As an analogy, try getting your car dealer to change your 3 year old Toyota into a Lexus - it may be possible, but you wouldn't want to pay for it.As far as ethernet, wireless control, etc. are concerned, there is an easy option: get a laptop and connect via MIDI. ;
athomik
On Oct 7 2007, sjhart110110 wrote:
>Several of us have discussed in the past. Yamaha has deaf ears on
>;this subject. With today's electronics, you could likely fit
>everything you needed into a new Mark III control box. Maybe add
>an Ethernet jack, USB ports, etc. I dream about my Yamaha tech
>coming to my home. Replacing my box with the new version. The tech
>;would simplay remove the old unit and put the unit in the same exact
>space as the old unit. Plugging the new unit into the existing
>control chords, etc. They could even add a wireless tablet that
>interfaced with the new control unit. The tech would run some
>utilities to sync the new control unit to the Mark III..... Sorry,
>I was dreaming - I'll wake up now :)...
>
>There are really two "electronic" parts to the Mark III piano. The
>control unit and the piano mechanism. Although you could never get
>a new piano/keyboard mechanism like a Mark IV, you could drive the
>Mark III with a new control unit. This unit would understand the
>architecture of the keyboard and interface accordingly....
>
>--- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, wandamusic@... wrote:
>>
>>
>> In a message dated 10/7/2007 8:42:27 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
>> disklavier@yahoogroups.com writes:
>>
>> They could use this same new control unit for their
>> upright pianos. They could be collecting our monthly Internet
>> Radio fees right now :)...
>>
>>
>> What a great observation! Maybe this will work itself back to the
>CEO.
>>
>> I just got my Mark lll upright less than a year ago, and would
>love the
>> internet radio feature.
>>
>> Blessings,
>> Wanda
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ************************************** See what's new at
>http://www.aol.com
>>
>
>
>
Message
Re: [disklavier] Re: Digest Number 1666
2007-10-08 by John Rank
The difference is that when you buy a car, you
don't expect it to last for 30 years or so--how long will a grand piano properly
tuned last, anyway--50 years? To suggest that trading in a
piano every three years and saying that it is cheaper really misses the point.
Part of the sales pitch I heard when I bought my Mark IIXG was that updates
would be available that would mean you would not have to get rid of your piano
to stay relatively current. Now I will agree that "relatively" is a vague
term; but I did not expect to be required to buy a new piano every four or five
years to stay within a supported product group.
Speaking of which, what kind of an upgrade is out
there for a C2 MarkIIXG piano and what does it accommodate in terms of
features? I bought the Disklavier because I love the piano and the music
it creates. I am not interested in hearing a singer accompany the music
being played on the piano. With the death of floppy disks, I am thinking
that I should have the DVD style system of the Mark III and IV (?) so that I can
still buy newer recorded disks. It does seem like Yamaha still produces
the occasional XG or piano soft product that can be used with my piano, but I am
not sure what long term problems I face with the older mechanical system.
The Yamaha piano itself is great, and if I played it better, I might not be
worried about the other prerecorded material that I use with so much pleasure
now.
Are those who have upgraded a MarkIIXG happy with
the upgrade? Thanks
John