For sure the E403, you get so many features for it.

Be informed that both these only has 61 keys. Not really a big issue but just in case you missed that part.
Anotehr side node, there's also no hammer keys.

Other than that, if you're satifsfied with it, it's a good keyboard to get. Don't forget to get a "sustain pedal" for it.

The portable grand is quite good and value for money if you're tight in budget or don't want to spend so much on it.

The best advice for you is to try it out yourself.

raining again,

Ooops, sorry, I mistaken your portable grand model. The one I tested was the 6 series I think, with 88-keys. That's a good one, but ain't cheap tough.

Yea, the PSR403 is good with many function. If you're into keyboard programming, arranging songs, and making use of those cool feature at a cheaper price, you can go for that one. You can play like band/orchestra with that one if you make use of its feature.

Yes, IMO, it's preferrabbly invest only one time, since it will not worth to sell it off in the future (no value or depreciates too much since technology advance very fast, and new models and new feature is always introduced). If you really want a full range piano, suggest you take a look at the DGX 5 or 6 series.

If you plan to take a piano course, you can try "Play by Ear", they have offer the PSR (not sure about the DGX) with the course at a cheaper price. Look for the founder "Alex Leow", not sure if they still have the promotion but I think you should be able to request for it if you're interested.
http://www.playbyear.com.my

Those MDI keyboard does not have speaker, you have to connect to PC or MIDI devices to produce sound, the sound quality will depend on the PC/Midi device.
You can connect your normal digital piano/keyboard to those device/PC too. Most digital piano/keyboard have Midi Output and/or Input.

If you plan to play by ear, you should really check out the website I've provided. The course is well known and fun to learn. If you already have some piano background, you'll pickup in no time.

Of course, that's not the sound produce from the Midi Keyboard. It depends on the PC/devices which output the sound. You can connect any cheap keyboard with Midi Output to it and produce the same sound. Heck you can even connect a cheap keyboard with Midi output to an expensive Digital Piano and use it's sound output for the sound.

Many manufacturer sell some kind of device which provides various sound sample, you can connect any keyboard/digital piano with Midi output to it and get the nice sound from eac different manufacturer regardless of what brand your keyboard is.

Try look up "Yamaha Motif-Rack ES" on YouTube and you should find a couple of videos of someone using a cheap keybaord with that rack and produce marvellous sounds.
These devices isn't cheap, anytime cost more than a high end digital piano

Yes, sorry I missed that part about 'non sensitive touch' keyboard. But nonetheless, the sounds produced are the same except without velocity touch sensitive, the playing will be different.

As for expensive digital piano, I'm not really sure, but do check out those really expensive ones, like Digital Grand, Workstations, Stage Pianos, etc...
If you check out those Digital Stage Piano/Workstations, they usually have slot for sampler card to slot in for additional sound samples. But these Stage Piano usually requires powerful and flat frequency response speakers to produce accurate, fast, smooth sound.

Anyway, when plug into PC, then for sure it's more powerful, opening to various possibilities/flexibilities. But my point is, any keyboard/digital piano with MIDI output can be used as a MIDI controller. So for TS scenario, he could just settle with a Digital Piano for flexible playing and connect to the PC for other samplings.

This post has been edited by Andy214: Mar 15 2008, 04:51 PM