Monday, December 26, 2011

Casio CTK-2100 61 Key Personal Keyboard with New Voice Pad Feature

!±8± Casio CTK-2100 61 Key Personal Keyboard with New Voice Pad Feature

Brand : Casio | Rate : | Price : Too low to display
Post Date : Dec 26, 2011 04:23:53 | Usually ships in 24 hours


  • Easy-to-play keyboard 61-key portable keyboard with wide range of tones, rhythms and learning capabilities
  • 400 high-quality tones, 150 rhythms and auto accompaniments for Latin music
  • Voice Pad allows you to play sampled sounds; connect CD or MP3 player for practicing along with favorite songs
  • USB port and General MIDI support allows connection with a computer or another GM-compatible device
  • Powered by 6 AA batteries or AC adapter (not included)

More Specification..!!

Casio CTK-2100 61 Key Personal Keyboard with New Voice Pad Feature

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Monday, December 12, 2011

Is the iPad Useful? - Just the Facts

!±8± Is the iPad Useful? - Just the Facts

I've always been somewhat of a gadget guy. I was an early adopter of the earliest video game systems (think Tank Battle, Atari, Colecovision) and home computers (remember the Vic 20, Commodore 64, Commodore Pet?). I even bought one of the early Casio calculator watches in the 1980s. Continuing the trend, I picked up a Casio electronic organizer in the early 1990s, followed by the original Palm PDA with stylus, and the first HP tablet PC in the mid 2000s. Dell's first tablet PC followed, then the iPhone, and now the iPad and iPad 2.

But, as much I'm a tech guy and an early adopter, I never bought a gadget because it was "cool." I am too pragmatic and always analyze the usefulness of a gadget before I buy. And like you, I'm too busy to play around with gadgets. I need a gadget that saves, not costs, me time and money.

So when the iPad was introduced, I did my usual research to evaluate the product's usefulness in my daily life. There is plenty written about the iPad's "cool" features, design, and potential, and a fair bit written on its technical shortcomings. But, not so much written about its actual usefulness in daily life. With many people now asking me "how do you like your iPad," I figure I would just write this article to help others determine if it is right for them - after all, it's not a cheap buy.

General Observations

VISUAL DESIGN
As with most Apple gadgets, the iPad is certainly a beautiful product to look at. Similar to the iPod and iPhone, it's like buying a piece of jewelry. The iPad 2 further improves on the original design.

FEEL
I find the iPad awkward to hold. This was a surprise to me since it looks so sleek. But, with its weight and rounded edges, it doesn't feel comfortable. And, the more I try to grab it, the more likely my thumb will activate the touch screen in undesirable ways. Adding an optional case helps. For the iPad 1 I have Apple's case, and it's functional but, personally, I don't like the look and feel of the material. The iPad 2 comes with the sleek new magnetic cover design - neat but it only covers the screen (which may be fine for some perhaps).

FEATURES
While I could write about the touchscreen, 3G, or its many other features, the features really only matter if you find the apps that you want to use. And, that's too personal a choice for me to lend an opinion here.

PRICE
The low price of technology today is amazing, so when evaluating the price of the iPad, I have to do so in comparison to other technologies. A somewhat-close comparison today (in terms of portability, anyway) is likely a netbook -- one of those mini notebook computers that have recently become popular. Netbooks are available for half the price of the iPad, making the iPad seem expensive for a device that in some ways doesn't do as much. Although, it could be argued that even though the iPad does less, what it does well, it does very well. So, it comes down to what you need the gadget for, and whether the iPad or a netbook better serves that need. Other new gadgets are entering the market, so there will be more options available.

What I like best about the iPad

INSTANT ON
Click a button and it's on. No waiting. As a side note, the MacBook Air has near instant - very convenient.

EASY TO USE
It's the easiest-to-use computer you will find, period. For people who don't need the full capabilities of a conventional computer, the iPad is a perfect solution. If you have ever taught someone how to use a computer, you know how difficult it can be for an inexperienced person to navigate a computer operating system. Not so with the iPad. The learning curve is refreshingly gentle. In my mind, this same simplicity is what drove the success of the iPhone, perhaps more so than its multi-touch display and other innovative features. (iTunes on the other hand is another story; more on that below.)

OPTIMIZED FOR TOUCH
The iPad is designed as a touch device, so the interface is made for finger interaction. Tablet computers that use conventional operating systems (like Windows 7) are clumsy to use by comparison. The onscreen keyboard is quite good as well (although, power users will likely still want to have the optional wireless keyboard).

CONVENIENT TO USE AND FUN
It's a great device to pick up and just start "doing." And, it's easy to share with others nearby. You will find yourself reading/watching/playing just for the heck of it. It's kind of fun.

LONG BATTERY LIFE
Compared to a conventional computer, the iPad gives you many more hours of use between charges.

INEXPENSIVE AND AMAZING SOFTWARE THAT IS EASY TO INSTALL
Most iPad apps sell for under and can be installed with a single click. And, there are many amazing apps that take full advantage of the tablet format.

Where the iPad falls short

HANDWRITING IS TERRIBLE
Although I have looked, I have yet to find a good handwriting app. And, I don't think I will because the iPad's capacitive touch screen only works with a stylus that has a blunt sponge-like head (designed to mimic the electrical touch of a finger). This makes handwriting awkward for anything other than a few short words at a time with very large letters. Conversely, my Dell tablet PC with Windows 7 and OneNote allows me to use a typical pen-like stylus quite comfortably. I was hoping the iPad could replace my paper notebook, but not a chance.

DRAWING IS AWKWARD
Similar to handwriting, drawing with an iPad lacks precision. I've seen impressive drawings created by talented people using the iPad. But, I suspect that you have to be a very talented and patient artist to find it useful for drawing.

LACK OF FLASH SUPPORT
If you really want the full Internet, you need Flash. Too many websites rely on it (and for more than just games or animated banners). Maybe things will be different in 5 years time, but today, the lack of Flash support means I have to forgo much of the Internet that I find most useful. Apple has publicly suggested that the iPad will never support Flash. It's an issue.

COPY AND PASTE IS CUMBERSOME
I frequently need to copy and paste text. While the iPad has this capability, it is slow and cumbersome to use, prompting me to jump frequently to my notebook computer to send an email or post a website comment.

NO CAMERA ON iPAD 1
Not having a camera limits the usefulness of the iPad 1 as a device to have around the home and on the go. Being able to capture impromptu photo moments is an important benefit of a mobile device. iPad 2 solves this problem with the addition of front and back cameras, similar to the iPhone 4.

FINGERPRINTS ARE EVERYWHERE
The display is nice, but when you shut it off it looks like you were finger painting on it. A small but annoying inconvenience common to most touch devices.

SHORT POWER CABLE
It's very short. (An extension is available as a separate purchase).

FINDING THE RIGHT APPS IS DIFFICULT
There are free apps and there are apps you must buy to try. It would be helpful if most apps were provided on a free trial basis, but it seems only a few apps are available this way. Luckily, most prices are quite low, so the risk of buying something that you don't like is manageable. Still, who wants to buy five cheap apps just to find the right one?

iTUNES IS REQUIRED
The iPad locks you into using iTunes to manage your music, photos, and other content. While having a single application to manage content has its benefits, it can be very inconvenient at times (and costly). And, you have to have a computer to use it and enable your iPad for the first time. Maybe it's just me, but I have always found the iTunes interface confusing and the program painfully slow, not to mention the frequent and annoyingly-large minor upgrades. iTunes is surprisingly one area where Apple's design sensibilities continue to fall short.

Final thoughts

The iPad is essentially a large iPod Touch or iPhone without the phone. Its larger size makes it more useful at home than smaller mobile devices. It is more convenient (and fun) than a notebook, netbook, or tablet computer, but falls short in important ways. While using the iPad, I have to frequently run to my computer to send an email, browse a website, watch a video, or do "real work." For those who do not need the capabilities of a full computer, it is a truly great option. For those who do not need the capabilities of a full computer, it is a truly great option. For those of you who do, it's a nice gadget to have around the house for sure (especially if you have kids), but you can live without it - for now.

Mathew Georghiou, Founder and CEO, MediaSpark Inc
MediaSpark applies the power of educational games, simulations, and social networks


Is the iPad Useful? - Just the Facts

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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Yamaha PSR-E423 Versus Casio CTK-5000 - Electronic Keyboards Comparison

!±8± Yamaha PSR-E423 Versus Casio CTK-5000 - Electronic Keyboards Comparison

The electronic keyboards market is a very competitive arena with some big players including Yamaha, Roland, Casio and Korg (amongst others). This is all good news for the consumer because what we are seeing is high quality and feature packed keyboards which offer incredible value for money.

However, one of the problems with all these keyboards and all their features is trying to pick the right one for you. In this comparison I have chosen the Yamaha PSR-E423 and Casio CTK-5000, which go head to head in the medium size sector. I'll run through some of the similarities and differences so that you can gain a greater understanding and hopefully make a better choice for yourself.

Keyboard

Both these instruments have a 61 note keyboard with full size keys. However, the PSR-E423 has organ style keys whereas the CTK-5000 has piano style keys. Even though both keyboards have touch response, which means you can vary the note depending on how much pressure you apply to the key, the organ style notes of the PSR-E423 will remain on for as long as you hold down the key. On the other hand, the piano style keys of the CTK-5000 will allow notes to gradually fade away.

The PSR-E423 has 32 note polyphony whereas the CTK-5000 has 48. Polyphony is the number of simultaneous notes which can be played at the same time. In this context, the CTK-5000 is capable of providing smoother and more natural transitions between notes.

Sounds

Both keyboards have a similar specification when it comes to onboard sounds and tones. The PSR-E423 has 700 tones and the CTK-5000 has 670. These range from a grand piano to a triangle, and every other instrument conceived in between. As with most instruments of this type - some are good, some are not so good.

Similarly both keyboards are extensively stocked with onboard rhythms and songs. The PSR-E423 has 174 rhythms whilst the CTK-5000 has 200. You can use these as accompaniments to enhance your own performance. Likewise, the PSR-E423 has 30 songs whereas the CTK-5000 has 152. These are useful for lesson play and your own listening enjoyment.

Features and Facilities

Both keyboards have digital effects available including reverb and chorus (PSR-E423 has 9 reverb and 4 chorus; CTK-5000 has 10 and 5) and both have a sequencer so that you can put together and record your own compositions (both keyboards have 6 tracks available with a 5 song memory). Additionally the CTK-5000 has an SD card reader for increased versatility so that you can download/upload your own files.

You can connect a set of headphones to the output of both instruments for silent practice. However, only the CTK-5000 has line outputs for connection to an external PA system or mixer. For this reason, the CTK-5000 is better suited if you wish to use it in a live performance situation.

One other noteworthy feature, again with the CTK-5000 only, is the sampling function. With this you can record any audio sound input (maximum 10 seconds) and then play it back through the keyboard. This opens up a whole new range of creative possibilities and potential for fun.

Conclusion

As you can see, both these keyboards are very similar in terms of specification. For home use, you basically cannot go wrong with either. The CTK-5000 lends itself slightly more to a live environment. However, the PSR-E423 has more onboard instrument tones and a lower recommended retail price. Ideally the best thing to do would be to try both before buying, but at least now after reading this article you should know what to expect.


Yamaha PSR-E423 Versus Casio CTK-5000 - Electronic Keyboards Comparison

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