<HTML>In a message dated 2/21/03 11:10:47 AM Central Standar= d Time, rrg@unlv.edu writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT= : 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">On the flip side however the RE= AL competitors are the ones who continue to develop their product.  Kaw= ai doesn't make the KG-2 anymore.  Yamaha doesn't make the G-3 anymore.=   They realized that the time for these pianos had come and gone and it= was time to move on.</BLOCKQUOTE> TV's and cars only last 5 - 10 years. If a10 year old TV or car breaks down,= it is probably time to buy a new one any way. But pianos are supposed to la= st 50 - 75 years. One of my complaints about the Japanese pianos is that eve= n after 5 years, it is sometimes difficult to get parts for them. It's one t= hing to improve on the product. But why do they have to redesign the piano e= ntirely, and stop making a certain model? The flip side is that I can get parts for 100 year old Steinways. My concern= is if I will be able to get Boston parts 50 years from now. (Well, not me p= ersonally, but you know what I mean.) Wim </HTML>