
In the fickle world of the tech enthusiast, where favourite gadgets come and go, the test of time is the only sure way for a device to prove its mettle. So we asked real gadget lovers to show us the products they can't live without.
Name
David Tonkin
Occupation
Musician
Location
Bristol, England
WHY I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT MY
Yamaha P90 Digital Piano
Why did you buy it?
I wanted a keyboard that sounded like a full-sized grand piano, with the action of a full-sized grand -- this one comes really, really close. The P90 is the best-sounding keyboard I've used, and I tested a lot of them before I bought it. Most people find it really difficult to tell the difference between this and the real thing.
What does it do for you?
It lets me play gigs without dragging around a grand piano! Guitarists have it easy, but if you play piano you've got a big problem. On the whole, digital pianos sound fake. If you're used to the real thing, you'll notice that a lot of keyboards have a really cheesy tone. The P90 sounds convincing.
Would you recommend it to others? Why?
In a second I'd recommend it. It just sounds amazing. The keys in the P90 are fully weighted. It's exactly like playing a very good grand piano. Inside the keyboard, there's lots of levers and weights that simulate the way a real piano's strings interact with the keys. Some purists will tell you that a keyboard can never match the sound of a real grand piano, but I think that Yamaha are nearly there.
Name
David Tonkin
What I do
Musician
Where I live
Bristol, England
Outside Interests
Martin Scorsese
If you could design and create your ultimate product, what would it be?
A 24-track recording studio that fits in your pocket
What tech insider secret do you find most useful?
If I want to win a race, I listen to Aphex Twin on my Shuffle -- there's some extreme beats going on in his stuff.
Do you have three you can't live without? Click here






