I talked with Yamaha several years ago about their display inadequacies, to which they replied with some simple statistics. I know these are factual, at least from my own experiences over many decades of performing on stage.
First and foremost, less than 1/10th of 1-percent of arranger keyboards are used for outdoor performances. That a pretty small number of consumers to spend time and money upon for any successful business. Additionally, the vast majority of all outdoor performers, including myself, insist on some sort of cover, not just to see the displays better, but additionally, to protect both themselves and their equipment from the elements, rain, intense heat, hail, snow (which happened to me on one occasion), you name it, it can happen.
Most of the outdoor jobs I performed over the years were either in poolside, Tiki Bars, or private parties for major corporations. Even when playing beneath a large porch roof, I had a great deal of difficulty seeing the displays and button lights on the PSR-3000, which was my workhorse at the time. When I got the S-950, the display had improved significantly, however, you could not use it in direct sunlight and expect to see both the display and buttons clearly enough to perform - same is true with the Tyros series. They are not supertwist, backlighted, LED displays, such as those used in the marine industry. I recently learned that the displays on marine HD GPS-plotters are the most expensive component in the device. (figures!) The remaining components are relatively inexpensive.
So, all this gnashing of teeth, biting of finger nails, and internet bitching will not accomplish much at all. Take a serious look at the number of outdoor performers in your neck of the woods that is even using an arranger keyboard - it amounts to a speck of fly poop in a mountain pepper. Most of the outdoor performers I've come across in my life have been guitar and accordion players - not keyboard or synth players. They show up with their guitar or accordion, plug into an inexpensive amp, fire up their gear and play and sing.
When someone, such as myself shows up with an arranger keyboard at an outdoor job, the very first thing we look for is deep shade in the form of a tent or gazebo. Now, that tent or gazebo better have some drop curtains for when the sun begins to go down. If not, you are screwed big time. When I performed in the Florida Keys, when the sun went down, the dew was so heavy that it dripped off the gazebo's thatched roof like it was raining outside. Imagine all that condensation falling on your expensive gear - not a pretty sight.
My GPS/Plotter that is use for my sailboat sells for $1,200 and has a 7-inch HD display. To me, it's a valuable safety device that makes life on the water a lot safer and easier. It has a super-twist, backlighted LED display that actually gets brighter in direct sunlight. It interfaces with my onboard 3G radar system and Automatic Identification System (AIS). It has as many features as any arranger keyboard on the market, and just like the newer arranger keyboards, there is a steep learning curve that every user must endure to become proficient with the device.
Kaarlos claims there are lots of unhappy Genos owners. Kaarlos, this is not the case with the handful of Genos owners I know personally. Each and every one of the half-dozen owners I have been in close contact with love each and every aspect of their Genos. As I have stated many times in the past, if the Genos is not everything you wanted in an arranger keyboard, then don't buy it! Do some serious research and spend some time traveling to get some hands-on experience with other makes and models that may fulfill your needs more than the Genos, or another Yamaha model. I've done this with arranger keyboards, PA systems, mics, boats, engines - you name it. When I make a serious purchase of anything, it is done after spending lots of time and effort to determine if it will do the job I wish. If it doesn't fit the bill, I don't buy it - it's that simple.
Good luck,
Gary
