The only thing I would not buy is a Casio. I consider those the cheap ones you would buy for a small child.....the kind you don't mind getting beat up on. Ha!
Since I don't have any idea how much money you want to spend, I think I would just tell you to buy the best you can afford. Yamaha's are nice. But, if you have room in your place you might also want to just check the newspaper for people selling their old pianos. You can find great deals there. The only thing you will need to do later is have the piano tuned.
Again, for keyboards since you are just beginning you don't need the top of the line model. That can come later when you have really mastered the piano and need to move up! I think it's important to have a pedal, which you can get as an attachment for most keyboards. But, that's also the reason I would just look for someone who is selling their piano. Baldwins have a soft keyboard touch, which is great when you are just learning. A Steinway has the hardest touch, but they are expensive. Our church has a grand Steinway and whenever I get to play it, I feel like I'm pounding the keys. Think of it like a brake pedal....some you only have to barely push to stop and others you have to slam down on the floor.
I personally would love to have a Roland keyboard. They have all the bells and whistles that I would probably never use, but hey, it's my fantasy! LOL! And that is never going to happen in my lifetime anyway since they are thousands of dollars! If you go to any concerts, you'll notice that's what just about every star uses. But, they can afford it since they have the big bucks!
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. I think it's great that you are considering this!
I won't be going overboard......I don't even have that mindset ("that he is going to pay!")........I feel like everything we have (which is still joint) is "ours." At times I have felt that he doesn't think that way.....MLC e-mail monologues......
I became a SAHM after child #2 came along - but I still had income with my own biz and did A LOT of work for his law firm----all to help build "the dream".......I won't dwell on the fact that I worked 2 jobs when he was in law school.......anyway I guess as my L explained, things that need to be taken care of around the house (and a keyboard would be around the house) should be taken care of while things are still "joint." AND, I do have a full time job and income now......
CK - I'm looking at a Kawai ES6 or EP3......no gold plate, Jack.
I'll have to check out Acadia.....
Family night in the hot tub tonight - NOT naked! It was good.
Me 45 M 25 yrs; T 31 yrs;bomb 8/15/06; moves out 7/18/08 D 18, D 14, S 12
I had a great day with the kids yesterday. We went to a play in the "big city" and had a very good dinner afterwards. It was a baseball/softball free day - and it was good! Last one until August...........
I have been able to be dim/dark for awhile, but had to contact H today to let him know D13's track schedule - that she would be missing sb practice tonight. When I realized last night that she had a meet tonight I told her she needed to contact her dad and coach to let them know and she said - no way! I am not missing softball practice - dad will kill me! I told her it was her decision. This morning she decided she was going to the track meet......leaving it to me to let H know. I reluctantly sent a pretty detailed e-mail with what was left and that she would be DONE with track next Monday.
I anticipated a scathing response, and yes, was worried about what it was going to be----which really pisses me off. I wish I could stop caring----even in a situation like this, when I fully believe that his stance about D13 doing track is wrong----I still worried about how upset he would be that she would miss sb practice today and next Monday. I had thought about adding something to the e-mail about how important I thought it was that she went out for track and that even though it has interfered with pitching and sb practice - it was for a very short time.....but I didn't, knowing that how I feel about this doesn't matter to him - so I guess that is progress for me.
His reply: "OK"
So......of course, my twisted, hung up mind is taking this as evidence that he knows that I don't care how he feels about D13 doing track - and how wrong it is in his mind........and this bothers me too.
I really want to fully detach. Why can't I?
Me 45 M 25 yrs; T 31 yrs;bomb 8/15/06; moves out 7/18/08 D 18, D 14, S 12
I think it's important to have a pedal, which you can get as an attachment for most keyboards. But, that's also the reason I would just look for someone who is selling their piano. Baldwins have a soft keyboard touch, which is great when you are just learning. A Steinway has the hardest touch, but they are expensive. Our church has a grand Steinway and whenever I get to play it, I feel like I'm pounding the keys. Think of it like a brake pedal....some you only have to barely push to stop and others you have to slam down on the floor. 
And that is never going to happen in my lifetime anyway since they are thousands of dollars! If you go to any concerts, you'll notice that's what just about every star uses. But, they can afford it since they have the big bucks!