Digital vs Acoustic piano-which one?

Ahh...so you think NOTHING beats the smooth harmonics and weighted touch of a "real" (read: acoustic) piano? Think again! Almost everyone (except the true purist) is pleasantly surprised when they play one of the current digital pianos, especially the ones offered by 2 major manufacturers.

Wow! The sound is sampled from a concert grand--the touch is nicely weighted--it never needs tuning--you can even use headphones for privacy! The price, though it varies depending upon "bells and whistles," is quite reasonable, increasing as features increase. And what features! You can sound like a one-person orchestra, complete with many accompaniments and instrumental voices. You can record, compose, download directly from the internet, play the musical score right on your screen, etc., etc.......

But, on the other hand, to some of us, nothing is better than a living, "breathing" piece of furniture, with a musical sound produced the "old-fashioned" way--by a hammer hitting a string, causing it to vibrate, the sound conducted via the bridge to the soundboard, which is a natural amplifier. The end result is a beautiful, melodic, series of notes played by someone who can inject just as much expression and emotion as he or she wishes. This is not to say that one cannot play with emotion on a digital, but , to some, the combination of the wood and the 12,000 parts that make up an acoustic piano leads to a relationship with the owner that transcends the ones he or she has with all other types of instruments.

There is no right or wrong in this "dilemma"--it's a subjective decision for each of us.
Some people end up with both!