Hi,
I've been playing the piano for two years now and I've been wanting to get into some more advanced stuff and have decided to get myself a synthesizer workstation. I'm looking for something that has a good piano-like feel with 88 keys that sounds good as well.
At first I was just going to get a digital piano like the korg sp-250 or the new sp-170 so I'm looking for something in that price range, maybe around $1k
Thanks for the help in advance

In that price range only a few boards I can think of with 88 keys is a Yamaha MM8, the Casio PX-575R and PX-330, and the Yamaha YPG-635. The 575, 330 and 635 are digital pianos that also have synth sounds. The MM8 is really more like a PSR series workstation. These are not full blown synths as they lack quantization and portamento. You cannot save any sounds, you can only tweak the sounds. Yamaha makes some nice workstations in the PSR series, but you go down to 61 keys. If you increase your budget you can look at the Yamaha MO8, which is quite popular. You can also consider looking at used gear. Be prepared to spend more for something with 88 keys as there isn't much for $1000.

Alright so it seems I have to go higher in price as I see the Yamaha MO8 is around $1,5k
In that price range I also find Korg M50.
Which is better? Any other suggestions?

With your budget the Motif is out. But what about software. ANy 88 key piano can connect to a computer and then you can run software for the synth and workstation funtions. I think I like the idea of using a small (15"??) LCD screen and wireless blue toth keyboard/mouse rather then a notenbook computer.

There is even software that understands Yamaha style files
One Man Band

And of course a DAW and some virtual instruments fills out just about everything you'd need.

Either the Korg or Yamaha would probably work for you, however, you haven't really said anything about why you want to buy a synth. Are you a hobbist, serious player, gigging musician, etc? What level of sounds do you need? Do you currently own a digital piano or do you have an acoustic? If you do own a digital, you could do as ChrisA suggests and connect to a computer and use software for sounds. Software synths offer better sounds than you could get on most boards. Using your existing keyboard as a MIDI controller is another way you can go to get your synth.

I want a synth because I want to start going beyond just playing the piano. I have a Casio AP-200 digital piano right now and also an upright acoustic piano. I want to sell my digital piano and get a synth. I am a hobbyist. I want whatever has the best acoustic piano like feel in both touch and sound.

If you want "the best acoustic piano like feel," then you should stick with digital pianos and not get a workstation. You could do like ChrisA says and couple a digital piano with software like Reason/Record that is basically all the workstation functionality for your computer. (There are lots of other software packages too. I just gave you one example to get started.)

But if you still want a hardware workstation, look at the different version that Korg (Triton, M50), Yamaha (MO, Motif), and Roland (Fantom) offer and have offered. They're all slightly different, but ultimately do roughly the same thing. Used is probably a better deal, and you get what you pay for.

Yes, it stands between Korg M50 and Yamaha MO8.
The question is, which one would suit me the best.
I guess I would just have to try both of them, will try to do that at guitar center.
Thanks

Kapli, I'm also looking for a 88 key workstation in the $3500 range, with a good action and piano sound.

Did you make a selection already?

I am also considering getting a nice stage piano like the SV-1 or 700GX and getting a good software program as a synth. If I had the cash I would get the V-Piano, I love the action on it.

There are so many options to choose from that I keep changing my mind.