best cheap, decent electronic piano for a kid

[bickle]

So, this isn't entirely a tape-op kind of question, but I'm looking to find a cheap portable keyboard for my niece, who's turning 9. It needs to be something that provides a relatively realistic piano experience (especially sound and velocity-sensitivity) but is still relatively small and portable and comes in at no more than a couple hundred bucks.

This sort of thing is hard to research b/c it doesn't appeal to serious folks, but I thought maybe somebody here had it figured out. Any help would be much appreciated!

[Stevil]

i'd look at used Roland & Yamaha electric pianos.

looks like Yamaha has a new full size electric grand for $300
http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMNP30
(not weighted keys though)

[percussion boy]

The new Yamaha mentioned above sounds and feels good, if you can spend that much. Velocity sensitive but not real stiff -- "semi-weighted," they call it. The non-piano sounds are uneven, but who cares?

The older Yamahas (PSR series) are real cheap on e-bay sometimes, after someone else's kid gets bored with them. I got mine for $50. The last place I worked, we had one for the child care center -- obnoxious dj features and 10,000 buttons, but it actually looked and sounded good for a cheap digital piano.

If your niece is a little player, the grownup instruments work too. I saw a kid absolutely throw down on a Casio Previa once, in the SF Guitar Center. It was . . . humbling.

Good luck!

[DJ_LBP]

I like the sounds in the above-mentioned PSR series. some of the DGX models probably sell used in your price range, but may be a bit bigger than what you are looking for. they feel ok. the newer casios (privia) are pretty nice and definitely not what you would expect to say casio on it. They are a little more pricy though.