I am a dedicated user of Pianoteq, up to version 5 now. Once I got this piano, I abandoned all others in my software arsenal. However, I keep reading great things about the new Garritan CFX Concert Grand, based on a Yamaha 9 foot premium concert grand. Unlike most Yamaha's (I'm a former Steinway salesperson), the CFX Grand is hand-made. The size of the full install is 122 GB (!). Listening to the demo samples on the Garritan (MakeMusic) website, I was blown away by the authenticity, nuance, and elegance of the sound of this piano. Although classically trained, my work is primarily contemporary jazz, and I'm thinking this virtual piano could actually persuade me to switch my go-to Piano VST. It's pricey (MSRP $299, street price, $249, but can be had online for ($219), and only comes on a USB stick (due to the enormous size of the non-compressed samples), but I'm so tempted I've been drooling all day at the thought of simply playing this piano, not just recording with it.
Anyone have an opinion and/or experience on this product?  It's not something I NEED, but boy, do I want it...
 
And aside from this, I have at times considered buying the also-respectable virtual Yamaha from Orangetree Samples--I use quite a few of their Kontakt-based VST's and for my money (again not cheap) they are the most realistic I have ever used (owning acoustic and electric guitars acoustic and electric basses, and flute--and even a zither!). 
 
If anyone can compare these two virtual pianos, and also compared to Pianoteq (standard/full version), I would greatly appreciate it.
 
Thanks.
 
Dave

I've also been wondering about the Garritan piano. Other than a review or two, I've heard absolutely nothing about it on the various forums I visit. Hasn't anyone bought this and tried it?

The question is if you want piano for classical or pop....

did you try the Ravenscroft? It's on my list. just curious.
 
Seriously, the CFX eats like 150gb or something, and listening to the demos, it didn't seem that much better to my ears than the other "top tier" sampled pianos. I have Ivory II american Grand, which is OK, but I'd like to know more about the CFX or the Ravenscroft.
 
cheers,
-Tom

Check out Sampletekk's stuff as well.
 
Regards,
Dan