I\'ve never been a fan of midi, but I am familiar with it. I\'ve even heard good examples of midi music! But they\'re the minority...
The stuff I used was all Roland though. Just play it on keys, the computer picked up what I played, and I was able to go back and select a voice for it. With what you linked to, it seems like more of a marketting gimmick than anything else. I don\'t see what the advantage is... it doesn\'t even offer a full range.
I don\'t know the model number of the keyboard I used, but take a look through Roland\'s catalogue if this is a medium that interest you.
I used to use tape decks and four tracks to record, now I do everything digital onto my computer. It\'s a pentium IV with a Audigy 2 soundcard. I don\'t know much about computers, but it\'s supposed to be good so I got it. For recording guitar cabinets, I use SM57s when I have the option. For vocals, SM58\'s... when I have the option. For overheads and room micing, I have a Studio Projects \"B1\" condenser microphone. It\'s functional, but it actually sounds too hi-fi. It has a slight spike in the higher frequencies which gives a clearer sounding sound, but it\'s just an EQ thing.