I do have a music room with a good piano in my Uni, where I would take lessons and would be able to practice, the problem is that because of high demand it won't always be available in regular hours, so if I can use a portable keyboard as an alternative that will not hurt my progress, it would be preferable.

Thanks for your help.

I think starting with a cheap keyboard is no issue. Plus this Casio doesn't look too bad.

If you really want to learn the "instrument", then you'll have to switch to something closer to an acoustic piano eventually.

The longer you use this keyboard, the longer the adaptation period when you will switch to something better.

I think you can safely use this keyboard for 1 to 2 years to learn the basics before acquiring something better.

The risk of keeping this keyboard too long is mainly that your playing style will might have been 'molded' by the soft touch (not always a bad thing...), and it will take you more time to get used to the much larger 'dynamic' that is offered by a real piano for example...

Good luck to you!

Though I think I might try to find a touch sensitive one for a bit more.

Nononononono do NOT get a keyboard. The action is wrong, there's no sustain - it's like learning a completely different instrument. You won't learn the piano effectively.

If you can stretch to a second hand portable Clavinova or a digital piano that would be ideal, but whatever you DON'T get a keyboard.

Source: someone who made the exact mistake you're about to make and very much regretted it. Now a seasoned classical pianist  of 15 years 

Please don't waste your money!

Didn't buy anything yet, I just talked to a friend of mine who told me the same thing, that I'd be wasting my time.

I think I'll try my luck in the music room with a real piano for the time being, and later on I'll invest and buy a good one.

I looked for second hand deals, I found things like Roland FP-4 for 3000 NIS(~750$), maybe I'll buy something in that scale in a few months from now,  when I'm more practiced and know what I want.

I started learning using a keyboard, never regretted it. 

I wouldn't be as alarming as you on this one... I think most people can do the transition just fine, especially at the beginning, where you mostly learn theory and basics.

Of course, the faster you can get yourself on a piano or at least an electronic piano with good touch, the better...

Alsol, I would point out that a second hand lested piano for the same price range as the new keyboard is indeed a great idea! (even though it seems a bit hard with this keyboard's price...).

 

When I looked for stage pianos many years ago I really liked the touch feeling of Roland FP-5. The keys werent too heavy but felt natural. Maybe FP-4 has the same touch.

 

I ended up buying a MIDI keyboard , CME UF8, 88 keys, fully weighted with hammer action. And I used it with a sample library on the computer to practise piano (currently I have access to a real piano though). The dynamic control isn't good with the UF8 keyboard though, something wrong wth the MIDI control probably. 

 

But hammer action is good to have. Semi-weighted keys have a really bad feeling from my experiences. Practising on a regular synth keyboard is probably not the ideal thing if playing classical music because you are building up individual strength and dynamic control in the fingers. The weight and feeling of real piano keys is part of developing the musical approach to the instrument.

Not sure they can get quieter than uprights... they sure can get louder though.

Also, please remember the initial subject. It is not whether a digital keyboard can full replace a piano, but rather what instrument to get when you want to START LEARNING the piano.

A real piano being the obvious answer, it's the 'alternative' solutions that are of interest.

In other terms, which blow up doll to get...

I don't think I'll buy an acoustic piano for home, maybe further down the road when I finish my degree and my financial status(and my piano skills, hopefully) improves.

If I'll ever want to play an acoustic piano, I'll just get a subscription in a local conservatory and play there, I even have one right next to my place with excellent pianos in several rooms, with a subscription I can play there as much as I want, and it includes a piano lesson once a week.

This looks like a good idea right there

You're right, but I'm not gonna replace a real piano with a keyboard. The point is: assume I could get myself a real piano and private lessons in january. If I play my non-weighted key (that I already own) in the meanwhile, would it represent a permanent damage to my hands (no matter if it's wasted time, it would be just amusement). I say this because I just can't afford a good piano right now and I have to wait a bit 

That's it! Thank you.

@AtomicCrimsonRush: OMG, please don't show me a transparent Hammond now :(