Thinking about buying a new 'scope, with "autostar" tracking

DS 2114ATS 114mm AZ Reflector & Autostar
Meade Digital Series telescopes bring microprocessor technology and the very
latest in electromechanical design to the serious beginning or intermediate
observer. Completely re-engineered and redesigned, Meade DS-2000 telescopes
provide extremely smooth motions in both altitude and azimuth, and, most
importantly, include a fully integrated Autostar control system as standard
equipment. Oversize bearings on both telescope axes of all models negate the
imprecisions found universally, virtually without exception, on competing
models.
Price: £269.00

Is the "Autostar" tracking thing included with the above scope worth the
money/any good? I'm thinking of buying it with the money I'll get at
christmas. Thanks in advancefor any replies

--
Ex Astris Scientia - From the Stars, Knowledge

http://www.f1cameras.com/acatalog/9627_ds2114at.jpg
forgot to include this link to a picture of the scope.
btw another one i'm considering is this :

DS 2070AT 70mm AZ Refractor & Autostar
Meade Digital Series telescopes bring microprocessor technology and the very
latest in electromechanical design to the serious beginning or intermediate
observer. Completely re-engineered and redesigned, Meade DS-2000 telescopes
provide extremely smooth motions in both altitude and azimuth, and, most
importantly, include a fully integrated Autostar control system as standard
equipment. Oversize bearings on both telescope axes of all models negate the
imprecisions found universally, virtually without exception, on competing
models.
Price: £248.99 - http://www.f1cameras.com/acatalog/3393_ds2070at.jpg

--
Ex Astris Scientia - From the Stars, Knowledge

"David" wrote in message
...

Is the "Autostar" tracking thing included with the above scope worth the
money/any good? I'm thinking of buying it with the money I'll get at
christmas. Thanks in advance for any replies


It is not as good as on the ETX or LX90, simply from a lack of mechanical
precision, or so I hear. Remember that when you have a limited budget,
whatever you spend on computerization is being taken away from optics and
mechanical quality.

I'm in favor of good computerized telescopes -- but they cost money. I
don't hear good things about the really low-end ones.

--
Clear skies,

Michael Covington -- www.covingtoninnovations.com
Author, Astrophotography for the Amateur
and (new) How to Use a Computerized Telescope

"David" wrote in message
...
DS 2114ATS 114mm AZ Reflector & Autostar
Meade Digital Series telescopes bring microprocessor technology and the
very
latest in electromechanical design to the serious beginning or
intermediate
observer. Completely re-engineered and redesigned, Meade DS-2000
telescopes
provide extremely smooth motions in both altitude and azimuth, and, most
importantly, include a fully integrated Autostar control system as
standard
equipment. Oversize bearings on both telescope axes of all models negate
the
imprecisions found universally, virtually without exception, on competing
models.
Price: £269.00

Is the "Autostar" tracking thing included with the above scope worth the
money/any good? I'm thinking of buying it with the money I'll get at
christmas. Thanks in advancefor any replies

--
Ex Astris Scientia - From the Stars, Knowledge



I had one of these things:
http://robert.thegeakes.co.uk/astro/ds/

Have a read of that before you buy it!

Rob

"Robert Geake" wrote in message
...
I had one of these things:
http://robert.thegeakes.co.uk/astro/ds/

Have a read of that before you buy it!

Rob

Thanks :-)