Jefferson1964
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/15/04
Posts: 570
Loc: Mansfield, Texas
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and i was told by meade that the $250 rebate still applies to these non Smart Mount Technology scopes. The software program for SMT can be ordered from meade for $99.
I just purchased one of the scopes last week for $1,995, however, since it has not shipped yet OPT said they would lower my price to $1,895. Friendly people everytime I have called....No I dont work there, LOL.......
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10x70 Binos
Astroscan 2000
8" LX200GPS UHTC
ETX-125EC
ETX-125PE
The ETX Travel Buddies.....
DSIProII DSIPro
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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That is definitly a good deal, and i think its about time too. I like the idea that meade is really pushing the GPS Goto line into the main stream by lowering prices. Well, hopefully when the scope arrives it won't be clouded over for 2 months! Let us know what you think. I know that when Suk and I get together in another 2 weeks, i believe he will let us know what he thinks about my C11. Its hard for me to compare it to anything because i haven't looked through a whole lot of scopes. Well, here's to hoping for clear skies for ya!
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 30716
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
I like the idea that meade is really pushing the GPS Goto line into the main stream by lowering prices.
It's more a matter of OPT rolling the prices back. Meade recently raised the price on this model by about $250 and threw in the $99 SMT package plus the $150 LPI package to make the price increase less objectionable. This price increase was pretty much across the board - all the models went up and all had new goodies included to reduce the pain. No downward trend on prices here! OPT is offering the previous model at the old price. It's a good deal if you don't want the extras.
Celestron has fired a couple of shots across Meade's bow on prices recently, though. Offering the C11 on their CG5-GT mount gives them by far the least expensive computerized, medium aperture SCT package that has ever been offered. I dunno what Meade can do to answer that.
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John C
Battle Cry of Reno
http://www.wadsworthobservatory.com
My Cloudy Nights gallery
AT12RC
AT65EDQ
QSI683WSG-8
Roper Scientific Quantix 6303E "project" camera
mystery EQ mount on the way
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Jefferson1964
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/15/04
Posts: 570
Loc: Mansfield, Texas
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John is correct, OPT is offering the LX200 GPS UHTC without SMT or LPI and did originally cost $2,175 but reduced to $1,895. As i did not want the LPI nor care about the SMT and had back ordered the DSI and still receive the $250 rebate it was perfect for me. Basically the $250 rebate will almost pay for the DSI and it fit my budget. My thinking about good deals is, it may be a good deal, but is it a good deal for me. If so i may purchase if not i move on. Jeff 
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10x70 Binos
Astroscan 2000
8" LX200GPS UHTC
ETX-125EC
ETX-125PE
The ETX Travel Buddies.....
DSIProII DSIPro
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 30716
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
As i did not want the LPI nor care about the SMT and had back ordered the DSI and still receive the $250 rebate it was perfect for me. Basically the $250 rebate will almost pay for the DSI and it fit my budget.
Yup. The SMT is fairly useless unless you are in an observatory and there are better mapping programs you can use then. The LPI (which I just received today) is MUCH less interesting now that the DSI has been announced; I like the deal you got. As you say, Meade is pretty much throwing in the DSI.
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John C
Battle Cry of Reno
http://www.wadsworthobservatory.com
My Cloudy Nights gallery
AT12RC
AT65EDQ
QSI683WSG-8
Roper Scientific Quantix 6303E "project" camera
mystery EQ mount on the way
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Thats seems like its a lot more reasonable without all the extras (LPI and SMT). If i went the meade route in the future, i know i wouldn't want all that hooplah. What i love about Celestron is the fact that yes, the C11-CG5-GT is only about 2 grand and the fact that its an equatorial mount compared to the meades. BTW, does meade offer anything to compete with the eq. mounted Celestrons? Seems kinda odd to me that they don't, but thats just my 2 cents...
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 30716
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
BTW, does meade offer anything to compete with the eq. mounted Celestrons? Seems kinda odd to me that they don't, but thats just my 2 cents...
Meade was there first in this price/performance class with the LXD55, a relatively inexpensive imported Vixen clone mount with GoTo. The LXD55 has been around for several years. The very similar CG5-GT is Celestron's recent answer to it. Meade has responded by updating their mount to the new LXD75 model. They haven't offered their light-duty GEMs with any SCT larger than their 8" model, probably because Meade's SCT's are significantly heavier than Celestron's.
It's necessary to remember, though, that German EQ mounts are much more expensive to produce than forkmounts. The only Celestron GEM with quality and performance in the class of the LX200GPS is their $3000 (for the mount alone) CGE. All the Vixen clones are Far Eastern imports and are (or should be) aimed at a completely different market.
Left to right: CG5-GT, LXD75, LXD55
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John C
Battle Cry of Reno
http://www.wadsworthobservatory.com
My Cloudy Nights gallery
AT12RC
AT65EDQ
QSI683WSG-8
Roper Scientific Quantix 6303E "project" camera
mystery EQ mount on the way
Edited by jrcrilly (09/01/04 08:14 PM)
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Good point, i forgot about the LDX55; probably because like you said, its for their scopes under 8". I guess i'm just kind of surprised that they haven't tried to compete with Celestron in the CGE class. I guess once you start getting up that high in price and weight, most folks would want to get a mount of their choice. Anyways, clear skies, and thanks for enlightening me!
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 30716
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
I guess i'm just kind of surprised that they haven't tried to compete with Celestron in the CGE class.
Meade was there first also. Their very heavy-duty LXD750 mount with optional GoTo computer was around for nearly ten years before the CGE came out. They dropped that mount this year, though, leaving that market to everyone else.
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John C
Battle Cry of Reno
http://www.wadsworthobservatory.com
My Cloudy Nights gallery
AT12RC
AT65EDQ
QSI683WSG-8
Roper Scientific Quantix 6303E "project" camera
mystery EQ mount on the way
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Hmm, i guess you learn something new everyday! 
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LivingNDixie
TSP Chowhound
Reged: 04/23/03
Posts: 17757
Loc: Trussville, AL
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That would be an interesting shootout... The ole LXD 750 vs the CGE.... Wonder if Meade is also discontinueing the Larger ED refractors???
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Preston
Meade 10in LX200R GPS UHTC
blog (updated 02/15/2013)
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 30716
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
Wonder if Meade is also discontinueing the Larger ED refractors???
Yup.
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John C
Battle Cry of Reno
http://www.wadsworthobservatory.com
My Cloudy Nights gallery
AT12RC
AT65EDQ
QSI683WSG-8
Roper Scientific Quantix 6303E "project" camera
mystery EQ mount on the way
|
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