Anonymous
Unregistered
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I've been losing sleep in anticipation... 
Seriously, did they announce anything yet today?
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22464
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
I've been losing sleep in anticipation...
Seriously, did they announce anything yet today?
Nuthin' yet - it's just now 8:00AM there, though.
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22464
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
Quote:
I've been losing sleep in anticipation...
Seriously, did they announce anything yet today?
Nuthin' yet - it's just now 8:00AM there, though.
...and , of course, I'll be leaving in a few minutes and will be out of the office for a few hours. I'll probably miss it!
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I can just see Robert probably had his alarm set to 12:01"Ok its jan.3 what is it?".........lol
It better actually be something that will change the face of astronomy,theres a lot of people waiting for the announcement.
Bill
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22464
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
It better actually be something that will change the face of astronomy,theres a lot of people waiting for the announcement.
Bill
Yes, there'll probably be a lot of complaints about that issue when the news does come out. Whatever it is, there will be some who aren't impressed. Meanwhile I'm eager to hear also.
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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AuroraSeeker
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/16/04
Posts: 1377
Loc: Philadelphia, PA
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Yeah, right.
I bet they won't even say anything today.
The announcement will be back ordered like their 5000 eyepieces.
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http://www.danielmccauley.com/
Daniel McCauley, Astrophotographer
Southern New Jersey
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Not quite alarm clock set, but it's already Tuesday (a.m.) here so was just wondering. 
I forgot that Meade was located on the west coast as well.
By the time I wake up tomorrow I'll have already mised all the "excitement"....
I assume they're going to announce it on their hp (?)
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celestial_search
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/18/04
Posts: 2285
Loc: Iowa, USA
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I just checked their Web Site at 11:00 CST (9:00 a.m. Pacific) and there was nothing up or announced. The significance of the announcement is probably directly proportional to the sooner they announce it (i.e. if the announcement comes at 2:30 p.m. it will be of magnitude 6, same scale as stellar magnitude, by then).
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Frank
C-11 XLT
8" f/6 Newt on GEM
Tak FS-102II
SV 80L Triplet APO
Orion Mak 127mm
EQ-6 Mount on pier in backyard observatory
CG-5 AS (GOTO)
Surveyor's tripod/Hercules single-arm alt-az mount
SBIG ST-5C CCD and Canon Digital Rebel XT
Oberwerk 15X70s and Pentax 10X21s
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Don W
Postmaster
Reged: 05/19/03
Posts: 13235
Loc: Wisconsin, USA
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About noon here in the midwest and the boys at Meade are still asleep.
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Don Wyman
Obsession 18" f/4.5 #1166
W/Argo Navis DSC and Torus Primary
William Optics Megrez 90
Coronado PST
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Don W
Postmaster
Reged: 05/19/03
Posts: 13235
Loc: Wisconsin, USA
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Rumor on another service is that Meade will make their announcement between 5-6pm PST.
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Don Wyman
Obsession 18" f/4.5 #1166
W/Argo Navis DSC and Torus Primary
William Optics Megrez 90
Coronado PST
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tiberio
member
Reged: 12/03/04
Posts: 12
Loc: Brazil, RS
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Since they are traded on NASDAQ, it makes sense that the announcement will be made after the market closes.
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AuroraSeeker
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/16/04
Posts: 1377
Loc: Philadelphia, PA
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Quote:
Since they are traded on NASDAQ, it makes sense that the announcement will be made after the market closes.
Yeah, so when their stock plumets, people won't have the chance to sell today!
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http://www.danielmccauley.com/
Daniel McCauley, Astrophotographer
Southern New Jersey
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matt
Vendor (Scopemania)
Reged: 07/28/03
Posts: 10022
Loc: Chaville, France
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I hope you guys are not setting your expectations too high... Just in case they're just rolling out an LX300 series with color paddles.
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Matt
CI700 mount with various scopes on top.
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Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
Posts: 27405
Loc: Alternate Reality (TM)
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Matt, how did you know that's what I was hoping for??
I'll admit I'm curious, but seriously.... That's too huge of a claim...
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There are two theories to arguing with my wife. Neither one works.
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Matthew E
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/24/04
Posts: 925
Loc: Whitby, Ontario, Canada
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i hope its a line of DOBs to compete with Orion's Intelliscopes...to help drive the prices down for when i purchase mine
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NexStar 114GT
NewStar 10” Dob with Moonlite CR-1
Short Tube 80mm
6mm Radian
14mm Radian
Celestron Ultima Barlow
Celestron NexImage - on order.
Durham Region Astronomical Association
Royal Astronomical Society of Canada - Toronto
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Zamboni
sage
Reged: 01/03/05
Posts: 245
Loc: Arizona
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Well, there are two possibilities here.
1. Meade is exaggerating the impact their product will have on amateur astronomy.
2. This is something totally new that we haven't seen before and will kick booty.
If all we are getting is a new mount, then it would be a case of possibility #1. The market is flooded with mounts. Vixen, orion, skywatcher, losmandy, meade, celestron, software bisque, johnsonian, etc, etc, etc. A buttload of them have amazing innovative features. Vixen has starbook, celestron has nexstar and optional GPS capability, synta mounts have uber-low prices while still being acceptable, bisque has a full observatory automation system (practically) built into one mount. And as for losmandy, they simply rock.
The only way I could count a new mount as truly revolutionary, it would need ALL of the following features.
100 pound load capacity
GOTO
PPEC
GPS
GUI interface (ala starbook/sphinx)
Heavy duty tripod or can also be placed on an optional pier
autoguider port
Interface for astronomy home computer control programs and can also run with Mac, PC or Linux
Electronic internal compass with true north compensation for super-easy polar alignment
Built in equipment routing hub for ccd, autoguider, PC, dew control, autofocuser, and an option for observatory dome control.
And to make it truly revolutionary, they would need to price such a mount under 2,000 dollars.
Somehow, I don't see this happening. As for the "LX MaxMount" thing, that could be a new product, but I don't really think it will be the "revolutionary" announcment. Remember, in earlier press releases they said they would be updating, expanding and adding new products across all of their product lines. We have already seen this happening with the ETX and LX90, I think the "Maxmount" will probably be just a bigger brother to the LX 75 GEM for holding their big apos, as a way of updating that line. Would this be "revolutionary"? Not at all. It would be a clear cut case of possibility #1.
However, I don't think we should take such a claim lightly. Meade, being a fairly "niche market" high tech company, has to rely fairly heavily on customer loyalty and integrity. (I don't think they neccesarily ALWAYS show integrity, but that is a story for another day) I think that if they make such a bold claim, and then release something humdrum to go with it, it would be seen as a case of "crying wolf". This could hurt them financially.
SO just what is going on?
Well, I guess we'll just have to wait a few more hours....
-Tristan
6 inch orion DSE dob
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-Tristan Schwartz-
My Equipment:
6 inch Orion DSE dob
4 inch Galileo Newtonian
Schwartz Observatory Homepage
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22464
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
The only way I could count a new mount as truly revolutionary, it would need ALL of the following features.
100 pound load capacity
GOTO
PPEC
GPS
GUI interface (ala starbook/sphinx)
Heavy duty tripod or can also be placed on an optional pier
autoguider port
Interface for astronomy home computer control programs and can also run with Mac, PC or Linux
Electronic internal compass with true north compensation for super-easy polar alignment
Built in equipment routing hub for ccd, autoguider, PC, dew control, autofocuser, and an option for observatory dome control.
And to make it truly revolutionary, they would need to price such a mount under 2,000 dollars.
The LXD750 they stopped producing last Spring had most of those features (GoTo, PPEC, large tripod with pier compatibility, autoguide port, computer interface, capacity over 50 pounds); an updated version would probably have most of the rest (GPS, hub, perhaps a GUI - but no true North; that's dependent on the mount's mechanical alignment and can't be compensated for electronically). $2000 for a 100 pound mount isn't gonna happen, though - current 100 pound mounts are five times that or more.
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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Bishamon
sage
Reged: 08/04/04
Posts: 273
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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I'm hoping for a 'cheap' Ha filter setup... say around $350 or so. Basically a P.S.T. without the T.
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Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
Posts: 27405
Loc: Alternate Reality (TM)
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Personally, I'm still betting on the Coronado buy out...
Changing the "Face" of astronomy to daytime.
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There are two theories to arguing with my wife. Neither one works.
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Bluemeanie
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/26/04
Posts: 903
Loc: Scranton, PA U.S.A.
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Whatever it is, my budget will probably not allow it. 
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Walt
- Obsession 15" f/4.5 #1282 w/ Argo Navis, Feathertouch Focuser
- Meade 2080GEM (8" SCT)
- Vixen ED80SF - Celestron CG5-GT Mount
- Coulter CT-100 - Meade DS2000 Mount
- Coronado Halpha PST
- Denkmeier Binoviewer w/ dual PXS
- Canon 300D, Celestron Neximage
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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It probably is the coronado buy out but I dont see how them buying an existing company changes jack......
Bill
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Bluemeanie
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/26/04
Posts: 903
Loc: Scranton, PA U.S.A.
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unless they bottom out the prices for Ha filters.
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Walt
- Obsession 15" f/4.5 #1282 w/ Argo Navis, Feathertouch Focuser
- Meade 2080GEM (8" SCT)
- Vixen ED80SF - Celestron CG5-GT Mount
- Coulter CT-100 - Meade DS2000 Mount
- Coronado Halpha PST
- Denkmeier Binoviewer w/ dual PXS
- Canon 300D, Celestron Neximage
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22464
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
Personally, I'm still betting on the Coronado buy out...
Changing the "Face" of astronomy to daytime.
That'd make more sense if they hadn't already announced that to the press a month ago.
I saw a rumor that there'll be a display of whatever it is at the CES Thursday. Last time I heard that rumor it referred to the 14" SCT which had been announced the previous August. It wasn't at CES that January. It wasn't even at NEAF the following April!
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22464
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
unless they bottom out the prices for Ha filters.
Or maybe add a fast telescope to their line that's a good match for the SM filters. I was a little surprised when they acquired Coronado, given that none of the scopes in their lineup are suited to the filters.
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
Posts: 27405
Loc: Alternate Reality (TM)
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Quote:
It probably is the coronado buy out but I dont see how them buying an existing company changes jack......
Bill
Did you REALLY expect it to??
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There are two theories to arguing with my wife. Neither one works.
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Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
Posts: 27405
Loc: Alternate Reality (TM)
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Quote:
Quote:
Personally, I'm still betting on the Coronado buy out...
Changing the "Face" of astronomy to daytime.
That'd make more sense if they hadn't already announced that to the press a month ago.
Somehow I don't think that would stop them.
For my money, there's just a bit too much ego in the statement that they are going to "Change the face of astronomy...."
OTOH, if they can deliver 20" (driven) truss dobs with 1/8 wave optics to the eyepiece, with an eyepiece height of 60 inches, and weighs less than 50 lbs for less than $200 - then maybe, just maybe they have a point.
To "change the face" it's got to be
1) inexpensive
2) wide ranging
3) innovative
4) new
5) significant
We'll know shortly. Unless they delay (which wouldn't really suprise me). I still think the whole point of this exercise is to do just this - get people talking about Meade. It really does not matter what they announce. It appears to be working.
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There are two theories to arguing with my wife. Neither one works.
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22464
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
For my money, there's just a bit too much ego in the statement that they are going to "Change the face of astronomy...."
It's a bold statement, and unlikely to be justified. Still, I accept their claim that the original LX200 managed to do that.
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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lighttrap
Reged: 02/06/04
Posts: 3833
Loc: cloudy, foggy, humid NC, US
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Quote:
I still think the whole point of this exercise is to do just this - get people talking about Meade.
Tom, you're probably right. But, don't you think there's a potential for backlash if the hype is too great and the reality is too big a letdown?
Quote:
To "change the face" it's got to be
1) inexpensive
2) wide ranging
3) innovative
4) new
5) significant
Personally, I think you're right on the money with that series of criteria, and there's no way that I believe they'll likely hit even 2-3 of those, which is why I'm not really on the edge of my chair right now.
We'll see. But I think Meade (and some other astro vendors) really run the risk of just further alienating folks if the hype exceeds the product.
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18" Starsplitter II f/4.5
8" Hardin Dob f/6
C5 workhorse mini SCT f/10 or f/6.3
70mm TV Ranger dual purpose birding/astro
77mm Leica Televid APO
16x70 Fujinons on UA Deluxe Mt.
12x50 Nikon SE
8x30 Nikon E2s
and many others
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BoriSpider
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 08/10/04
Posts: 848
Loc: S.W.FLA
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4:43pm here in Naples, FLA and still nothing to
report from Meade.
I'm having flash backs of waiting for PC game.
They say it will come out "_" and it's delayed
and when it DOES come out, it *bleep*.
Oh well........
--------------------
16x50 binos
8x40 binos
C4-R, mountless 114NT
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lighttrap
Reged: 02/06/04
Posts: 3833
Loc: cloudy, foggy, humid NC, US
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Quote:
Still, I accept their claim that the original LX200 managed to do that.
Really, John? I'm curious to hear why you think that. I was curious why Meade would say that in the first place, but I'm lots more curious to see what you and other members think about how the LX200 "changed the face of astronomy". I'm actually not very familiar with that product line, nor whatever sweeping changes it brought with it.
The way I see it, there have been several overall changes in amatuer astronomy in the past 20 years or so, but with one exception, they've been more along the lines of market trends that affected the market as a whole, not so much specific models or even brands. We've seen the explosion of good quality wide field refractors, the rise of the SCT (for which I'd say Celestron's 8 did most of the early market driving), the Mak invasion, the rise of reasonably priced goto mounts, the rise of whole cottage industries making premium truss Dobs, tracking platforms for those Dobs, the drop in the price of CCD cameras and digital cameras of all types, the Asian invasion, particularly the Asian Dobs that put very affordable medium aperture scopes into the hands of whoever really wanted one, and the advent of inexpensive, yet reasonably decent low cost eyepieces, etc. Do you think that the LX200 played as much a role as any of those overall market trends? Maybe it did. I don't know.
The one exception that I mentioned that I think is inexorably linked to a specific brand and product is the Televue Naglers and how they changed the image of astronomy.
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18" Starsplitter II f/4.5
8" Hardin Dob f/6
C5 workhorse mini SCT f/10 or f/6.3
70mm TV Ranger dual purpose birding/astro
77mm Leica Televid APO
16x70 Fujinons on UA Deluxe Mt.
12x50 Nikon SE
8x30 Nikon E2s
and many others
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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