belgrade
super member
Reged: 10/05/07
Posts: 139
Loc: San Antonio, TX, USA
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I have just noticed at the Meade's site that the ETX 90PE is now $599 and the ETX 125PE is $899 - both blue tube versions. Earlier this summer Meade lowered the price for the ETX 80, both AT and BB versions, to less than $260. Something new is coming our way?  By the way, they raised the price of their 80mm APO... 
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Astronomy Technologies Astro-Tech AT80ED 80mm f/7 ED doublet refractor
Meade LXD75 AR6-AT achromatic refractor 152mm/F8
Meade Adventure Pack 10x50 binoculars
Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl EPs
OPT 2" Quartz Dielectric Diagonal
OPT 2" ED 2X Barlow
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Lee Jay
sage
Reged: 02/27/08
Posts: 469
Loc: Westminster, CO
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Page 11, second from the bottom:
http://tinyurl.com/5ggoct
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rcd47
sage
Reged: 03/15/08
Posts: 272
Loc: East Texas, USA
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It will be interesting to see what the next generation ETX has to offer.
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Randy
Edmund Astroscan
Meade ETX125PE
Orion ST80/Mini EQ1
Tasco Starguide 114/Celestron Hand Paddle
Pentax 10x50 Binoculars
Philips SPC 900NC
Stellacam EX
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Zebra24601
Postmaster
Reged: 10/09/05
Posts: 12715
Loc: San Gabriel Valley, CA 91770
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Thing is, after flooding the market with all those closeout 125's, aren't they cannibalizing sales for the next generation ETX?
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Zebra24601
Meade 8" SCT w/UHTC * Celestron 100ED * Celestron C11 * Celestron Firstscope 80EQ
Meade LXD55 mount * Orion Sirius goto mount
Bushnell Voyager 4.5" Compact Reflector * Barska 15x70 binoculars * Galileoscope * Really cheap Tasco spotting scope
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Swamp Fox
super member
Reged: 12/26/06
Posts: 166
Loc: Goose Creek, South Carolina
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Quote:
Thing is, after flooding the market with all those closeout 125's, aren't they cannibalizing sales for the next generation ETX?
I would think so - I know in my case, being a new ETX owner, it would be doubtful I'd be in the market for another one anytime soon.
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Tele Vue 102
Meade ETX125
Orion XT12i
35mm Panoptic; 22mm T4 Nagler; 17mm T4 Nagler; 12mm T4 Nagler; 10mm Radian; 4mm Radian; 2x Powermate
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 7073
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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Interesting. If you don;t mind missing out on being the first kid on your block to have the next generation ETX it's a great opportunity to pick up a fine telescope. For those who are willing to wait they know there's a new scope on the way sometime in the future. Sounds like there's something for everyone. As for me, I'm absolutely delighted to have a chance to finally own an EXT-125PE. Besides, in a couple of years the new ETX will be showing up in the factory outlet store. 
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-John
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Homebuilt scopes from 4.25-16.5"
Meade LXD75-N6/SN6/SC8, DSX-90, ETX-60BB, ETX-125PE, DS-2130
Orion StarBlast, BinoViewers, Coronado PST
Rebel XT/XTi, DSI Pro (I, II, & III), DSI, LPI, Electronic Eyepiece, Phillips SPC900NC
Tasco 60mm Refractors
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4820
Loc: Sunny California
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I heard the new ETX will be incredible. A Meade rep hinted something's in the works that will blow the doors off the competition.
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Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Televue Gibraltar 5
Vixen Portamount
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Zebra24601
Postmaster
Reged: 10/09/05
Posts: 12715
Loc: San Gabriel Valley, CA 91770
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Yeah, but you wouldn't exactly expect the rep to say, "Nah, it's pretty much the same, except we went back to a blue tube. . . ." 
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Zebra24601
Meade 8" SCT w/UHTC * Celestron 100ED * Celestron C11 * Celestron Firstscope 80EQ
Meade LXD55 mount * Orion Sirius goto mount
Bushnell Voyager 4.5" Compact Reflector * Barska 15x70 binoculars * Galileoscope * Really cheap Tasco spotting scope
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belgrade
super member
Reged: 10/05/07
Posts: 139
Loc: San Antonio, TX, USA
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If that's half true - and considering a sales rep was the source you never know - I think that would be what Meade could be banking on: an ETX (new) which only carries the same name but it's completely different and better product (probaby from the electronic side more than the optical one). In such a case having cheap ETXs (90 and 125PE) available or recently purchased wouldn't hurt the sale because it would attract customers who earlier didn't consider the ETX regardless of the price or ones who bought discounted ETXs BUT they would be happy to replace it with a new "gudget." Honestly, reading threads in different forums on this site for quite some time now, I realized that there many who just must have the new "hit" scope. 
So, Meade could actually sell more of new, more expensive but drastically better ETXs despite the fact that cheaper version is still available (new or used). I wonder, however, whether they consider launching an ETX which is bigger, like a 6" Mak, or an ETX achro bigger than the current 80mm offering (they went from 60mm to 70mm to current 80mm) or an APO/ED ETX of 70mm or 80mm aperture... That would be a major change, I think. Well, anyway, all we can do is just sit and wait, probably not much longer because if they want to have them out for Christmas I am sure they will have to start advertising in no more than 2 months or so. 
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Astronomy Technologies Astro-Tech AT80ED 80mm f/7 ED doublet refractor
Meade LXD75 AR6-AT achromatic refractor 152mm/F8
Meade Adventure Pack 10x50 binoculars
Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl EPs
OPT 2" Quartz Dielectric Diagonal
OPT 2" ED 2X Barlow
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rmollise
Postmaster
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 5323
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Quote:
I heard the new ETX will be incredible. A Meade rep hinted something's in the works that will blow the doors off the competition.
Maybe. Given the current situation at Meade, I'd be wary of the new and MORE BETTER GOODER for a while.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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rcd47
sage
Reged: 03/15/08
Posts: 272
Loc: East Texas, USA
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Hey...Meade stock is down to around .68.(yes, that's a decimal in front of the 68  ) Maybe we should all buy in now while its bottomed out. The new ETX may be the magic growth bullet that Meade needs and we could all be rich beyond our wildest dreams. 
P.S. Please don't take me seriously. 
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Randy
Edmund Astroscan
Meade ETX125PE
Orion ST80/Mini EQ1
Tasco Starguide 114/Celestron Hand Paddle
Pentax 10x50 Binoculars
Philips SPC 900NC
Stellacam EX
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Darenwh
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/11/06
Posts: 1470
Loc: Covington, GA
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What would be interesting would be an APO version of the ETX refractors. Doubly so if they also upped the size to 80MM or larger. It would not have to be a fork mount. An Alt/Az mount that is of high quality like many of the newer Alt/Az mounts but equipped with Autostar would be great. combined with the same type mount for the current line of Maks and maybe throw in a larger Mak and they would have a winning design going for sure.
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Daren
Covington, GA
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sang33ta
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/08/08
Posts: 767
Loc: UK
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I'm hoping for a 150 f12 Mak with GPS inbuilt
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Hioptic 152mm f12.5 Maksutov, CG5-AGT, Meade Super Plossl Set, Casio QV-2900UX
Edited by sang33ta (08/08/08 10:27 AM)
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Lee Jay
sage
Reged: 02/27/08
Posts: 469
Loc: Westminster, CO
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There's not a whole lot I'd change about my 125 PE. The clutch system could use a total redesign, image shift is annoying, and the mount for the finder is laughable, but that's about it for me. The optics, tripod, focus range, flip mirror, fork mount, wedge, and electronics are fine for me.
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belgrade
super member
Reged: 10/05/07
Posts: 139
Loc: San Antonio, TX, USA
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I can't remember when and where (but it was at least a few months ago and not here) someone who claimed to be an insider (hmmm, please take this with a grain od salt, of course) said that new ETXs are going to be a hybrid of ETX line and DS MAK line... particularly because use of one and not two fork arms (similar to Celestron's NexStars). The new line will keep the name ETX and the DS will be discontinued. If true, I'm not a happy camper... It would be a degradation and not an upgrade at all even with better electronics. 
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Astronomy Technologies Astro-Tech AT80ED 80mm f/7 ED doublet refractor
Meade LXD75 AR6-AT achromatic refractor 152mm/F8
Meade Adventure Pack 10x50 binoculars
Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl EPs
OPT 2" Quartz Dielectric Diagonal
OPT 2" ED 2X Barlow
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 7073
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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It would be disappointing if they did that if for no other reason that really wouldn't be a bing change. I have two ETX mounts and two DS-2000 mounts and I suspect the internal workings are almost exactly the same. The DS-2000 mounts sound and act just like the ETX mounts, the big difference being you can't put a DS-2000 mount on a wedge because of the offset arm.
Rumors are fun, but you gotta be careful what you believe. Also, since I've already got my ETX I really don't care what they come out with, unless it's powerfully neat and affordable (it could happen).
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-John
================================================
Homebuilt scopes from 4.25-16.5"
Meade LXD75-N6/SN6/SC8, DSX-90, ETX-60BB, ETX-125PE, DS-2130
Orion StarBlast, BinoViewers, Coronado PST
Rebel XT/XTi, DSI Pro (I, II, & III), DSI, LPI, Electronic Eyepiece, Phillips SPC900NC
Tasco 60mm Refractors
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rcd47
sage
Reged: 03/15/08
Posts: 272
Loc: East Texas, USA
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Since I've only had my ETX for a couple of months, I probably will not be in the market for another one anytime soon. But, I'll add my thoughts on what I would consider improvements on a new model. I agree with LeeJay's remarks on the clutch system, finder and image shift. Also, I would like to see a go-to system that did not require all the drive training, calibrating or even the home position. Aside from that, it would be good if they included a dew shield with the package. I'm not complaining though. I'm really happy with my 125PE, especially for the price.
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Randy
Edmund Astroscan
Meade ETX125PE
Orion ST80/Mini EQ1
Tasco Starguide 114/Celestron Hand Paddle
Pentax 10x50 Binoculars
Philips SPC 900NC
Stellacam EX
Edited by rcd47 (08/08/08 05:08 PM)
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sang33ta
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/08/08
Posts: 767
Loc: UK
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If they drop the price by chopping an arm off thats bad
Maybe they want a direct competitor to the single arm Celestrons so you might end up with an ETX-200.
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Hioptic 152mm f12.5 Maksutov, CG5-AGT, Meade Super Plossl Set, Casio QV-2900UX
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seeker372011
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/05/04
Posts: 929
Loc: Sydney , Australia
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I would love to see a ETX 60 or 70 mm ED apo
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ED 80 on a CG5 mount;ED 127 on EQ6; QHY8, 20 x 80 LW Obies;PST;10 inch GSO dob
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4820
Loc: Sunny California
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Quote:
What would be interesting would be an APO version of the ETX refractors. Doubly so if they also upped the size to 80MM or larger. It would not have to be a fork mount. An Alt/Az mount that is of high quality like many of the newer Alt/Az mounts but equipped with Autostar would be great. combined with the same type mount for the current line of Maks and maybe throw in a larger Mak and they would have a winning design going for sure.
You mean like this?
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Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Televue Gibraltar 5
Vixen Portamount
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