Gavin,
I post the below message about HSN last week in response the a thread on
"scams". I was being nice in not mentioning the vendor but now that it is
hitting home the vendor was Galileo. While I believe in capitalism and free
enterprise I also believe companies and vendors have a moral obligation to
represent product truth. It is my opinion that HSN and the Galileo rep
warped the truth about these telescope products. I agree with the other
posting in that you would find these telescope products disappointing. Mark
gave the best advice in talking to people at SJAA. Take a little time,
establish your budget, set some personal objectives and goals (short and
long term) then look through some SJAA members scopes before you decide on
your first scope. In the long term you will enjoy the hobby more by not
having to do premature upgrades.
Posted Earlier
I was watching the Home Shopping Network the other night just for laughs
until they started Astronomy hour and it was not fun any more. The deal of
the night was a "big" aperture (90mm) Newtonian an EQ mount. The secondary
spider was so thick, it blocked out a significant amount that big aperture.
You also got a digital cam binocular for free great deal! That wasn't so bad
unit they brought out the really big 130mm aperture Newtonian on a "big
beefy" mount. This was advertised as being able to see very deep and the
last telescope you will ever need. No binoculars with the big OTA. I wonder
how many people got taken in on that legalized scam?
Nick