Too many msgs for me to reply to all that are of interest to me. And a picture is worth ... well you know. So here is my take on the ease of use issue. http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=4693 Note it takes two guys and two ladders to set this turkey up. I wish I had a picture of Steve trying to find Alpa Hercules last Saturday. Besides the problem with the pointing computer he had to be down on his knees because the object was almost straight overhead. You know, up in Dobson's Hole. Also someone mentioned octogonal wooden tubes. http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=4690 All I'll say about it at this time is it ain't no refractor. Also Joan, Eric and Steve would have seen that the best view of Jupiter on Saturday was through Ray's 14 dob. If you had bothered to look. DT