I have been an amateur astronomer for 20 years.  My first telescope was purchased by my father as a Christmas gift in 1986.  It was a Swift Astronomical 60 mm refractor with a German equatorial mount and a clock drive.  I used it to look at Halley's Comet (not an impressive sight that time around).  However, this little, but capable scope has served me well for all these years. As I got older I finally upgraded to a new scope.  A Meade ETX 90RA.  I got plenty of enjoyment from this new revolutionary little scope.  Unfortunately, the "bigger and better" bug bit me when Meade announced that it was building the ETX 125EC.  After waiting 9 months for this scope it was finally delivered in October of 1999.  The ETX along with the Swift were my primary scopes for some time.  With 2001 Meade release the LX200 GPS series and once again the "bigger & better" bug got me again and I purchased an LX200 GPS 8" for my personal use.  I was completely amazed by what this scope could do!  I am very satisfied with my selection and the quality of the scope.  I also splurged in 2002 and got an updated refractor.  An Orion AstroView 120ST EQ 600mm f/5.  I call it "the bazooka".  A 5" refractor on a classic (non-computerized) German EQ mount.  This still brings out the purest in me.  Well, I did it again. I recently settled on a (another) permanent scope for myself.  I choose a Meade 10" RCX400.  This scope is light years ahead of the LX200 series and I an astonished by the views and the tracking ability.  Meade has produced a hands down winner with this new series.