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Agree with all the GOTO suggestions. While the old manual dob is the classic cheap way to get wow-views for beginners, GOTO is a life saver. I started the manual way, with an 8" collapsible, and about 18 months later spent the money on a GOTO base (ouch...); much better!
This is especially the case if you are bringing your misses along. Even if your the patient sort to enjoy the nudge-nudge-just-a-bit-over-there hunt, the person not spending that time looking through the eye-piece is going to get bored.
But the biggest benefit of GOTO isn't the actual go to your target function, it's the tracking - nothing worse then calling your wife over to have a look, and by the time she is there and has lined up a clear view through the eyepiece, it's gone! Ugh. Keeping the target in view, and being able to make small adjustments with the hand controller is well worth the price of admission.
Fortunately both the 8" and 10" collapsible GOTO dobs from SkyWatcher are in your budget. Pick one of those, and be happy.
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