a couple of thoughts
The dob
pros
- large aperture, good light gathering capability.
- really simple to set up
- straight forward to point for visual astronomy
- good all round scope
cons,
- you will have to collimate the mirror on occasions, after transportation etc.
- you wont be able to do any Deep sky imaging with this set up
the refractor
pros
- the scope requires 0 maintenance, you can set up and observe without any issues each time
- the EQ mount does make it easier to track objects in the sky once you have found it
- can be used for terrestrial viewing (but the mount is not ideal for this
cons
- EQ mounts can take time to set up properly, i.e. polar alignment
- this mount is not driven by a motor so you cant use this for photography either
- less aperture than the Dob means you will see less detail in nebulae and galaxies
- you will get chromatic aberration on bright objects
ultimately it is about what you are wanting to do. most people will recommend a Dob for a beginner, it helps you learn the sky and you get a lot of bang for your buck, i started out with a bit more of an investment and got a motorised EQ mount and a Newtonian because i knew that i wanted to do astrophotography
the scope that you enjoy most and use often is the best one for you
