This site explains what was "new" in the 8i SE (late 2004) compared to the 8i, and I think the 8i SE later became the 8 SE:
http://www.nexstarsite.com/Book/Updates/N8iSE.htm
Optically and mechanically the NexStar 8i SE is identical to the NexStar 8i. The NexStar 8i SE comes standard with Celestron's enhanced XLT coatings
...
Operationally there have been big changes. The 8i SE does not have Quick Align or GPS Align options. The new Auto Two Star Alignment is similar to the original Auto Align, but the user must manually point to the first of the two alignment stars. This is to bypass the original Auto Align's requirement to start with the scope pointed north and level. Celestron removed the requirement to point north and level to avoid paying Meade 8% of the sales price of the scope