For your $300 you wont do any better for a beginners scope , pretty good all round telescope , eg. a complete observing unit , nothing else to buy ( until the up-grade bug bites LOL )
I really don't know what old mate Dean
Is on about the 'Design being over 100 years old ' ,,,,,,
In telescope design old means nothing , mate the Newtonion reflector is over 450 years old
.
But for nice modern , fairly good optics , good build and very good GOTO , a little bit basic but a very good intro into it this goto stuff it would be a great first telescope that will be good for terrestrial and starting in astronomy .
Brian.