[Tasastro (Bill)]

I would recommend a Skywatcher AZ4 mount for a start, with either a short tube refractor of 80 - 90 mm or a Celestron C90. My AZ4 is the most used mount I have and I really wish it was the first one I bought. It can be set up in minutes and handles my Astro Physics 100mm refractor very well. Movement in both axes is beautifully smooth and pointing is natural and very quick. There is no need for fiddly slow motion controls.

Dobsonians are superb in their niche but in my opinion are unsuitable for a rank beginner. The AZ4 is easy and fast to set up even on uneven ground, easy to transport, can handle a wide range of OTA's, is useable for other than astronomy, such as terrestrial viewing, relatively easy to aim - even without a finder scope, and packs into a small space when not being used. Dobsonians are cumbersome and slow to set up requiring a smooth flat and level surface, will require collimation - which can be a frustrating task for the unassisted beginner, can be difficult to use because pointing is not natural and the finders fitted to the cheaper versions are a pain in the neck (literally) - just getting the finder pointing to the same place as the scope is extremely frustrating for the beginner, cannot be used for other than astronomy, and take up a great deal of space in the house when not being used. One good thing though is that there are often cheap second hand ones on sale (by disappointed beginners?) so you can always pick one up later if you want more aperture.

There is a package on that auction site of a Celestron C90 with Explore Scientific Alt-Az mount and extra eyepiece for under $600, however in my opinion the AZ4 is much better. The AZ4 with aluminium tripod is available online from Europe, mine cost $270 delivered; steel tripod version (which is a bit stiffer and heavier) costs $350 delivered from Europe and about $420 from Australian sellers. Second hand ones are scarce, which testifies to their quality. Depending on your choice of OTA your budget might be exceeded but you will have a versatile setup with good resale value if you decide not to go further.