Hi
http://www.andrewscom.com.au/site-section-10.htm
sell both and they are good to deal with.
AstroMaster
70AZ 70mm x 900mm
refractor on AZ mount $199 is the scope you mentioned in your first post
A fair bit cheaper than the geographic site
It looks like they have tried to make to make something usefull on a budget a little removed from the really junky scopes you can find around this time of year .
Skywatcher 70 x 500 AZ3$199.00 AUD
This is the scope rob mentioned he has and they do sell them round my way so I have had a look at one and they
are a pretty sturdy bit of gear
I've also had a good look at the cheaper two you mention from dick smith
they set em up every year and probably sell plenty of them
I couldn't honestly recomend them to anyone everything about them looks like its about to break off or at the very least going to give you problems imo .
A book to ? http://shop.abc.net.au/browse/produc...oductid=530365
This one is great very specific to someone grabbing a scope and getting outside to see what they can see
A lot of books in the stores are great but are a very broad introduction to astronomy.
Anyway good luck .. for the $250 you tip into this you'll get plenty of enjoyment and if it dosn't work out you have a
nice little scope to look around with through the day .. just my 2 cents gst inclusive .
good luck and merry x-mass