Spotted this (when I went looking)
http://www.yorkoptical.com.au/Produc...%2cProductName .
comes with a 5 yr warrantee (not too shabby).
Specs
Barrel Diameter (mm) 50mm/31.7mm Eyepieces (fl mm) S20 and S10 (31.7mm) Finderscope 6x 30 Focal length (mm) 1200mm Focal Ratio f/8 Focus system Rack and Pinion Highest Practical Power 300x Limiting Magnitude 13 Motor Drive / Controller No Mount Type Dobsonian Objective lens (mm) 150mm (6") Optical Design Newtonian Shipping Weight / pc (grams) 18,000 Supplier Model Number SW580 Total Weight (grams) 18,000
(I am pretty amused that that they say "objective lens (mm) ?!?
= 150mm (doesn't inspire a lot of confidence for me)).
So he has another option as York have both scopes at pretty much the same price on their site , but NO star chart software with the 6" dob , and no slow mos. The dob has a 2" r&p , which will be better than a 1.25" r&p, and it is bigger by an 1" (which is always better) , but no barlow (which will limit him), and the base of the rocker box will be cheap stuff (particle board ? - bad news if it gets wet often on damp dewy grass unless it's kitchen or wet area grade MDF) ..... probably managed to confuse the poor guy even more now. Sorry.