[Zaps]

Originally Posted by AlexN

So because the ASA mount has newer technology its better than something tried and tested?

That's not what I said. Not even close. I said that the direct drive technology of professional mounts is the future of amateur astronomical mount technology, and ASA happen to be producing such mounts for the amateur market.

Remember (if you're able) that when SB began offering the PME, many people who'd invested a lot of money in other mounts questioned the quality and even the concept of the then new PME "fully robotic observatory mounts".

Direct Drive technology is indeed a very clever way to go about an equatorial mount.

Indeed. It's why professional astronomers use it.

Is it going to be be better than the PME or AP1200 within the next few years, and even then, will the difference in precision (namely, zero backlash) going to make an appreciable difference to amateur imagers?

Yes, for those who can afford them. That means the kind of people who adopted the PME when it was a new design.

Is the ASA mount available? What? Its not yet? Ok so then the best, currently available mounts are??

Astro-Physics/Sotfware Bisque..

Wrong. The ASA mounts are available. They are in use by semi-pros and pros alike. You should do a little reading before shooting your mouth off like that.

Anything you buy, ever, in the entire span of human life will eventually be outdated...

I said that, and yes, the PME will be outdated soon, if not already, by direct drive technology from the likes of ASA. Sure, it hurts to hear that when you've proudly just laid out a lot of money on something like the PME, but that's the way things go.

If you wait 10 more years im sure direct drive mounts will be outdated.

Not likely in 10 years. There is no technology yet on the horizon to replace direct drive in professional grade mounts.

Who cares if its out dated if it will do everything you ever want it to and then some?

Why pay a lot of money for something which is outdated? The direct drive mounts for non-professionals are now on the market. Price point wise they are in the same ballpark as the PME when that was new: a lot of folk complained that those were too expensive, were untested, and would never catch on.

Oh no!! Im no longer a trend setter, my mount is less technologically advanced than someone elses, all of a sudden I feel inadequate!!

I'm sorry to hear that, but I'm sure you'll get over it eventually.