Hi Paula
I'm new here too and for what it's worth I bought a GSO (16 inch). I've had it a couple of months now and I'm loving it.
Meade use the same mirrors in their "Light Bridge" Dobsonians and they usually produce high quality telescopes so that should give you some idea about the quality of the GSO.
Here's a gratuitous shot of the main mirror. It doesn't tell you much about it's quality but I may as well show it off since I went to the trouble of taking the photo. It's a truss tube design by the way so a little different to the ones you are considering.
http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/v...f/SAM_1796.jpg
Good luck, and read as many reviews about your options as you can. I was very excited when I bought my 1st telescope.
