For those interested, SBig has announced that they are releasing a "Smart" autoguider in the near future, full stand alone with USB-2 control, should be interesting.
Naaah, just dreamin' as I wistfully sit underneath this 2 month long canopy of endless grey clouds with so little rain in them, but enough cover to hide everything else.
I think a key difference here is that the SBIG will be stand alone – i.e. it does not require a computer, whereas the Nugget requires a computer:
"The installation and operation of the Trifid Nugget is simple. It attaches to your telescope and gathers light from the off-axis guider or the guide scope. It connects to your computer with a USB 2.0 cable, which provides both power and communications. It controls the telescope mount through the auto-guider port."
If I remember correctly, the SBIG ST4 was also a stand alone guider, not requiring a computer.
The ST-4 can either be stand alone or connected to your computer vide CCDSoft or Maxim DL, I use it in complete stand alone mode, using a flip mirror and CCD reticle eyepiece to center a guidestar.
There has been some discussion on the Gemini/Losmandy Groups concerning the Nugget and getting it to operate although I don't think it has been bad. The PowerPoint presentation of SBig dosn't really indicate how the USB power is supplied and how the autoguider is to be operated. It should be interesting to compare the both these autoguiders when the SBig has been released.
At the moment I still intend to use the ST-4 in my permanent setup.
