--- MichaelCarnes <michaelcarnes@earthlink.net> wrote:

Both Meade and Celestron made bad bets . . . They figured that fancy computerized scopes would be must-haves for every acquisitive househould.

These companies' problem seems to be that manufacturing changes that simply created an alternative lower price-point product that undercut their projected market. The large aperature SCT is the best overall scope; it is technically superior. The complicated SCT design combines aperatures near or above 10" with a focal ratio of what - around f/10 - along with good portability and "yoke" tracking. But the prices for 10" of aperature start at around $2,500-$3,500. At a $2,500-$3,500 price point, these scopes appeal to the more limited market of intermediate level amateurs, not the entry level user. Conversely, the now ubiquitious 10" f/5, non-tracking DOB, is $500-$650 with digital setting circles. The 10" DOB is a technically inferior solution to solving the 10" aperature barrier - it has the aperature, but not the focal ratio - and no tracking. But it's ability to get consumers over the 10" aperature barrier at a lower price point means that design inherently will siphon off more entry consumers. A $3,500 telescope is a "consumer" purchase for only those in the top 15% of U.S. households who make over $100,000 in income per year, or about 15 million households. If these two companies made bad investment decisions and market placement calls in response to new price-point competition, they will just have to adjust to the market. They can both downsize but continue to serve a more realistic market size for luxury grade telescopes. Seems like this is a just an ordinary market correction. If the two companies merge that probably will not help them respond to supposed mutual underlying problem - responding to a market preference for lower-price point large aperature telescopes. Conversely, it will harm moderate income consumers. If there is only one seller, SCT telescope prices will go up. Hopefully, neither company has made such a severe miscalculation that they will go out of business and leave their customers in a lurch. IMHO, the real solution to the major reseller's marketing problem is that the manufacturers need to pour money in local amateur astronomy clubs. Even with cheap GOTO, there is still a technical barrier that can only be solved by local "on the ground" amateur experts showing people how to use their scopes. But being a SLAS member, my opinion is a little biased. -:) - Canopus56 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com