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Hi Joe, it sounds like you're almost set up to do some serious comet hunting already (if that's your cup of tea). Always wanted to give it a try myself (on a strict budget first, of course). If I liked it enough to stick with it on a small scale then perhaps I'd move up to a more expensive layout (something to give those amazing Japanese "amateurs" a run for their money! :-).

Having images piped directly to your PC and being able to control the telescope from inside is very cool and a must in my book (who wants to sit outdoors all night long in the cold, lol?). Ditto CCD. Amazingly, not so long ago, neither of these was possible. And the big scopes out there nowadays would astonish amateurs of 20 or 30 years ago. Just wish I didn't live so close to the city.

Maybe I'll start out with one of those 10" Dobs from Orion for $600. Just slew and look, easy peasy (but cold and uncomfortable). :-)

Here are two photographs of the exact scope I am currently using. In the image on the bottom, you can see the keypad that controls the telescope automatically. The telescope has a 65,000 object data base and will go-to or find these objects automatically.

I am currently in the process of building a 8' diameter domed observatory to house it in, as the set up time can take over an hour, and then tear down time etc.