Here is a link to some very good tutorial info about the different type of scopes and their advanatages and disadvantages:
http://www.astronomics.com/main/howto.asp?n1=1&t1=4&cat%5Fid=4

I was about to ask for some replies again, and the appropriately named Messier101 comes through!

Thanks for the link, I'll definitely poke around the site. I suppose at this point I'm trying to decide between the two 8-inchers at the bottom of this page:
http://www.telescope.com/cgi-bin/OrionTel.storefront/3c6a0e05000f5c8a2720c0a80a12060a/Catalog/AE

I'm leaning heavily toward the $529.00 Orion SkyView Deluxe 8 EQ Reflector, because it's more portable, and I'll be able to do some photography through it.

My main questions would involve any advantages/disadvantages of such a "fast" scope (f/4). But for the money, I've not seen anything comparable. (Also, I don't want a GoTo scope at this point... I'd rather learn the sky.)

Jim, do you or you wife have any thoughts?

Thanks again,

orangeblood