Celestron CGE 1400 or Meade 14" GPS.

Hi everyone!!
I currently own a Meade 12"LX200 Classic and want to upgrade. My main priority is the view recieved from the eyepiece (visual obseving)and I would want a goto scope. Would the extra 2" in aperture be worth the money the 2 mentioned 14" scopes would cost or would I be better off keeping the 12" (and the money.)Which out of the 2 should I choose if I went ahead, Meade or Celestron, I was also considering the Meade 16" because of the huge price-cut but have heard of bad reports on these.Or has anyone else got any ideas with visual observing in mind. Thanks to all who replies!!
Mark.

I just went through this in September and ended up with the Meade 14 inch. I put the Meade on the JMI wheely bars so I never have to do setups. Just wheel it out when I want to use it. I traded up from a N11 GPS. Went with the Meade because of some of the negative things I had read about the celestron software. Also wanted a F10 versus a F11, wanted the GPS (though it stays put), wanted a fork mount and the price was cheaper. You can't go wrong with either one.

Hi guys,

Thanks alot for all your input it is much appreciated!! I think I may go with the Meade after origionally swinging towards the Celestron. I thought the optics on the Celestron were better than the Meade, but no-one has commented on this so I take it the Meade optics have improved? As for Astrophotography I will only be doing the odd bit with a Canon DSLR Rebel, no plans to use a CCD camera I just haven't got the time with only having the occasional session due to the awful British weather and working nights as I have already mentioned, some of you guys are so lucky with the amount of clear skies you get!
Chris is there any chance you could measure your Meade 14" height (at it's lowest inc: wheelie bar) so I can see how much clearance I would need to wheel it in and out of the shed, as I may need the wheelie bar if the fork-mount and the OTA weigh in around the 125lb mark, the last thing I would want to do is drop it, and for some reason I don't like the idea of asking the wife to take hold of one end to set the thing up.
Thanks again for all your replies!
Regards,
Mark.

Cheers Chris!

Any chance you can measure the height from the floor to the top of the OTA with 3" for the wheels included, so I can see if it will go into my shed or if I will need a new shed. I was thinking of purchasing a new scope but Meade unlike Celestron will not let dealers ship to the UK so probably my best bet will try and pick up a good second hand one off someone who will ship to the UK.
Mark.

Thanks Joel and Chris for the info and to all who have replied, the info you supply is what these sites are all about, giving info to the likes of myself and others who want to make sure they get the right package before shelling out the cash.
The scope I will get will be only used in my garden so it doesn't matter which I choose as they both have had good feedback. All I need to do now is wait until one comes my way.
I'll keep a check on things Chris for Saturday or you can get in touch with me through the classifieds as I have placed an ad on for either of the scopes.
Thanks again to everyone and keep up the good work!!

Regards,

Mark.