How is an LX200 better than an LXD55?

I'm trying to justify the cost of the LX200 (esp the 12", but we'll see), but I'm confused by its advantages in design over the much cheaper Schmidt-Newt (alas, only goes up to 10"). For that matter, how does the viewing from an equatorial reflector (with added goto and tracking)compare?
Thanks- I'm sure this comes up a lot...

Hi Mary -

The main advantages of the LX-200 over the LXD-55 are:

-LX-200 has very good pointing accuracy (LXD55 is fairly poor)
-LX200 is much easier to set up due to AZ-ALT config. (LXD55 is GEM)
-LX200 has PEC (LXD55=no PEC)
-LX200 accepts autoguiding commands (LXD55= no autoguiding)
-LX200 has a stable mount (LXD55 is pretty rickety with the 10")
-LX200 has SCT optics - a bit more versatile than the fast Schmidt Newtonian design.
-LX200 OTA weighs less.
-LX200 has GPS functions (a nice plus, but not a necessity.)
-LX200 has microfocuser

The biggest advantage of the LX200 is that it has been around for awhile, and seems to have most of the bugs worked out of it's design. The LXD55 is quite new, and has many 'teething problems' yet to be worked out.

A good place to check for info from LXD55 users is the Yahoo group at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LXD55telescopes

There you will find out all the pros and cons of the LXD55 scopes from actual users.

-Jake

I have a 5" SCT and an LXD55 SN8. I would pick the SCT as an "all around" winner in casual observing.

Reasons?

1. I have never stood on my head with the SCT. The SN is difficult when viewing south then viewing North, you must rotate the entire OTA.

2. The LXD55 with the SN8 is, as the previous poster says, ricketty and really wobbly at same powers as the SCT. The OTA is too heavy for the mount.

// Jerry