what is the difference of Dobsonian Telescope and Dobsonian Intelliscope?

[Joey Calingo]

i was looking on the Orion Xt series im interested in studying astronomy and decided to buy one between XT8 and maybe XT10 telescope or intelliscope i dont know the difference

[Michael Steen]

The difference is that the intelliscope is built with precise setting circles and other hoopla with which, frankly, I am unfamiliar, but which can take the optional Intelliscope controller. With the controller, you sight the scope on a couple of bright stars to "fix" your position in the scope's computer, and it can then help you to guide your scope (by hand) to thousands of objects in the night sky.
Depending on how accurately you have set it up initially, it can get you very close to the object you want. However, if you're using high magnification, don't expect it to put Mirzah dead center in the eyepiece; it's not that good.
If you buy an intelliscope without the controller, you can always add one later. But if you buy the regular XT10, you can never upgrade.
BTW, I just bought an XT10 with a Telrad finder added on, and I LOVE IT. When the Telread is adjusted properly (really a piece of cake), what you center in the middle of the little target circle is dead center in the scope!
This is the way I'd go if I were you, but I'm not, so I can't say what you really want or need.

[Michael Steen]

The Intelliscope is set up to accept the Intelliscope controller, a sold-separately computer that attaches to the scope and allows you to find (with reasonable accuracy) thousands of stars and other objects that are pre-programmed into the computer. You move the scope by hand, but the computer tells you where to go. All you have to do to set it up is focus on two bright stars where you are and that tells the computer your latitude and longitude.
If you buy an intelliscope, you can always upgrade and get the computer for an extra $150 or so, but if you don't get the intelliscope initially, you never can upgrade.
Personally, I'm hoping to really learn the night sky, so I just bought an XT10 without the intelliscope feature, but I did buy a Telrad finder for it. Now THAT'S product. Center an object in the Telrad (after a little tweaking to adjust it to your scope) and that puppy is DEAD CENTER in the eyepiece.

[Dannystrube]

Hi,
the intelliscope is an Orion Dobson with build in object locator which helps you to locate objects (obvious)
-Danny

[Michael Steen]

The intelliscope will HELP you locate objects, but nothing is perfect. If you haven't set it up for your latitude and longitude VERY accurately, it will get you in the neighborhood of the object you're looking for, but you'll still have to find it.
Also, you move the scope yourself; it's not an automatic go-to scope.
I just bought an Orion 10" without the Intelliscope feature, but I did purchase a $40 Telrad finder at the same time. Fantastic item!! Read about it online.
For my $$, put your extra $$ into a bigger aperture, a Telrad, and some good star charts.
Then, as I'm doing, learn the sky. Happy hunting!

[Fact Hunt]

Agreed
Aperture wins over Goto

No point having a scope that can accurately point at 50,000 deep sky objects, if you don't have the aperture to see them.

Tough to beat the sense of achievement when you track down that elusive dim galaxy, using your own skill, rather than letting a computer do it.
As my friends and I say at our local astro club....
Goto is for p**sies