Which Telescope is best?

[metalgearsolid]

I have 500 dollars and i plan on buying one of these two. This will be my first telescope so im a rookie at this.

*A skyquest XT10 classic dobsonian (479.95)
*A skyquest XT8 intelliScope with object locator (499.95)

1.) Is an object locator worth losing the 10" to an 8"
2.) would these telescopes come with a stand to hold them? im buying them from telescope.com which I know has a good reputation.
3.) How far from the city should i be to get a better view of the sky? I currently live 10 miles outside the city.
4.) Any thing else a rookie should know?

[Michael Steen]

It just depends on what you want. I myself just spent the $$ on the XT10 because I wanted the greater aperture, and I really wanted to learn the night sky.
I know that this is going to take me many years, but that's OK. As the journey goes along, I'll have a skill I can really be proud of.
If you have limited time for watching (I'm retired), then you might want to go with the object locater so as to spend your time looking at things, not looking for them.
However, you should know that these devices are not foolproof, and you have to "calibrate" them by sighting in on two target stars in your home sky. If you're just a little bit off in sighting those stars, your scope will be just that much further off. In other words, the Intelliscope will get you close, but you'll have to close the final gap yourself.
I love the 10", but I've never tried an object locater, so you'll have to wait for a reply from one of those guys.
I know Carlos has one. Ask him.
As to distance from the city, that really means nothing. Which city? If 10 miles from Flagstaff, AZ, you're going to have pitch black skies. If 10 miles from NYC, fugeddaboutit. Look at the night sky on the blackest night. If you can make out all the stars of the Little Dipper, you're doing pretty well. If all you can get is the Pole Star, you have some light pollution. If all you get is the moon, you might want to rethink the telescope.