Re: Refractor vs. Reflector?
From: Robert Cook (rbrtck_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 09/06/04
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Date: 6 Sep 2004 08:42:11 -0700
"Jan Owen" <janowen1z@cox.net> wrote in message news:<5BJ_c.207965$sh.169641@fed1read06>...
>
> Secondly, even with a great set of instructions in hand, many folks become
> intimidated by the task at hand, even though by the second or third time
> they go through the process, it will become easier and easier, until it is
> basically purely intuitive... But somehow, long before intuitive gets
> locked in, folks get frustrated, and form a block they don't seem to be
> able to get by. And some others just follow the manufacturers'
> instructions, which often gets them into the ball park, but not critically
> collimated. And these folks will NEVER (except perhaps, by accident) ever
> know just how good the images in their scope could be...
People have become accustomed to not having to worry about fine-tuning
equipment of any kind, and learning how to make the most of their
equipment's capabilities. In the old days, most things were more
valuable, so if something stopped working right, you tried to fix it;
but nowadays, it's usually more cost-effective to replace it.
Telescopes haven't quite reached that level of disposability yet, so
the inclination is to tolerate problems or pretend that they don't
exist, since people generally aren't used to fixing things anymore.
Of course, there will always be some people who are technically astute
or handy by nature, and people who are patient and interested enough
in the hobby to learn everything, but as time goes on, the general
public will comprise an increasing percentage of the ranks of amateur
astronomy.
As an extreme case in point, let's look at computers. For decades,
they were confined to the realms of the military, large businesses,
and universities. During the 1970s, computers became available to
hobbyists, and despite the rapid growth of the personal/home computer
industry, not a whole lot changed for the next 15 or so years, in
terms of the nature of this realm. Then all of a sudden, it seemed
that everyone "needed" to have one, and that children apparently could
no longer be educated without them. It's kind of sad to look at the
situation from a hobbyist's point of view now, because computers have
become as ubiquitous and generic as toasters. The average sub-$1000
PC is at least as powerful as the multi-million-dollar
"supercomputers" of 20 years ago, but for the most part, they can't
really do more than their wimpy desktop predecessors--it's sort of
like always stopping down a 40" telescope to 60mm, and not even being
aware of it. On top of all that, now every idiot who is capable of
pushing a power button can post their crap on the Internet. I'm not
being arrogant--you all know the kind of people to whom I'm referring
here. Welcome to the world of mass marketing, or as some would call
it, "progress." :-/
By the way, everyone should bear in mind the fact that every
generation has undoubtedly made such comparisons between previous and
subsequent generations. I'm just putting things into perspective;
derive whatever truth or falsehood from it that you will. :-)
- Robert Cook
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