Russ --

Oh boy, do I feel your pain. I bought a 16" LX200GPS last summer. 8
months of frustration later I pulled the plug and started looking for a
GEM. I preferred the AP1200 primarily for the keypad (you have to drive
a Paramount with a PDA or PC) and its more classic looks. But, like
you, by the time I gave up on the Meade, I was pretty desperate for a
solution.

In Europe, it was even worse, as the Paramount ME is in stock at the
German dealer (ie: available immediately). But it really wasn't what I
wanted. I actually started to put together a deal where I would buy a
new ME and then trade it straight up with a local guy who had an
AP1200GTO. Fortunately, about that time a used AP1200GTO popped up on
AstroMart and I grabbed it.

Anyway, I de-forked the 16" OTA and it now rides happily on an AP1200GTO
CP2. I couldn't be more pleased. There's a first-light report
(including a brief comparison of the AP keypad and Autostar II) on this
CloudyNights thread:
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=lxd55&Nu
mber=894056 .

(A couple of my buddies over at CloudyNights are also recovering from
RCX exposure.)

-- Jeff.