Expert: Ed - 1/2/2012

Question
Dear Sir,
I  am on a budget and I want to buy a reasonably good telescope and after some online reading shortlisted the following scopes.I was advised to buy a powerful binocular rather than a scope which I have already bought but its quite heavy and shakes a lot.
1)"Celestron Powerseeker 76 f/9" sold by tesco direct at £50.0 2)70mm REFRACTOR(Celestron astromaster)at £80.0 3)3" reflector Dobsonian type f/4 (Skywatcher and Celestron) at around £50 and 4) 114mm reflector(Celestron Astromaster) at a reduced price of £99.0.
I have read some books on astronomy,know where and how to find Big and little dippers,Polaris,Cassiopeia,Pegasus and andromeda.I have looked at the night sky with my recently acquired 20x50  binocular for the last one month but it shakes a lot as its quite heavy( I have reasonably steady hands).
I want to buy something which will help me see the moon and planets reasonably well(want to see saturn and its rings,Jupiter with moons) and the some galaxies(andromeda M31) and stars.It should not be very heavy and difficult to set up .I donot want to spend more than what I have mentioned as I donot know whether I will lose interest in the near future--if I can maintain my enthusism, I propose to buy a costlier equipment in the future.
To maintain my enthusiasm,I need a reasonably good scope,priced as above and not too heavy or difficult to set up.I have been looking at telescope buying guides on the internet and am quite belidered.Would you please help? regards Dipankar.

Answer
Dipankar, good for you, for pursuing your interest in astronomy.  

There are two guys on AllExperts who are serious experts in telescopes:  Tom Whiting and Paul Wagner.  I always refer these questions to them.

http://www.allexperts.com/ep/1360-18522/Astronomy/Tom-Whiting.htm

http://www.allexperts.com/ep/1360-4834/Astronomy/Paul-Wagner.htm

Keep looking up,
-Ed