There are manufacturers who make computer readouts for Dobs. You have to push the scope manually, but it tells you when you're there (you have to initialize it by entering date, time, and zeroing in on two stars manually to start the night).
Yes, it is possible to put the optical tube on an equatorial mount, but I'm betting you won't. Buying a scope made for its mount will probably appeal to you more, especially because a photography-worthy mount can cost more than the optics it carries!
Dobs have wide fields of view. If you have trouble finding something, consider adding a Telerad--they give you the illusion of a bull's-eye target on the sky, showing you just where you're aimed. Some people like finders, others like Telerads. But you'll learn the sky, just as the previous writer said, by pointing manually. I did.

• Decision Made... - imhotep - January 17, 2003 - 23:43 UTC