With the advent of CCDs and the new computer-controlled telescope drives, this may be your first brush with the arcane world of really high-tech. For anyone who may be considering some of the advanced products now on the market, this page will provide an interpretation of a few terms that you've no doubt seen widely used in advertisements.
ALL NEW - The power supply, connectors, and software are not compatible with previous versions. Even the screw threads are different.
ADVANCED DESIGN - Salespeople don't understand it.
BREAKTHROUGH - It nearly worked on the first try.
DESIGN SIMPLICITY - It was developed on a shoestring budget.
EXCLUSIVE - We're the only ones who have the directions telling how to use it.
FIELD TESTED - The manufacturer has no way to test it.
FOOLPROOF OPERATION - It's unrepairable, short of sending it back to the factory (which can't fix it either).
FUTURISTIC - It only runs with the help of a next-generation computer, which isn't available yet.
HIGH ACCURACY - The screw threads match the threads of the holes they're supposed to mate with.
IT'S HERE AT LAST - We've released a 26-week project in 48 weeks.
MAINTENANCE FREE - see Foolproof Operation.
MEETS OR EXCEEDS OPTICAL STANDARDS - We haven't the foggiest idea about the total wavefront accuracy.
NEW - It comes in a different color than the first version.
PERFORMANCE PROVEN - It worked through beta test.
QUALITY STANDARDS - It works most of the time.
REVOLUTIONARY - Everything that's supposed to go round and round actually goes round and round.
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED - We'll send you another manual if this one fails to work.
STOCK ITEM - We shipped it once before and we can do it again, probably.
UNMATCHED - No one else wants to copy our design.
UNPRECEDENTED PERFORMANCE - May mean two different things:
1. Actually worked the first time right out of the box.
2. Nothing before ever ran so erratically.
YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT - We finally got one to work.