Best Beginner Telescope

Been looking for a good starter telescope and have narrowed it down to three choices. Looking for either a Refractor or Compound scope so I can use it for terrestrial viewing as well as astronomy. Also looking for a scope that is reasonably compact and portable as I don't have a car to transport it, so some massive dobsonian reflector is out of the question.

Just going to be using it for optical viewing and not astrophotography so I don't need a tracking or computerized mount. Hoping to keep it under $500.



Leaning towards the Orion Astroview 90mm

https://www.telescope.com/Orion/Tele.../22/p/9024.uts

This one seems to have really good reviews and is often recommended for beginner to intermediate level. This is about at the limit I'd want size wise though.


Would it be a lot better than say the Orion Observer II 70mm?

https://www.telescope.com/Orion/Tele...tValueIds=4509

Specifically at planetary observing? If there's not going to be a major difference I might go to the 70mm as it's smaller.



Also saw the TableTop 90mm Compound scope from Orion:

https://www.telescope.com/Orion/Tele...1/p/102016.uts

Has a much simpler mount be seems to be very powerful for its size and would be very easy to transport.