While I think analog scopes are better general purpose ones, I don't think a newbie should just pellmell jump into getting one without knowing some caveats Dave did not make apparent.
http://electronicdesign.com/article/communications/does-anyone-still-use-an-analog-oscilloscope-14793.aspxMany old devices use a
lot electrolytics caps that are at most, rated for 20-30 years. If you get such a device, particularly a scope, its likely due to fail very soon, and every day it works is a blessing. Those caps would fail sooner if the scope was used in extremes of its operating temp, such as in the winter colds or summer heat, if taken as a field instrument. Also, how much abuse has the inputs already taken? and was a scope 'stored' because it wasn't useful anymore or it stopped working?
Tektronics built in the 1990s and up, are increasingly difficult to repair and use specialized parts, while older ones use more 'generic' technology but are very likely to fail from sheer age.
A quick review of eBay shows many such scopes are sold AS-IS, and there is no way to ascertain it will even power up, nor that it even works near to spec. Those that are refurbished are a better bet, but they are going for $300-400 to start, because the seller has gotten it back up to snuff, in which case you're getting mightly close to a Rigol 1052E.
So, I can see a seasoned hobbyist getting one knowing a repair is likely in order, but a newbie will likely be less served by getting one.
If you inherit a scope from a good user, or a school, it at least can be examined, and the donor may likely know something about how it works and its caveats. And free is free.
That said, if a newbie is just getting his feet wet in electronics, a DSO nano isn't such a bad bet, given it should work out of the box, and can show them what a basic wave form looks like.
Also, a lot of folks I read here discussing equipment that can easily resolve 1MHz and up, postly elsewhere about design issues that are barely cogent for competent audio frequencies design, that I just can't see what all this extra bandwidth is going to do for someone who is challenged by Horowitz and Hill.
Don't turn off a newbie by making the barrier for entry into the hobby high. If they outgrow the DSO nano, then good, but I feel a newbie will learn electronics by exploring the limits of their gear. $300 reserved for a good scope, used or new, can be used to furnish almost an entire learning lab given the cost of basic lab equipment from China: DMM, evaluation board, power supply, a cheapie scope, signal generator etc.,