Hi Dan,
I'm building a CB245 (based on TC245 chip). Say how fast an object can be imaged is difficult because it depends on the telescope used. The most light you capture, the better it is. But let me say: in acquisition mode (full frame, 2x2 binning), a 2 sec exposure over expose all stars in the Trapezium in M42. The transfer is very fast because the parallel port is used insteed of the serial port.
The software is not "decent". But it is what you should wait for the money you spent on the kit... I am sure a most better software will be written by a guy/girl in the next months and will be available. Any way, I say that Mr. Berry, Kanto and Munger did a great job!
I'm not what we can call "a good manual worker". I use a lot of tape and I'm used to see my projects on the trashcan because they don't work... But the Cookbook is soo easy to build that I was able to build it! Let me tell you that that means it is very easy to build!
So, I wish you good luck!
Dominique Beauchamp ------------------- Observatoire Tycho-Brahe