If you are considering a Tektronix scope, PRINT(Products International)
discounts all Tek scopes 5%. Not much, but it is something. However, a
Fluke 79 is a nice meter, so if you get that as an incentive from
future/active, go for it. I've bought scopes from both companies.

An analog scope does not "capture" anything. If you do a single shot, the
faster the timebase setting, the dimmer that single shot will appear. A
better and faster scope will always work better than a cheesy one.

The TDS210 looks like a fine scope, and it's certainly very popular. For
most purposes, an analog scope is interchangeable with a digital one.
Perhaps you can get info regarding the serial interface from someone who
owns one. I would imagine that Tektronix is concerned about safety and
isolation and that adds to the price of the interface. If you don't need
as much isolation, you could probably save a bundle doing it yourself.

Software from Tektronix? I've never been very impressed. Unfortunately,
they think information is not important to users anymore, so if you
want to find out how to "talk" to it, you'll probably have to buy the
programmer's guide or technical manual(which you'll only need 4 pages).

I've only really cared about getting screenshots and hardcopy, likely
that's all you will ever need. The scope might have print routines built
into it, so all you'll need is an interface.

I've had a THS720, the handheld model, for almost two years, and it's a
good scope. If you can scrape another few hundred together to buy a
THS710(the entry-level model), you'll be pleased to know that the serial
interface is builtin, and that it has a voltmeter, and that every
input/output is isolated from every other one. That is so incredibly
useful, it is worth half the value of the scope to me.

On the other hand, a used analog scope like the B+K 1540 should cost
you under $400 and will do all the things a scope is supposed to.

Food for thought!

-Bob