Mountain Biking - Newbie: Spring vs. air shock

I checked out a $500.00 Giant mtb with the big-assed truck spring and it seemed real bouncy. I noticed that the more expensives mtbs have that little air shock for the rear suspension. Do they work that much better than the "bed spring"? :( :)

Well the little air shocks are for soft tails, meaning they only have about 1 inch of travel in the rear. It sounds like The Giant bike you were talking about has a long travel, making it FS. So they are two difrent types of bikes if i'm getting your post right.

A $500 full suspension bike is to be avoided. Your question implies that the Giant you tried had a rear spring. Is that what you meant?

A $500 full suspension bike is to be avoided. Your question implies that the Giant you tried had a rear spring. Is that what you meant?

Yes. I'm wondering if those rear suspensions that look like car shocks are that much better than the coil springs? :(
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/images/_upload_cn/bikes/models/zooms/2004/f04-NRS_flat_r.jpg VS.http://www.giant-bicycles.com/images/_upload_us/bikes/models/zooms/2004/f04-faith1-zoom.jpg

Those are two different bikes designed for two totally different purposes. The second one isn't just a coil, it's a coil over shock and it's generally used in heavier duty suspension setups. Cheap FS may have a similar setup or may actually be just a coil (no shock) but they are likely just crap.

I assume your looking for a Mtb. What kind of riding were you thinking of doing?