Flipping for the Flip
In November at Learning 2007, some friends of mine led a panel on using Streaming Video . All of the panelists showcased their Flip Ultra video camera.
By January, I had one. I bought it for $120 at Best Buy. I bought white, but had I wanted to embarrass my husband further, I could have purchased pink – other options include orange, black, and green. I love this because it works with both my Mac and my PC. I love that the software is basically a portable app – built-in to the hardware and only launches when I plug the USB stick into my computer. I love that there are no cords or extraneous cables.
I love my Flip, but there are caveats to the thing. The zoom isn’t exactly high quality. Also, users should remember that this camera is made for You-Tube-quality video. It doesn’t provide exactly high-res, high-end pictures. It also takes AAs. I’m more of a rechargable battery girl, but now I just carry AAs with me.
It’s perfect for certain things. For instance, it was perfect for filming the Peabody ducks or when we saw Dancing with the Stars live and already had front-row seats. It’s not so good when you’re sitting far away.
I’m not the only one who loves the Flip. A new report shows that FlipUltra already has 13% of the market share. As the article points out, when HD starts to filter down to inexpensive video, this could all change. But right now, You Tube is what we want and how we share our video. The Flip Ultra plays perfectly into this.
