Comments on: Back to basics with Flip Video

By: Michael Roberts

Michael Roberts — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:49:31 +0000

I bought a Flip Video recorder several months ago and it has changed the way that I look at things in my everyday life. You start to see stories in many mundane activities and actually inspires me to be a more creative person. I never thought that I’d ever have videos on Youtube, but this cheap little device has changed that.

A small little $150 item has caused me to start thinking creatively in a way that I never thought possible before!

By: Eric Mankin

Eric Mankin — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:01:28 +0000

RCA is now marketing a direct competition, the Small Wonder, $99. Works fine. Moment of worry when I so no mention of Macintosh in the notes about hooking up to the computer. Not to worry: hooking in the UCB port launches iPhoto, which downloads the video. Comes in colors, mine is black.

By: Diana Day

Diana Day — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:55:58 +0000

I like the Flip too and have recommended it to friends. I use it with the high school students I teach, too, but caution that some otherwise tech savvy youth need some coaching with it. The user interface, while not complicated, may not be intuitive to everyone.

On some computers the software boots right up when you plug the Flip in the USB port, but on others, you have to go hunting to find it as a peripheral.

Also, I have found that some people get confused because, while it appears that the video is a complete file that has been stored within the camera (and is therefore ready to use), it actually has to be exported using the Flip software before you can use it as a complete video with both sound and picture.

That said, you absolutely cannot beat the price, and as long as you assume that (like with any tech gadget that you distribute to your newsroom) you’ll have to take time to train folks how to use it.