Flip Ultra HD

I'm sure if you're like me you either have a camcorder or are looking to get one.  I STILL have my Sony Handicam (mini-DV) which still works but the colors are now off and the touch screen menu can be a little quirky if I have the display on for more than 30 minutes, but besides this it still works..kinda..or can be used in some "dream sequence" for the next big screen flick..give me a call Kubrick.

NOW, the main reason I wanted to "upgrade" is that I was getting tired of always going out and picking up blank mini DV tapes all the time, and these tapes are not cheap. 

I went with the The Flip UltraHD.  It's MUCH easier to use and navigate.  Basically, you turn it on and press that RED button you see in the picture and you're recording, press it again and it stops..simple.  You can also hook it up to your HDTV and you can be watching movies instantaneously (CAVEAT: but one recorded segment at a time, unless you burn it, then you can watch it all the way through), but to transfer the video from the Flip UltraHD cam to your computer to backup your movies is a SNAP.  It can hold up to 2 hours of video before you have to move it over to your computer's hard drive, but trust me, two hours is plenty..a mini-DV can hold only 60 minutes..so go figure that one out..and you never have to buy tapes anymore.

Another reason is flat-out portability..which is key with kids right?  The FLIP UltraHD is small, about the size of a pack of Virginia Slim cigarettes.  FLIP makes even a smaller version, but if you get too small it's gets harder to manipulate the camera, IMHO.  It's about the size of today's cell phone and my wife can just keep it in her purse and bring it out for those spontaneous golden moments..either good or bad..you can capture it for all eternity now.

The FLIP UltraHD also comes with it's proprietary rechargeable batteries (which charge when you connect is USB), BUT the real beauty is you can also use standard AA batteries as well.  So, if you run out of your charge, you can plop in a set of AA's and your good to go.  I got mine on Amazon (seems we get everything via Amazon these days..) for the free shipping and sans-sales tax.