Last month we did a quick mention of a cool little digital HD video camcorder from PureDigital. The folks in the office have been playing with it and the general concensus is that the unit is simple enough to use by our grandmother and has quality high enough for most casual video situations.
The Flip MinoHD videocam has two buttons which the user needs to know about before shooting: the Power button and the Start/Stop button. The Power button is on the right side (as viewed from the back) of the unit. The Start/Stop button is the red one on the back.
The MinoHD has an internal rechargeable Li-ion battery. The battery lasts for two hours and is recharged via the built-in USB plug. There is a button on the left side of the MinoHD which when pressed releases the USB plug.
The lens and the microphone are located at the front of the Flip. Totally "point and shoot." The unit is desiged to be portable: 4"x2"x0.6", 3.3 oz. There is video-out port for playback on a TV or monitor. A tripod socket at the bottom allows the unit to be mounted for hands free recording.
A handstrap may be lashed onto the Flip via a small slot on the side of the unit. We normally don't attach one, but we found that it was quite convenient to have one on the Flip.
There is a 1.5" no-glare LCD display and touch-sensitive controls for playback, pause, fast forward/rewind, and delete. There is no zoom, special effects, or any of the extraneous features of a typical videocam to clutter up the interface.
What PureDigital has created is an extremely easy to use HD video camcorder that we can carry with us everywhere. They have even included a nice microfiber pouch, perfect for cleaning the lens and wiping fingerprints off the shiny black surface.
The microfiber pouch is fine for the pocket and normal outings. To protect and transport the MinoHD in more demanding situations, an OtterBox 1000 case is an excellent option and a perfect fit.
The Flip MinoHD is a well thought-out and well designed product which makes it easy to grab and share high quality clips. We'll post some FirstUse videos soon. In the meantime, feel free to check out the samples and accessory options on the PureDigital site. [Permalink]- PureDigital Flip Mino HD
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