Re:Zen Camcorder has 13% of the market
by wallflower on Sunday March 23, 2008 @09:32AM
(#143973)
Word of mouth.
My mom was showing me her Flip Video about three months ago. I'd never heard of it and she was like "what? You have to see it" She pulled out the unassuming little brick videocorder and with enthusiasm demonstrated it. It makes cute Tivo'esque sounds when you press a button. She is not very technically savvy yet she has used it to shoot video and share video (via USB copying, not YouTube) with friends and family (baby videos mostly). The video quality is decent and it fits in her purse (important). She has shipped at least one FlipVideo overseas.
Re:Zen Camcorder has 13% of the market
by randomhack on Sunday March 23, 2008 @03:57PM
(#144072)
Hmm there is a Sony camcorder called Network Sharing Cam which is also a basic, really lightweight and cheap camcorder. Pretty similar to the Flip and priced at around $200. Video is at 640x480. I have one of these Sony cams.
The Sony model predictably runs on a memory stick and can also shoot stills at 5 MP. There are 2 buttons : one for taking photo, press the another to take video. Its a nice pocketable design and now I keep it with me at all times. I was not too enthusiastic about videos b4 i used this easy to use cam.
The Flip looks an even simpler design.
edit : The sony model has some additional controls like (digital) zoom etc. So slightly more features than the Flip which can either be a "feature" or a "put-off" depending on your perspective.
Re:Zen Camcorder has 13% of the market
by jeroen on Sunday March 23, 2008 @07:57PM
(#144175)
The Sony cam seems to have 14 buttons on it. I imagine that'll be a bit intimidating for a non-techie, whereas how to operate the Flip is very easy to understand.
Re:Zen Camcorder has 13% of the market
by sarosh on Sunday March 23, 2008 @08:15AM
(#143958)
I believe the lack of extraneous features is the appeal; the Flip is successful because the user accomplishes their goal with only the most minimal effort.
Re:Zen Camcorder has 13% of the market
by tim2 on Sunday March 23, 2008 @09:27AM
(#143971)
Just trying to speculate as to what the most important aspects were. History is too often rewritten later by writers who didn't understand why something was popular at the time that it was actually taking off. So they just pick whatever glamorous reason sounds the most revolutionary.
My mom was showing me her Flip Video about three months ago. I'd never heard of it and she was like "what? You have to see it" She pulled out the unassuming little brick videocorder and with enthusiasm demonstrated it. It makes cute Tivo'esque sounds when you press a button. She is not very technically savvy yet she has used it to shoot video and share video (via USB copying, not YouTube) with friends and family (baby videos mostly). The video quality is decent and it fits in her purse (important). She has shipped at least one FlipVideo overseas.
edit : The sony model has some additional controls like (digital) zoom etc. So slightly more features than the Flip which can either be a "feature" or a "put-off" depending on your perspective.
He may be right though.