Flip Ultra Video Camera - White, 4 GB, 2 Hours (2nd Generation)

I have grown to LOVE my Flip!!! It has increased 30% in price since I purchased it, but it's still a great deal. It's small and convenient for taking to special events like concerts. And because it was inexpensive, I don't worry or fuss over losing it or damaging it, like I would with my $600 digital camera.It is EXTREMELY easy and user-friendly. You take your movies with a push of a button, then just plug it into your computer. Automatically it will load built-in software to your PC or laptop, and the software is so simple to use! A monkey could do it! ;) You can take a whole bunch of movies and edit them, and combine them to make your own longer movie. You can add sound to your movie that is in the software, or load your own music from an MP3. You can use sound in lieu of dialog in your movie, or in conjunction with it. You can make the music louder or softer than the dialog in your movie. You can add titles and credits. You can take your movie and share it with the click of your mouse to YouTube, Facebook, and other sites. You can also scroll through your videos and make pictures out of any freeze frame shot you want. All of this is built-in to this little camera, and is VERY simple to use. If I can use it, anyone can.If you are recording at something like a concert (which some artists/venues do allow), be advised that the sound will be better than the video. Darker surroundings don't record real well, and the spotlight on the artist will result in them looking like a white ghost with no facial features on your video. What's not in the spotlight will look better on the video. The best videos are produced in daylight, outdoors. But the sound is awesome and if you are wanting to document an event more for the music than the video, go for it.My only real gripe is that this thing eats batteries like nobody's business. I've tried everything... regular ones, lithium ones (supposedly 8x longer), and rechargeable ones. Eats them all up...and it doesn't give me any warning, it just shuts down in the middle of recording something. If I recall, it used to tell me when the batteries were dying, but somehow that feature stopped working and now... nothing. The last time I recorded at a reunion, I thought my batteries were fairly new (lithium ones), and then it just stopped working an hour into the event. I hadn't prepared properly by bringing spares... and had to leave the reunion and run to a gas station to buy batteries. Kind of a hassle, but taught me to always bring spares from now on.Other than the battery issue, I love this little camera. When it finally dies, I will buy another one. I've had it almost a year now, and have gotten MORE than my money's worth on it.

Just by chance I happened to come across the Flip Ultra 2nd Generation last week when the price was at $89. It lists at $149. Even for a bit higher this little gem is so worth it and thanks to Laura I's video review- in which she actually uses it and shows the quality of the imaging and ease of use with this unit- I was sold in the few mins that it took to watch her vid.Mine arrived this past week and I have been experimenting with it and believe me- it is so easy to use- I can't get over that even someone like myself who hates to mess with a bunch of buttons, but at the same time, loves to preserve those once in a lifetime moments, could be more happier with a purchase! This is the most economical and best investment for just that.For myself- I don't feel the need at this time to worry about having the HD option on the higher end items. I mainly use these vids to upload to emails, blogs and what not- I suppose down the road if I the need for HD, I would consider upgrading to HD, but I have viewed a video I shot with this unit on our HD televsion and honestly- I'm content with the quality of the video.The main things for me, is that I was able to open the package when it arrived, put the AA batteries in, and after reading the rest of the instructions, which are short and right to the point note card- shot some short clips- slid open the side USB stick- connected it to my computer- and at the same time- the FLIPVDIEO software package was being uploaded onto my computer-how nice- no extra disc to worry about, it's all in the FLIP, then uploaded and emailed the video shorts I had just created within the first hour of receiving this.How great is that? I give this 5 stars all the way and have now ordered the tripod that goes along with it- another great investment that I know will come in handy.So for a minimal investment, during these tight economic times- I say this far exceeds my expectations and am so looking forward to the holidays and being able to capture roughly 120 mins of video-more than I'll ever need at any one occasion.The only concern is to make sure to keep enough extra AA batteries (2 needed) on hand- I have used it quite a bit so far and am still on the same batteries that came with the unit!Take a look @ Laura I's video - you will be sold- and apparently quite a few people are- as while I am writing this- it is out of stock- again. I just wish I would have taken the leap and ordered 2, as I was thinking- this makes a perfect gift as well! I am still considering ordering another one for a gift as I know they would just love this one as much as I do.My advice-if what you are looking for is similar to what I had in mind- when this comes back in stock- jump on it- It's a purchase that I'm sure you won't regret! JUST POINT AND SHOT- How easy is that?

I bought the Flip Ultra before our Disney Vacation the end of December 09. I took it and my heavy duty vhs-c camcorder. I ended up just using the FLIP camera the entire trip bc I didnt want to haul around the big ole camcorder. Flip Ultra was awesome. Easy to use, fit in my fanny pack, I filmed our entire vacation on the flip (which had 120 min of record time). When I got home my troubles began. I loaded the FLIP with the easy usb connection onto my VISTA computer. I downloaded the video to my computer. But to my surprise...I could NOT transfer any of my vaction memories with the MP4 video from my computer to a dvd to keep. The MP4 video format has to be converted into a video format my computer & dvd can read. Then the FLIP software CRASHED my computer! It took an entire day for the VISTA computer to repair itself, and thank God I didnt lose anything on my computer. It took off the FLIP software, then I went into add/remove programs and made sure I uninstalled the FLIP software. So now I go to Office Depot and buy Roxio Software which claims it converts MP4 video to another format. Well I havent been able to figure this out either. So now Im totally STUCK with my precious family DisneyWorld Memories in this FLIP camera with no way to get it onto a dvd. Plus it crashed my computer and I cry every day bc I bought this horrible piece of junk. DO NOT BUY THE FLIP ULTRA or any flip camera. If I can spare ONE person from this misery then I think Ive done a good thing. Spare yourself the grief. And take your big ole vhs-c camcorders to use for your precious family memories. At least that can be converted.