Flip MinoHD Camcorder 2nd Generation 120 Minutes Brushed

The very best pocket video camera made…
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is my third Flip Mino video camera. Started out the the non HD Mino then bought the HD version when it came out. The original was very good , the HD version is superb. The newest rendition is two hours, a much larger screen and HDMI output. It is second to none. I am using it with my 3.06 24″ iMac and my 13″ Macbook Pro and HAVE NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER with the USB connection. It fits perfectly and I have no idea what all these folks are talking about. This is a must make upgrade!!

A disappointment
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I have owned the previous version of the MinoHD for about six months. I have used it often and am very impressed with the high definition video. So much so, that I more or less use the MinoHD for my stills as well. The downside of the old version is that the viewfinder is very small and the storage capacity is just an hour.

I decided to spend another [...] bucks to correct these two problems by purchasing the MinoHD 2nd Generation. Indeed, the larger viewfinder is a welcome change. It is much easier to see your target. The 2nd generation has two hours of storage making it more convenient for trips away from one’s computer. Finally, the on/off switch is a bit easier to press than on the old one.

However, I must report that this 2nd Gen product has some weaknesses compared to its predecessor. As reported by many other reviewers, the USB attachment is not quite right. I can get it attached to my Dell, but not without a struggle. My old MinoHD slid in easily by contrast. I have some concerns that I might damage my USB port if I have to wrestle with it everytime I plug in the MinoHD 2nd Gen.

Secondly, the picture quality is not as good as my old MinoHD’s. The video field of the 2nd Gen is a bit larger than than the old MinoHD, but the definition is just not as precise and the colors are more washed out, less true. In addition, there appears to be more blurring of the picture when panning than is the case with my old version. I have now tested them against one another in a variety of shots.

I am very disappointed with this “upgraded” product. I really did look forward to the larger viewfinder and video storage, however, it appears that a few steps backward were taken in rushing this product to market. Sadly, it’s going back to Amazon today. I will continue with my old MinoHD until I read that these issues are addressed.

USB connector to PC is defective
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Bought new and was returned, because the USB connector can not be plugged into the computer. Sounds very odd doesn’t it, but it is true. If I push the head using a 25 lb force though, as if I was working in gym, I can stuck it in barely — but I would rather save my energy for the gym work. Bye-bye, CISCO.

Great little video camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Ordered the Mino HD 2nd Gen and have been using it for about 3 weeks. I have just completed filming 2 hours of various videos from a few seconds to 30 minutes in length.

Pros:

1) Very Small = it gets carried around all the time. Size is primary reason that my old camcorder (Hi8) is in a box. Size is also why I chose it over the Ultra HD (+ per Flip, the Mino HD has slightly better low light performance based on the spec sheet at the website).

2) 2 hours of HD and 2 hours of battery life. Yes, the battery is not user replacable but most L-Ion batteries typically last a good 5 years anyway (IME).

3) HDMI Out – tested and it works!

4) Tested with Laptops (Windows 7 and Vista)& Xbox 360. Did notice that using a USB extension cable that you had to wiggle it a little bit to get it connected – I believe that (based on charger pics) that the USB connector tolerance is tight so that it will hang out of the USB charger. For Mac users, find a USB extension cable that works and save the hassle.

5) Complete package IS the camera. The only extras I have carried is a mini HDMI cable going to a friends house and a USB charger that is in my regular camera bag.

6) Simple to use – even my 5 year old had it figured out in less than a minute once he realized what it was.

Cons:

1) Wish it has an option for Image Stablization. If you are walking and not taking care, the video can get jerky. Not really a con but would be a nice to have.

2) I have seen Internet sites where people are modifying their flips to fit a low cost wide angle lens on the camera. Not sure if I want to ruin the sleek lines on my Mino, but having the option would be nice.

3) 90 day warranty. Please Flip, extend your basic warranty to a year – it would give a lot of people a the piece of mind!

I am probably the typical user who wants to be able to make some videos to be able to share with friends and family. I have filmed, edited, merged, and uploaded a couple of videos to YouTube with no previous experience. The software is solid but basic. Would like more flexibility and am experimenting with Windows Movie Maker to achieve this goal.

All in all, I am happy with the purchase.

Love this Flip
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a great and fun product! Some friends are going to get one this Christmas

USB doesn’t fit computer
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Bought this product as a gift and the item doesn’t fit into the USB. Flip’s customer service tells me I need to go and buy an extension to get it to work. I thought the idea was to plug directly into the computer. THIS STINKS.

A game changer
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
An amazing product, especially for recording and sharing videos of your children and their activities. This item is now my go to device for when I want to record something at my daughters school (replacing the camera and iPhone). It’s slim enough to fit in my front pocket. It’s easy enough that even my Mom is able to record an event. The software is simple enough to figure out how to take a recorded video and email it to friends/family (hassle free). This is one of those items that changed things for me (the last tech items were the iPhone and Kindle).

My only complaint is that the item does not come with a mini HDMI cable to view videos on an HD television. Speaking of the mini-HDMI cable, if you spend more than $5, you are paying too much (Best Buy wanted $45 for this cable).

Highly recommended, especially if you have children.

Awesome little portable camera.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I had used a flip before and was really impressed by the size and ease of use. A year later I finally sprang for the new HD version. So far so good. Takes high quality images and is easy to capture fun moments. I used it at Thanksgiving to show people videos of my cats. Because it’s small, it’s easy to transport.

I bought another one for my mother in law. Totally happy with this product.

MinoHD USB Success Story
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My MinoHD arrived yesterday. It was ordered Christmas Eve. Since it was ordered, I’d been worrying about all these comments about the USB not fitting. Upon opening the box and doing the setup, I hesitantly and carefully tried to insert the arm into the USB port on my Dell desktop computer at work. No surprise, it didn’t work. I then went to the back of the computer and tried the port there, and it DID work. Hmmm…went back to the front again and tried to wiggle it in. Nope. Then the lightbulb went off in my head, and I flipped the MinoHD over and tried it. As luck would have it, it DID work.

When I got home last night, I tried it in my laptop. Didn’t work there, either. Flipped it over to be face up this time and it worked that way.

So, my suggestion to folks is to try flipping your Flip over and see, it may just work. Report back what you find.

USB problems… just like everyone else
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Just like other viewers, I got this product as a Christmas present, and the USB arm does not fit with my Mac. However, It does fit into my dad’s PC. I’m very disappointed that i have to either A. spend more money on an adaptor cable or B. return the product. This product and the company is total BS.

USB doesn’t fit Mac Book Pro port
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Nowhere in their literature do they warn you about the incompatibility issues with the USB port…. People are spending over $200 on this item and they’re trying to ignore this problem….. I’m not happy!!! Take some responsibility and fix the USB issues , or throw in the 5 cent (your cost) adapter into the box so your customers don’t have to run to nerd land to get a piece to make your camera work!!!

Merry Christmas!

Warning to Mac users!!!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I bought this model of the flip for use with my MacBook Pro. However, it will not fit in either of my usb ports. I tried it on my son’s MacBook Pro with the exact same results. It fits in one of the two usb ports on my husband’s MacBook, but not the other one.

I wrote to Flip customer support, and they denied that there is any problem with this model of the Flip and the MacBooks. I find this very hard to believe since I’ve since discovered other MacBook Pro users with the exact same issue. Customer support suggested I just use a connector cable. They’re right, it works fine, however the cable is bigger than the Flip. Not exactly the convenience I was looking for, and hardly as advertised…

Works great, USB fits…
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Just received this through Amazon the other day. Was weary about the potential USB problems, judging from the plethora of comments. I was prepared to buy a Dynex 7-port USB hub, but thankfully it wasn’t needed. I must say…it wasn’t the perfect fit at first, but it did fit without any type of struggle at all. It definitely was a snug fit on my Acer netbook, but a secure fit. You don’t have to put much force into it, but I could see why there might be issues with some computers. It WILL fit though, might have to test it out for a few seconds.

As for the actual camera haha, it works like a charm…so easy to use and the interface is well done. The pre-loaded FlipShare software is very intuitive and user-friendly. No CD required as it’s already in the unit once connected to your computer. Still have to test it out in low-light situations and overall battery life, but will post a follow-up on this soon (will use this for recording a CD release band gig next week).

Overall, quite happy with this product and reliable shipping once again. Bought the little Flip tripod as well. Once again, will post a follow-up with more use soon.

DO NOT BUY. Useless USB connector
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I too feel obliged to contribute to the enormous numbers of users who have found the USB port to NOT fit into not only a MacBook pro, but also a Dell Inspiron laptop. I am so disappointed in Flip as well as Amazon for continuing to even stock this item even though the response of the unit has been so poor. I wrote Flip with my concerns and they gave me some generic response that wasn’t helpful. Using another adaptor isn’t suffice for me. A product should do what it’s advertised to do. Plain and simple. What a waste of a Christmas gift.

Warning: USB plug does not fit into Macbook USB port!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
The MinoHD features a USB “arm” that is supposed to plug into your computer’s USB port for charging and uploading. However, the USB plug will NOT fit in a standard Mac USB port, so I had to return the device. Many other reviews confirm this flaw, yet others don’t seem to have this problem, so I’m not sure who’s to blame.

A HUGE Improvement Over Previous Model
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve been testing this new Flip and I’m amazed. This camera is such a huge step up from my old Mino. New features include:

- HUGE LCD screen, twice as big as the old MinoHD?

- HDMI plug on the bottom of the camera

- Form factor is more sleek and better designed

- 2 Hrs. Record Time (Up from 1 Hr on old MinoHD)

- Battery life is way improved

- Big improvement in image quality over old Mino, especially in low-light scenes

- 720p HD Record Resolution (Same as old MinoHD)

This camera is better than the first-gen MinoHD in every possible way. I love it!!! Thanks Flip!!

DO NOT BUY
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
HERE’S THE DEAL. BOUGHT THIS AS A PRESENT AND THE USB DOES NOT FIT INTO THE COMPUTER PORT. WROTE TO FLIP CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ALL THEY CAN DO IS REFER ME TO THE WARRANTY DEPARTMENT. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I UNDERSTAND THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON. NO EXCUSE FOR SUCH A BASIC FEATURE. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND BUY SOMETHING ELSE. I BRAND NEW ITEM AT A PREMIUM PRICE SHOULD NOT RESULT IN AN IMMEDIATE HASSLE.

extremely cool
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I got this as a gift today, and I have to say this is an extraordinarily cool device. It’s essentially a camcorder with HD quality that feels and looks the size of an iPod, and has the same sort of sleekness and ease of use. First time I turned it on, I knew essentially exactly how to use it, without the need of a manual. Plugging it into the comptuter was quite easy. I have a mac, so I just pulled the mp4 file right off the drive that pops up on the desktop. However, it clearly comes with some software which works on both mac and pc (I already use iMovie, so I preferred to dump the file right into that.

Anyway, it’s easy to use, the picture quality is awesome. I have an older camcorder that isn’t HD, but is of good quality, and even the lighting and handling of focus was WAY better on this little job than my big-ol’ camcorder.

Strongly recommend this… great stocking stuffer!

The Vista of camcorders
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I bought this item through Amazon.com to use it during a trip to Europe. After using it about 15 minutes, it completely went dead, it shut off while keeping the record light on. I need to send it back and get a refund from Amazon.com. I am not the only one to have this problem, so beware this new item might be, not the “Ipod of Camcorders” but the “Vista of Camcorders”. The cool appearance might hide a defective product.

Flip Engineers are Retarded
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
What kind of designers/engineer doesn’t make sure the damn USB arm can fit into all laptops? What good is a USB arm when it doesn’t even fit into ALL of them? No excuse for this BS.

Just got this today for Xmas and it doesn’t connect to my Macbook. According to others above me, it also doesn’t fit into some HP’s and Dell’s. I mean, really?

Absolute BS. So I went over to Monoprise dot com and ordered a 3 Ft Male to Female USB Extension cable for $1.03 (yes, 1 buck) and hopefully it’ll fit into that. Either way, Flip should INCLUDE a damn extension cable with the orders now because they should know their dumb*** engineers can’t do something as simple as design an applicable USB cable.

The rest of the camera seems great so far (only been playing with it for about an hour) but I will edit this later once I use it more. Also, I will let you all know if the Monoprice cables fit.

FLIP broke in 2 weeks
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I was excited buying the Mino and first getting it. Then playing around with it as many places as I could go. I noticed the touch screen zoom sometimes was unresponsive, and the whole back side that held the buttons were fingerprint magnets. Then one day, I turned it on, and pressed record… but the screen was just blank. My device apparently got “locked up” so I called tech service, and they suggest the reset pin. Didn’t work… I’m still waiting for a response from them. I highly recommend the flip ultra, with real buttons, removable batteries, and just feels sturdier overall even though it’s plastic.

USB does not fit DELLS
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Bought and returned two of these they do not fit in usb ports on my NEW dell tower or Dell Monitor,

The Support from flip replies try another computer every thing is fine we tested!

DO NOT BUY THIS, if they would at least admit the problem is theirs I would not be so harsh here.

BEWARE Mac users! Will not plug into Mac Pro laptops
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
OK, I’m one of those that _didn’t_ read the reviews here first before buying a new Flip Mino HD (120 Min.).

This little baby will plug into my Dell laptop, but the USB connector feels very tight.

It will NOT plug into either of my two Apple Macbook Pro laptops! I tried three USB ports on each Mac and it won’t fit into any of them. Looking at the USB connector under a bright flashlight, the USB connector on the flip has these little upward “ridges” that I’m guessing is causing the problem.

The video I transfered to my Dell laptop seemed good enough from a device this small and inexpensive.

But I bought it to use with my Mac, so I’m returning it tomorrow and getting the Kodak Zi8.

Flip Mino HD (1st & 2nd generation) vs. Flip Ultra HD
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
In May, 2009, I wrote a review comparing the Flip Ultra HD with the 1st generation Mino HD, and although at the time I thought the Ultra HD was a step forward, I missed the more diminutive size of the Flip Mino HD. Since then, I’ve been waiting patiently for Cisco to release a pocket camcorder that combined the same new features found in the Flip Ultra HD in the smaller and more compact form factor of the Mino HD. Well, they’ve finally done it!

The Flip Mino HD (2nd generation) is now the 3rd Flip series camcorder I’ve owned, and in my opinion this is clearly the best one yet! Basically, the Flip Mino HD (2nd generation) has all of the same convenient features found in the Ultra HD such as a larger 2″ display, HDMI out, Stereo mic, and 2 hour HD recording capacity, in a in a sleek and newly designed Mino HD form factor. I’ve read many complaints about the Flip’s lack of integrated image stabilizer, and I’m sure they will add that functionality in future products. However, whatever the Flip Mino HD camcorder lacks in features, it more than makes up for it in a simple, user-friendly, and ultra sleek design. There are a lot of choices available in the pocket sized video camcorder space, so if you’re looking for something with perhaps a little more functionality (e.g. 1080p, replaceable battery, larger zoom, etc.) than you will need to look elsewhere.

Although the Flip Ultra HD is arguably a better value, if you’re looking for a top notch pocket sized camcorder that you can take with you anywhere, I highly recommend this product. When it comes to ease-of-use, and convenience, the Flip Mino HD is a clear leader.

Mac users BEWARE…USB won’t plug into your Macbook or Macbook Pro
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I bought the Flip Mino HD (120 minutes). The box says its compatible with Mac so I thought great. I brought it home took it out of the book and tried to connect the Flip to my Macbook Pro with the built-in USB and it would not insert. I tried to insert it into my Macbook and it would not insert. I took it back to the store with my laptop and asked the clerk if he could show me how to insert it into the USB port but he could not. He took another new Flip out of the box to try to insert the connector into the USB port of the Macbook and it also would not work. Guess what? The Flip’s USB connector does not connect with the Macbooks!

Just wanted to let anyone with a Mac to beware!

A Piece of Junk!!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Just opened this up Christmas morning and was initially excited about the compact, convenient video cam. My excitement disappeared when I was unable to charge the camera because it would not plug into the USB port of my computer. Naturally, I tried it on all the ports, then on three other computers, then on two USB multiports…NONE of them would accept the “flipped” USB port.

Not a “tight fit”…NO FIT AT ALL.

Looking carefully at the connector, it’s clear that the small metal shim at the bottom of the USB tooth is slightly bent up on both sides.

I searched the internet and found literally DOZENS of people with the same problem.

They all shared the same story….A USB Plug that would not work – then a letter or a call to Customer Service – then a reply stating that the camera is fine and there is something wrong with THEIR computer(s).

Finding this to be a bit unbelievable, I submitted an e-mail complaint to the Flip support department.

Sure enough, I received the same prompt and insulting response….basically the product was fine and was well tested and my computer was the problem. No offer to replace. No offer to send me an adapter (some people got this far). No acknowldgement of the DOZENS of other complaints on the net.

My read on this is simple…if they cant offer reliable connectivity…and if they can’t give me a straightforward response to an OBVIOUS problem with their product…then this piece of junk is headed for the return bin.

Let the Buyer Beware!!!!

Excellent Product and Easy To Use
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is great! I have been using it for a couple of weeks and have had no problems. The USB size issue, which has been stated on other reviews, was not an issue for me. (I own a MacBook and the USB fit fine.) Flip MinoHD plus YouTube integration is an excellent way to share videos with family.

USB connection does not fit.
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I wanted to love this product but could not get the USB connection to connect to either of my two computers, so I had to return it.

Could not love it more!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve heard a lot of criticism about this Flip camera not fitting on some USB ports, but I haven’t had any problems connecting it to my imac or my acer netbook. The Mino is so small it is perfect for traveling and for carrying around in your purse, it weights almost nothing. The image quality is insane, even in low light.

I did try using a USB extension and I could not fit the Mino USB in it.

I would suggest googling a bit to find out if it will fit your computer before ordering it. This is a great little camera that is totally worth the money.

Garbage
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Do not buy. I bought this piece of junk for easy video shooting only to find that the stupid thing keeps shutting off. I tried resetting over and over and nothing, never worked from the start. I will never buy anything from the makers of this camcorder.

USB Arm is Defective on this Model
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I want to like this camcorder but after purchasing (and returning) four of them from two different sources (Amazon and Costco), I must give it a one-star rating. These camcorders have a know issue in which the USB arm does not fit easily into a standard USB port. The company (Pure Digital) is well aware of the issue, but is downplaying it. (You can read a lengthier explanation of the poor Customer Support I have received in the Discussion forums). I hope Pure Digital takes responsibility for this and gets it right with the next release.

They DO have competition: check them out
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I bought one of these Flip MinoHD units on Amazon as soon as they came out and have been using it for well over a month.

BUT, I also bought an RCA SmallWonder (Model EZ201) from Amazon last year, and have been using it for a year, so I have a comparison:

I expected this Flip MinoHD to be at least a little more evolved and have some attributes that my RCA unit does not.

After all, it’s FOUR times the price.

Well, sad to say, I prefer the $50 SmallWonder, with it’s capacity to increase memory MUCH higher (and cheaper) than this Flip Mino.

- the Flip can’t increase it’s onboard memory: you’re limited to the 2 hrs.

Also, if your battery runs out while you’re shooting (and it WILL, trust me) there’s nothing you can do about it. With the SmallWonder, you just pop in another two AA batteries and you’re back in business within 30 seconds.

Their claim of 2-hour battery life is ridiculous: a little over an hour is the best I can achieve.

Then there’s the software (or utilities, if you will). The RCA’s user-friendliness when it comes to the included utilities is MUCH better than this Flip unit. Flip markets itself as a YouTube filmer, but you struggle with their included tools to get the right video up on YouTube. very poor editing tools.

Tech support? it takes 4 or 5 emailings back and forth for them to understand the simplest of questions. One they never did answer, because they just didn’t understand my question. Get this: they asked me to SEND THEM a photo of the Flip Mino, so that they could understand what part of the unit I was describing! Apparently they have never actually handled one enough to remember what it looks like.

I don’t know whether it’s a language barrier or just that their tech support staff needs to get around to studying for their GED, but in the two cases I had it was pathetic.

So save yourself some $$ and look at RCA’s unit; they’ve even likely improved it in the year since I bought mine.

The best.. so far
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This review shares the comparison between this new Flip mino HD camera vs the older generation Flip and the new Creative Lab’s Vado HD

In short, this is by far the best pocket video camera I have owned. There were a number of improvements over the older Flip model. The most obvious one is the picture quality. The video is super-sharp and is comparable to some other full-sized camcorders on the market. It also produces very natural color balances even under indoor lightnings. The images are relatively stable although I would not be expecting much since it does not come with the stabilizer feature. The sound quality is OK. I would consider this as adequate for general purpose recordings. The Flip Share software is much improved from the earlier version. It has faster upload times and more user friendly. What I like is the email feature which you could easily select and email the videos to your friends and family members. This is conveniently done all within the Flip Share software without having to save your video and send it via your own email accounts. The unit has a nice solid “feel” as compared to the other plastic casting models. One area which I did not like much is that the control “buttons” are actually touch sensitive (except for the recording button) instead of the typical raised buttons. It took me quite some time to get use to it.

Now, some quick comparison against the latest Creative Lab’s Vado HD (newest model). Both models have the same capacity (8 GB of storage) which lasts for a good 120 minutes of recording. However, the Vado unfortunately is more inferior in terms of video quality and color balances. The recording I did under the indoor lighting turned out “yellowish” while the Flip produces a much better natural color. The video also turned out to be more shakier as compared to the Flip. The sound quality is pretty poor and did not produce enough volume. The recharging time for the Flip is also faster (3 hours for Flip vs about 5 hours for the Vado). The Vado’s video software is easier to use as it allows direct uploading to AVI format (Flip uses the WMA format).

The Vado currently is about $100 cheaper than the Flip. But I would rather pay the price for the quality that the Flip comes with.

Has Known Issues
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Received the unit. Shot about 30 minutes of video over two days. Unit locks up. Known issue by flip and many users. Flip supports provides reset info that is standard issue from their support KB. Initially did not work. Finally battery ran completely down and unit powered off. Performed Reset (hole in bottom of unit). Plugged into USB to re-charge. Finally came back to life. Worked again. then died again. Repeat reset process. Returned unit.

Amazing Improvement from non-HD Mino
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have the non-HD Mino and love it. My husband loves HD and believes everything is better in HD and I was a little leary. However I am a believer! As much as I loved our previous Flip for all those reasons (ease of use, length of memory card, software) and much more is why I love the HD one. The quality of the video is amazing, it is so hard to believe you can get such good quality from such a small device. Because the device is so small we take way more video than we would if we were hauling around a larger video camera. My son is 11 months old and we have hours of footage of him to play when he is older and annoyed with us.

I think it is a must have for everyone not just parents.

So Easy and USB Connection not an issue
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Received this camera for Christmas. The issue with the USB not fitting on a Mac is really a non-issue. I used a simple USB extension from another device and it worked perfectly…actually better because I didn’t have to plug the Mino into the back of the Monitor. The camera works great and really holds a charge well. The audio that accompanies the video is surprisingly clear and the video is very impressive. I have not used the on-board software because I have iPhoto. The Mino works very well with iPhoto and downloads videos without problem. Performs like a much more expensive device and is so easy to use that you can hand it off to someone to record when needed. Overall I would recommend this device without hesitation.

Easy To Make Videos
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I wanted an easy and highly portable device to make videos and a friend recommended the Flip but he’s a PC user so I wasn’t sure how well it would work with my mac. I got the newest version and I am glad to say that it is perfect. The finish matches my macbook pro and it came fully charged. It was pretty intuitive to use. I pressed the side button to turn it on and the obvious red button to record. The built in USB stick is great because, unlike my Canon camera, I dont need a cable to connect to my mac. The cool part is my video automatically showed up in i-photo ready for me to download and the mac prompted me to see if I wanted to erase it from the device. The video saves directly into my “photos” album with a little camcorder icon so I can tell the difference between my photos and the video. I just needed something easy to take silly home videos and this does the job.

FLIP HD REVIEW
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Excellent product for the person who does not want to carry around all sorts of equipment. Does not use regular batteries and needs charging.

About half of these people dont have any business buying electronics
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Good Gosh, some of the whining on this feedback forum is insane…example…about having to buy a usb extension cord , under $5 bucks , some usb ports are not as accessable as others…dont buy these products if your so clueless you dont understand that it is not a life changing event to get a inexspensive longer cord

do not buy!!!! Junk!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
After we bought it in 3 months, we had the following problems:

1. it shut off by it itself, at first we thought it is out of the batteries. It is not. And we lose all the videos we took and stored in it

2. the recording time it allowed gets shorter and shorter

3. when you contact the support group, it tells you to turn it on and off 8 times (lol), of course it does not work

After bought it in 6 months, the screen is not working anymore. Now it is a piece of junk.

Fantastic
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Bought as a birthday gift for my daughter and she hasn’t stopped using yet. Great picture quality, small enough to carry in her purse, Easy to place pictures and put onto Facebook. Easy to use no complicated instructions

Resolved Macbook USB Connection Issue
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I had the same issue until I realized what was preventing my Flip from fitting into my macbook usb port. If you look into the usb port you will see two little arms/strips that move up and down. Push/bend them down a tiny bit and the Flip mino should now fit properly. It worked like a charm for me and my Flip now connects to my Macbook seemlessly. Just be careful not to bend them down too much. Even though this solved the problem for me, you would think Flip would take notice of all these reviews and fix the issue instead of ignoring it.

Wainting for 3rd generation…
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
8GB internal memory is better than before… but why not provide the option to the user to add a larger memory card? Thumbs down on that! 2 hours of battery life still not enough… Thumbs down that! Battery replacement needs servicing and can’t be done by user like with any mobile phone, etc.? Thumbs down on that!… USB connection needs supporting or risks getting damaged. Thumbs down on that! Yep, looks cool, image quality is OK, and has some other (minor) “pluses”, but… still misses the point/mark… Hopefully the next generation MinoHD will fix these issues. Then, I will buy the MinoHD G3 for myself and everyone I know! Until then, it’s still lacking.

This is so worth the money!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have the original Flip that came out a few years ago and haven’t used it because the software was no longer compatible with my Mac (w/Leopard) WOW…what a difference this is! I’ll admit that I’m a sucker for tech gadgets, but this will appeal to anyone with half a brain! It’s so sleek and cool to touch. The videos it makes are so amazing. For me though, the great thing is it’s size and the ability to take it with me anywhere. Maybe now I’ll finally take videos of my kids when they do something really cute! It’s also nice to be able to use it again with my Mac. I will be hiding this from my teenagers! Thank you Flip, for an amazing camcorder!

USB Mac book problem resolved
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
For all the mac users out there- I just got the new mino HD 2nd Gen direct from FLIP in the mail today and it plugs in just fine into my mac book pro. The initial problem they had must have been resolved! Loving it so far!

Works with MAC
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just bought this today, with reservations with the negative reviews I saw with it working with MAC’s. I have a Macbook Pro (OS 10.6.2) and it works great with it!!! Fits in easily into the USB port and I was easily able to record a video and upload it into IMovie quickly. If you look at the Flip website, it says it’s MAC compatible with a 2.0 USB port (which mine has) so I am not sure if this was the issues others were having. But this Flip works fantastic with my MAC (so far at least)… Great device too! Small, good quality….love it so far!

USB Connector
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I read all of the bad reviews… and also the good reviews. I was really hoping I would get lucky and the Mino HD would fit my computer. I wanted this to work with my MacBook Pro and unfortunately, as many reviewers already said, the USB connector simply will not fit. Despite the many warnings to stay away from this product, I bought it anyway hoping if it did not fit my Mac that it would fit one of my other computers, which are PC’s.

I tested it on 4 computers and it didn’t fit one of them. I would think making a USB connector that fits would have been the simple part of designing this camcorder. Bad move Flip!

I am returning this poorly designed product.

Excels in Function and Style
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is the first Flip camcorder I’ve bought, and I’m very pleased with it. The user interface is very simple, which I consider a big plus. It turns on and off quickly, so you don’t have to wait for this to boot up while a memorable moment passes you by. The brush metal won’t be a fingerprint magnet, for which I’m quite glad, being very picky about that kind of thing.

When filming in low lights, it gets a bit grainy, but for me it is tolerable considering its limits as a pocket camcorder. However, I find it more than capable in other kinds of lighting, and it suits my needs quite well.

I would definitely recommend this for those looking for a simple, yet well-functioning camera that also has aesthetic appeal for the style-conscious.

Not MacBookPro Friendly
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Couldn’t ask for an easier way to share quick videos with friends and family, but as other reviewers have mentioned – it absolutely does not work with my MacBookPro usb port. It’s inconvenient for me, but I do have other PC based computers to use so it isn’t a show stopper. The ease of use to upload and administer videos online is like nothing else I have experienced.

should have been pulled off the market
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
no need to say more about this bad product except: i have to figure out to delete what i recorded on it before i return it, because the unit/usb does not take any charge at all so i can not even delete the video!! Totally a waste of time and money.

minoHD
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
It rocks for being straight forward and simple. It’s not a high end HD camera and it’s not intended to be. For capturing those moments when you don’t have time to grab and prepare, it is the ticket. I am amazed at the high quality of the video.

If the Web or home movies are your intended audience, it rocks.

It rates highly because it is simple, like simplicity described by Sir Arthur C. Clarke, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

Easy, Fun Gift for Dad!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I gave this to my husband for his birthday and he loves it. So easy to use and carry around to record our kids’ activities and life’s silly moments. We can only copare to our large video camera, which we take the film and do nothing with it. We always say someday we’ll convert to another media. This camera allows us to quickly and easily send video via email and share with grandparents (whcih they love).

FYI – The video quality when sent one of the Flip videos is different from each viewing computer – so some look better than others depending on your recipient’s resolution and screen.

Don’t Buy – USB plug is defective
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Before purchasing this unit I did read the other reviews here complaining about the flip out USB port not

plugging into their PC/Mac. It looked like the problem was mainly Mac/Apple related and I read elsewhere that

customer service said there had been some “bad early batches” of the product. So when I saw this unit at a well

known retail outlet with an iron clad return policy I figured all would be good and I would take the chance.

I bought the unit for my wife for xmas. Opened up unit. Used the recorder for about 20 minutes, easy to use. Plugged in to

my HD tv and was impressed at the quality of the video and sound from such a small unit. We were definately looking forward

to using this on trips to video the family. After this initial favorable impression I attempted to plug it into my PC (a 2 month

old Gateway) and it would not go in. Next I tried the USB port on my iphones wall charger. wouldn’t fit. Tried to plug it into

an old HP PC. wouldn’t fit. Tried to plug it into my Dad’s Acer One. wouldn’t fit.

Bottom line is that the USB plug is defective. Obviously from the posts here and elsewhere this is a known problem. I can only surmise that CISCO A) doesn’t care, B) is so poorly managed/run that the decisions makers who could fix this are not even aware of the problem.

In any case, I am returning this product first thing tomorrow and will research other alternatives and my opinion of CISCO as a brand has been severly diminished.

Mac Users’ Review
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
After reading many of the reviews here at Amazon, I was worried the minoHD wouldn’t fit into the USB ports on my Mac (Macbook Pro; Macbook). I’m happy to report it fit into the ports as soon as I opened the box and pulled the camera out. At first, it seemed it had some problems going in, but with a little wiggling, it fit right in, no problem.

Impressed with the camera… and the company!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve been looking for a camcorder for a long time and finally settled on the Flip due to good reviews and decent price.

Two days after I received my brand new Flip Mino HD, I started having issues with it. During one recording the camera totally froze up on me and I couldn’t shut it off. I held down the power button several times with no response. I finally plugged it into my computer and that appeared to reset it. The following day while recording, the camera completely powered off on me without warning and I lost the video.

After reading some of the reviews here it was apparent that this model had some problems. So I went straight to the source and called up Flip. First off, I was impressed that they were answering their phones on a Sunday afternoon. The person I spoke to was very friendly and helpful. She told me that the product had JUST come out and I had gotten an item from the first lot, which they seemed to be having some issues with. The problems I described were exactly what others had been having issues with too. She told me to return it and that she’d send me a new one (from a different lot) in its place. Within minutes of the call I received an e-mail with the instructions for the return and a pre-paid shipping label.

About a week after dropping the package off, I received a box in the mail with a new camcorder plus an unexpected freebie–an action mount that looks like it’s about a $16 value. I thought that was a very nice addition for my trouble.

I haven’t yet had a chance to use the new camcorder and I expect that the issue won’t continue. If it does, I will expect the same quality service from Flip Video. Regarding the camera itself, I love it. It’s very easy to use–completely intuitive and doesn’t require a boatload of instructions. The software is simple too. I think this camera will fit my needs quite nicely.

A once cheap camcorder now overpriced and inadequate
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I bought over the holidays for myself. I also bought a cheaper one for an older relative. Comparing the two, I have to say this is overpriced and ridiculous compared to what one can get for a bit more. And soon, probably this year, one can get for the same (and more) for the same price. First, no image stabilization. And the HD isn’t as good as it sounds. It’s lower quality HD, but it is HD, I guess. Add to that, customer service is appalling. I sent a few e-mails over the holidays to ask if there are any instructions for it’s software, only to get the same “canned” e-mail response, and to top that off, multiple e-mails asking how the service was, only to be answered with “canned” responses. There are NO instructions on how to use the software, just figure it out yourself. Frankly, it’s not worth the effort to me. Import it to a real video editor if you can.

I don’t understand why a company like Cisco bought this company? Perhaps the teenage children of an executive loved it, or his wife or aunts, and he could figure it out? Because it is very simple to use, other than quality and the software provided. Don’t expect anything more than a very basic video experience, with simplistic, unsupported software to rely on. If you buy one of these, go for the cheap, cheap, cheap models. That’s the value here. My relative loves it for filming her dog and grandkids. It’s worthless for more than that. And from what I know from Cisco, better be a techie and willing to look it up yourself before calling for support. I hear once one could buy one of these simple cams at a drugstore. I suspect it is doomed in the hands of corporate America. Do some shopping, or stick to the cheaper versions.

FLIP MINO HD — USB KEY DOESN’T FIT PORT — FIXABLE
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I have used my friends Flip recorders and been very impressed and pleased with the product. I bought two for Christmas. I wanted to charge them up so they would be “good to go” once unwrapped. I discovered that the FLIP USB KEY DOES NOT FIT THE USB PORT ON MY PC OR MAC, NOR ANY HUB THAT I OWN. I ran around the house trying to find an adapter. The Flip USB Key fits the Kindle USB port which is a 2.0 port that is slightly larger than normal. FLIP MINO HD USES A 2.0 USB PORT. I went to Best Buy and bought a Dynex 7 port 2.0 USB Hub ($54.00). The ports are slightly larger. It works perfectly.

By the way Flip Customer Service shined me on with a “works fine for us” type response to my e-mail inquiry, and I received no response in calling customer service.

IMHO: Great product for the price. BAD DESIGN AND/OR POOR COMMUNICATION OF A FIXABLE PROBLEM. (The professional “Geeks” at Best Buy reported multiple cries from customers about this problem and the Flip chat lines are replete with threads on the USB “issue.” )

IMHO: Great product for the price. BAD DESIGN AND POOR COMMUNICATION OF A FIXABLE PROBLEM. (The professional “Geeks” at Best Buy reported multiple cries from customers about this problem and the Flip chat lines are replete with threads on the USB “issue.” Flip simply did not have time to take care of this design defect before Christmas and had to have product to ship given the massive holiday advertising campaign.)

Great Affordable Vid Cameras, but
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
If you are looking for an affordable video camera, the flips are a great place to start. I own two of them, I use them almost daily, and I really like them. ONE THING TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT — if you buy a 720p camera, you will need a computer that will process the file sizes. Be sure to read the computer specs on the box. If you own an Apple computer with the twin Intel processors, you have no worries. But if you have to be very careful if you own a PC because the files will probably crash your computer. If you’re just getting started and don’t own a super computer, go with the cheapest flip. I shot and edited probably 40 to 50 short videos with the lowest def flip and edited them all on a really cheap laptop with no problems at all and wonderful success. The coolest thing about the flip is its size. It will fit in a shirt pocket. I have had some minor problems, like the display freezing, but that was solved by letting the battery run down, recharging and starting the camera again.

A very nice product, but :
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
( Sorry for english mistakes if there are any ^^ )

Up to know, I am happy with my Flip, but as stated by a lot of people, there really is a problem with the USB connector ( I do not know if every new model is concerned )but there is a solution. Well, at least, it worked for me.

I live in France and so was a little hesitant to purchase this new Flip when I read about USB connector problems ( because of ‘import tax and shipping costs’ it would have been frustrating to have it returned ), but it seemed that Mac were majoritarily concerned and I have a PC (a Samsung laptop). I purchased it.

And then, after receiving it, impossible to connect it to my laptop ( two USB entries ) or to my USB hub ( 4 entries ). I tried to ‘force’ it but nothing, and I stopped then, afraid of ruining my USB ports.

I tested then on an older Dell laptop, and surprinsingly it connected almost easily, it reassured me and I told myself that maybe I could do something.

I went to buy a ‘female/male USB’ cable. At first, as for my Samsung laptop, the USB connector did not fit, and it seemed that it was due to tightness. I took a little pincer and tried to enlarge a little bit the female/male USB orifice. In fact it was so little a bit that I could not see any difference by looking at it, but I gave it a try.

And it fit ! Since then no problem for connecting it, I just have to think to take this USB cable with me if I leave for several days ^^

It was just to say that maybe you can try this, as it worked for me, if you are annoyed to return the product just because of the USB connector problem.

Have a nice day.

Longer lasting, Larger Screen, Always Easy to Use
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
An experience Flip Video user, I just got my hands on on the newest edition and I just love it. Always simple and elegant, the new Flip has a much wider screen, the memory storage is a full 2 hours in HD (!) and it just feels great in my hand. A superb new product.

Stylish and sleek as ever, this is so simple and easy to use I may even let my father play with it. I’m getting this for my family for Christmas. Such a fun and easy way to send video clips of kids to their grandparents (and vice versa!)

The camcorder SHOWDOWN: I’ve done the product comparisons for you
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
If I’m going to spend more than a hundred bucks on an item or somewhere around there, I do extensive research first to know I got the best bang-for-the-buck and, consequently, dodge any potential future buyer’s remorse.

I’ve realized that the time I spend doing my product comparisons is often time that others don’t have so I may as well share what I can.

I’ll start by saying that you’ll see my “Verified Amazon Purchase” on the Flip HD Ultra Camcorder review because, obviously, that’s the one I wound up buying and I’ll share with you why. But what I like in a camcorder may not suit your own needs so I’ll break it down and let you decide what’s best for you via what I found out:

Here are the pocket camcorders I compared:

*Flip UltraHD (will be referred to as “F”)

*Flip Mino HD 2nd generation (Will be referred to as “M”)

*Creative Labs Vado HD 8 GB 2nd generation (Will be referred to as “CL”)

*Kodak Zi6 Pocket HD (Will be referred to as “K”)

*There are notes on the RCA Small Wonder at the bottom. Because that’s not an HD camera, I didn’t include it.

Why HD cameras only? Brighter colors and better images, wider images

HD SHOOTING TIME:

F: 120 minutes.

M: 120 minutes

CL:120 minutes

K: 25 minutes with batteries they included, 120 minutes if you buy an SD card

HOW CNET’s editors rated the cameras:

F Excellent

M Excellent

CL Very Good

K Very Good

MEMORY:

F: 8 GB

M:8 GB

CL: 8 GB

K: internally only 30 MB recording space but it has 32 GB expandable SD/SDHC card slot. Because it comes with such small recording space you really need to buy an SD or SDHC card to maximize its potential, but the potential is really good and this will increase your ability to shoot longer.

SW 8GB

RESOLUTION:

All are 720p which is excellent, just one step below the top 1080p format.

MICROPHONE:

F: Stereo

M: Mono*

CL: Mono

K: Mono

SOUND:

F:Premier AAC audio. Best sound quality but still not great in winds

M:Good sound quality, not good in winds

CL:Poor sound quality; had issues with sound and picture not being in sync.

K:Poor sound quality

ZOOM:

F: 2x

M:2x

CL:2x

K: poor quality zoom on the one I tried but I still think it’s 2x. It has a great macro focus for very close-up objects if, for example, you see a bumble bee and want to shoot it on a leaf a few inches away! Kinda cool.

CAMERA SIZE AND WEIGHT:

F: 4.3×2.2×1.2 4 oz

M: 3.9x2x0.6 3. 3 oz

CL: 3.9x3x0.6 3.5 oz

K: 5.5×2.5.0.9 5.6 oz

SHIPPING SIZE AND WEIGHT:

F: 6.2 x 3.1 x 3.1 inches ; 11.2 ounces

M: 2 x 0.7 x 3.9 inches ; 1 pound

CL: 3.3 x 7.9 x 6.3 inches ; 11.2 ounces

K: 4x 5x 2.5″ 2.4 lbs

TECHNICAL DETAILS:

F: USB cable pops out of the back so you don’t need to keep up with a separate cable. Comes with Flip Video rechargeable AA battery pack (recharges when connected to USB); also supported by standard AA batteries. Note: Some sets come with the HDMi mini included and others come with the rechargeable battery pack on Amazon. Looks like one or the other but of course if you need both you can buy the other.

M: USB cable pops out of the back on this one as well. Has child safe button to prevent accidental deletion of videos. Internal lithium ion battery recharges through built-in USB arm

CL: USB in camcorder. Included in box are HDMI cable (nice), USB extension cable,(nice)silicon skin (cool) & rechargeable battery.

K: Included in box are HD and AV cables and wrist strap and rechargeable batteries and battery charger. Has built in USB arm.

SPEED:

F: 30 frames per second.

M: 30 frames per second

CL: 30 frames per second

K: choice of 30 frames per second or 60 frames per second.

VIEWING SCREEN: All 2″ except the Kodak was the largest at 2.4″

IMPORTANT NOTES:

F: Best low-light performance for the mini cameras (though not perfect at all) and least amount of blurring and dropped frames in my opinion. Best color. Only one with stereo sound. You can get an underwater case for this one! Though that may sound crazy for a Texan, we use the camera non-stop on vacations and even when we aren’t IN the water, we are around the water…on boats, in the sand with sea mist, etc. Then we can dive in and record the fish. Comes preloaded with flipshare software…just plug in to computer and it pops up.

M: Colors don’t appear as good on the Mino as the other cameras. Thinnest camera. Make sure you get the one that only comes in the color aluminum or brushed metal. If it comes in any other colors it is the 1st generation MinoHD and they improved upon that one in the newer models. Great audio. Better shooting in low light than most mini cameras. Camera comes preloaded with FlipShare software. Can get still images through flipshare software.

CL: Decent filming in low light but not nearly as good as the Ultra or Mino; Software is preloaded in camcorder.

K: This is the only camera that I compared without the built in image stabilizatin which corrects for shaky images. What appears to be metal in picture is actually a chrome colored plastic. That said, this had the largest viewing screen of all of them. 2.4″ Very poor in low light and seemed to have far more shaking and blurring. It also takes still pictures but they are really really poor quality…same as a lesser-quality cell phone pictures but good in a pinch if you want a still shot and have no cell or camera I s’pose. Heaviest for a pocket camera. Software is not preloaded in camcorder but a cd comes with it.

And, finally, the reviews of the Flip from experts swayed me quite a bit:

Fast Company: “Flip Ultra HD is Pure Digital’s “Best Pocket Camcorder Yet.” 6-09

USA Today: “New Flip Ultra Video Cameras Might Flip Your Switch” 4-09

Business Week: How do you Invigorate a Recession? Look to i-phone, Flip, Kindle, and Zip Car For Answers

There were lootttts more I came across when researching the Flip Ultra HD but those are some of my favorites.

CONCLUSION: Clearest picture and sound was important to me, expert reviews that pointed to the Flip UltraHD as well and I liked the built in software and the case I can get to shoot underwater. It is the number one selling camcorder as well. So that was my personal decision-making process. However, keep in mind that if you need reading glasses none of that will matter if the 2″ screen is too small for your viewing the shots easily for playback in which case you may wish to get the Kodak if that’s important to you..

Also: No matter which one you get, you will probably want a mini tripod if you ever want to be in the shot yourself do don’t forget those.

Also note: It’s confusing because when these manufacturers make changes in the camcorders, they do not change the names on the new versions, nor do they change the names if it’s an HD version or a non-HD version so be sure you look for the “HD” after the brand name and look for “2nd generation” or “newer version” on the Mino and Vado if you like one of those better so you don’t get the older models.

Hope my obsessive comparing and contrasting for my own purchasing assistance helped you as well even if what you wanted in a camera was different from me.

Note on the:

*RCA Small Wonder: Because some have asked about the RCA Small Wonder, It never made the final cut…it should be noted that the EZ201 Small Wonder IS NOT HIGH DEF, which, like a tv means the colors aren’t as bright or as sharp (yes, it is noticeable which is why people want the HD camcorders.) The zoom lens is optical rather than digital and, on the Small Wonder you’ll notice that for whatever reason this means it goes out of focus when you zoom. Even the experts rating this camera suggested walking foreward and backwards when wanting to zoom rather than using the Small Wonder’s zoom because of the out-of-focus experience it causes, unfortunately. It is the same quality as a phone video: very grainy & pixelated and only meant for small screen format. It also doesn’t have a pop-out usb port unlike the other cameras so you’ll need to keep up with a usb cord to use it. And it only has a 90 day warranty. It also only has a mono mic rather than stereo. It is FAR below these cameras in its graininess and pixilation (it’s not even a close race) but I thought it should be noted. It’s just not of the same class in any way. BUT it’s a great price if you don’t want HD or want it for fun rather than quality; would be great for a teen or for maybe someone who wants it for documentaion…so it’s noted.

*Update: According to Mino, the 2010s now have stereo mics on the Minos. However, a retest of the color and clarity has not improved.

BEWARE! DOES NOT FIT IN MACBOOKS USB PORTS!!!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
A simple flipping USB plug that doesn’t fit!? Thats poor design and a major deal breaker. So WELCOME fellow macbook users to the one star club! From what I’ve read from many other reviewers with the same problem, the company will not acknowledge this design flaw. It’s Christmas Day and now I have to go through the hassle of returning this even though I recorded my toddler’s Christmas morning with it. I had some great footage too!! Extremely flipping disappointed!!!! My husband just commented to me that its a CISCO vs APPLE thing… Whatever that means… Whatever it is FIX IT!

What a rip off
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I bought two of these as gifts for Christmas. Fortunately I went to test one out before sending and found that the USB connection would require an adapter. Which is not included. I will be returning both and making excuses to those who were to receive them as gifts. Read the technical print before you buy new gadgets on line.

MinoHD
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
The verdict is still out on this. Seems like a cool item that I bought for my husband. However we received a defective recorder. The screen turned green during recording and other times the screen split in two. Called Flip tech support and they recommended that it be returned. Was very, very disappointed and opted not to order another online. With electronics I would rather have face to face contact if there are problems with the product. Its a cool gadget if it works. I’m giving this a one star until proven otherwise.

Flip video: KING SIZED fun for the whole family!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My family and I LOVE the new & improved HD Flip video. We had the old style and it was good but this HD is so crystal clear, easy to use and most of all we are happy with its 2 hour capacity, rather that just 1. It truly is a superior product! My kids like to make videos and I enjoy watching them and seeing an entirely new “stage persona” in the end result. The Flip Video has helped me see a new dimension of my kids’ imagination.

Handy Cam
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love it!! I got this camera for work and personal uses and I couldnt be any happier with it. Great video quality and its very easy to use. The only thing I do not like is the software, I guess its kinda cheesy because it doesnt have many editing options…I had another program I worked with instead. I would buy the camera again.

usb connector does not work with macbook.BEWARE!!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
USB Does not fit my white macbook. nice product if they had bothered to make it connect to anything. demand a recall or do not buy until fixed.

less is more!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
So simple my grandmother’s grandmother could use it with one hand tied behind her back.

*BUYER * BEWARE * FAULTY PRODUCT
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
THIS IS THE SECOND FLIP VIDEO THAT I HAVE PURCHASED THAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND BROKE

I had a flip classic… it broke. Screen freezes on startup and stays frozen. Company wouldn’t help.. said I was out of warranty. My brother had the same model… his broke too! Same EXACT problem. I bought a Flip ultra and in less than a week… it broke! It won’t turn on when I press the on button. WE ARE STARTING A SHOW CALLED “FLIP OUT” WHERE WE VENT AND SHOWCASE ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN BURNED BY THE PEOPLE AT FLIP VIDEO. THEY WERE REALLY UNHELPFUL AND SINCE THIS IS THE SECOND FLIP I HAVE BOUGHT THAT HAS BROKE (AND MY BROTHER’S TOO) I KNOW THAT THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. BEWARE OF THIS COMPANY.

Where is the pause button????
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
There is no pause button, so you end up with all of this little video’s once you download them. Now I have to figure out how to consolidate video. Also, when I play the video from my computer it plays sparacticly and pauses every sec making the video virtually unwatchable. Only reason I gave it two stars is in case of user error or computer error. NOT HAPPY AT ALL!!! Bought it because I thought it was going to be easy (which is what this product is suppose to be about)……. NOT!!!

Buy a REAL camera instead!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
This product has only been on the market for 3 yrs. Sure it’s sleek and looks nice… but it hasn’t been tried and true. Stick to brands that have been around like Kodak, Sony or Panasonic.

You read the reviews, you see the complaints on these boards, so WHY would you either buy one or trade it for a different one?

Not only does it not fit in the computer but the new software won’t convert to a different format other than mp4 and this makes burning dvds difficult. And this information is not widely available to the public so you have to learn the hard way that Roxio is not going to burn your disk.

A Blast !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Love it and for the money what an awesome camcorder, size…perfect, software… perfect, just a great camcorder!

So far bad product
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
It looks like Best Buy sold this a little early and unfortunately, it didn’t work as expected. You can make it freeze completely any time you want by trying to zoom while recording. I’m going to try and exchange it for the same model if they will let me. They didn’t have this version out on display, the salesperson just happened to grab it behind the counter.

The device has a very nice feel.

USB Connection is defective
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Received our Flip MinoHD from Amazon today, and true to many prior reviews on this site, the USB connection is defective. Specifically, the USB connection is neither compatible with our Macbook Pro or HP laptop. We literally can’t plug it in. Very disappointed, and judging by the number of like comments, I’m surprised that Amazon isn’t taking the product off of its proverbial shelves.

USB port doesn’t fit
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
This is my 3rd Flip camera, and I’ve typically loved their product. Unfortunately, this time I must join with the cacophony of reviewers to warn that the USB PLUG DOES NOT FIT! I’ve tried 5 different USB ports on 3 computers, and the Flip Mino HD (2nd generation) will not connect. As such, it’s not possible to charge the camera or transfer videos. Complete failure.

Exactly what Mom on the Go needs!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this just after Christmas as a replacement for a similiar one my hubby got me for a gift. The one he gave me as a gift was from Samsung and the picture and sound quality were horrible. I am a firm believer in “you get what you pay for” and I try to be a bargain hunter so spending extra money for a Flip was hard for me. As soon as I made the trade for a Flip, I knew I had done the right thing. Love the size, quality, and ease of use! I have done basketball games, spelling bees, skits, and just the kids playing at home…I am not a “techie” so can’t tell you all the stuff others can but I know for me it is handy to just grab and throw in my purse (in the case of course=)I even have an app on my iPhone to upload the videoes to show others! I LOVE it…

I FLIP over this camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Someone recommended using a FLIP camera for a trip I took last November to S. America. As someone in the “biz,” I’ve always had fancy video cameras with lots of gadgets for this and that. I must admit, it gets tiring always having to navigate said gadgets, especially for particular lighting or noise situations, for example. That being said, I must add that I’m a bit of a perfectionist.

The trip to South America was mostly for fun, but I wanted the ability to shoot professional segments along the way. With ease. So, I took my friend up on his rec and got a FLIP even though it wasn’t the “professional” camera I’m used to.

Well, never before has using a camera been so fun! I had a blast shooting high quality video of the Sacred Valley in Peru, the Inca Trail, wine tasting in Mendoza, jaunting about Buenos Aires, riding horses at an estancia in Argentina and the capturing the harrowing experience of taking a polo lesson for the first time.

The FLIP is so easy to use (I literally taught myself how to use it in 10 mins), especially in places where you’re trying to be discreet but don’t want to sacrifice quality (a polo match, for instance). It’s super easy to charge (any USB port will do) and is so compact that it fits into your pocket. And the quality of the video is very good! I’m totally impressed and now find myself reaching for the FLIP before I even dare pick up my fancy camera.

The only drawback I found is that the zoom takes a bit of getting used to, but other than that, this is a solid camera and a heckuva lot of fun! Enjoy…..and FLIP someone off!

USB connection is bad
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
The size is the only thing that is good for this camera. I was able to use it for about half an hour or so. He battery died, and when I tried to charge it on my PC’s USB port I realized I hard it was to get it connected. I think I was able to connect twice with a lot of forcing and jiggling. At some point I gave up. I did not wat to damage my PC. I am returning it to Costoco today.

great value
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is my first video camera which my wife and I purchased for to record our new baby. The software that comes with the device works well with Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard. The video quality is as expected for a camera this size. We are very pleased with the balance of video quality and portability of the camera due to its small size. I recommend this device unless you need very high quality video. We have been impressed with the video quality of this 720p HD cam while viewing it on our Panasonic 50″ plasma tv.

Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder review
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We love our new camcorder! We use it to video our ballroom dance lessons. It has superb video and audio quality and MOST IMPORTANT is simple to use. That’s important for 2 people who are NOT into “techie” things. Lightweight, handy, easy to use and great quality – I would recommend it to anyone.

Flip MinoHD 2nd Generation
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Excellent little product, ipod size and quality. Excellent image quality, excellent software and easy to use. Sound little disappointing, but hey it is a video device. Highly recommended.

can’t plug it in
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I share the opinion of several reviewers that the USB connector is horrible! The Flip gets a lot of kudos for being easy to use and Mac-compatible, but it doesn’t even plug into my MacBook Pro! What’s the point of having a built in USB connector if it doesn’t work. It does plug into my iMac, but with a lot of force. In the manual it does say that if the USB connector doesn’t fit that I would need a Type “A” USB extension cable. Again, what’s the point if I need a separate cable. I was very disappointed and returned the camera.

Does anyone else suggest a good portable HD camera? Maybe even HD video built into a point and shoot camera. It needs to be Mac compatible.

Raj

Confirming USB connection problems
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I didn’t try the USB connection until I was on vacation. After I had recorded video, I tried to insert the Flip in my HP EliteBook laptop. The USB didn’t fit. I e-mailed Flip and they said there was no problem with their product, but after several rounds of e-amiling back and forth customer service offered to send me a cable to fix the problem. I returned the first Flip I bought through Amazon and the USB port on the second one didn’t fit. I went into BestBuy with my laptop and Flip. The BestBuy representative said that this is a common problem and that the Dynex USB port hub would work as a connector. The Dynex hub port does work as a solution. However, the Flip should work without another accessory. I told the Flip customer service representative they had a defective product, but it wasn’t until I went into BestBuy with all my gear that it got confirmed. I would rate the Flip as a five-star product…except for the USB connection and Flip customer service – which both get a one.

Great device to save memories!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Flip HD is AMAZING! It is very easy to use and a really fun device to save memories. The directions are a breeze to follow, and it synched up with my Mac very easily. I can view and send videos to my friends with no problem. It is also easy to watch videos on my home HD television- the picture quality was very clear. This device is super handy, simple to operate, and the sleek design makes it easy to store in a pocket or handbag. I definitely would recommend this device!

Not bad, but…
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I would give this review 4 stars, except for the annoying problem of it freezing up 1 out of 3 times when I start recording. I’m trying to see what support has to say about it, but no answers yet. From what I’ve read on other forums, this is a pretty common issue with Flip camcorders. The immediate fix is just to reset it with a paper clip via the pin hole at the bottom of the camera.

JUNK!!!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I bought this Flip camera and it was great until I tried to charge it the SECOND time. After that, it locked up a couple times, and after a couple emails back and forth with the “flip” people, I returned it for a refund. If it only worked like it did out of the box and after the first complete charge, it would be great, but good luck after you try to recharge it the second time!!!

doesn’t fit into mac usb port
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
What a disappointment. I received one for Christmas, took some videos & then couldn’t get it to fit into the USB port of my imac, tried my hubby’s HP pc, and my Dad’s dell desk top…didn’t fit into any of our computer’s ports. So I returned it, thinking I just got a defective one. Purchased another from a different retailer, and lo & behold, doesn’t fit the port to my computer again. WTF? You would think they’d do some sort of quality control before releasing them. I’m so disappointed. Lost some good videos, and a lot of time. Make sure to test yours out before recording anything important…

My flip mino HD rocks
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My 9 yr old son rec’d Flip Mino HD for Christmas and he is assisting with this review. I highly recommend as it is easy to use, takes great quality video. My husband and I said this would be a great baby shower gift for new parents. Easy/quick to use to capture all those special moments with ease. We laugh to think of the giant video camera that we use to drag around back in the “old days.” I researched all the pocket videos before allowing my son to put on his Santa list. I am happy to report this research paid off. Pricing varies greatly depending on the Generation you buy. We selected the latest generation Flip Mino HD as it is well worth a few extra bucks to get the larger screen, HD and longer video time.

Point-and-Shoot HD Video for the Social Crowd
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve enjoyed every Flip since the first Mino and this 2nd Gen MinoHD exceeds all my expectations. It’s still easy-to-use and easy-to-share video; but, the package is slicker than ever. No fingerprints on the brushed metal front, the 2″ screen is shows detail in any light, and the controls are much more responsive than previous Minos and MinoHDs. The audio is so good, my son’s Reggae band won’t give it back.

PROS:

*2″ screen is big and clear

*Great HD video in normal to bright light

*Better sound than a personal voice recorder

*One thumb video shooting

*Easy uploads and edits – no format worries and YouTube friendly

*HDMI output directly to HD panels

*Brushed metal shrugs off fingerprints and nose prints (don’t ask)

*Storage pouch doubles as lens cleaner

*Lickable packaging

CONS:

*Low light shots are grainy (easily solved at price points $1,000 higher)

*USB plug is a little tight

*The wrist strap was hard to mount because of the brushed metal-solved with a toothpick

Lousy product and Poor Technical Support
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Placed order on the 21st for next day delivery. It arrived one day later on the 23rd. I used the product twice. After the last use, the battery lock and would not allow me to do anything, not even to turn it off. I contacted Flip and they suggested I opened the item and changed the original battery for two AA batteries. This procedure did nothing. The Camcorder is DEAD. Although Flip offered to do something if there suggestion did not work, when I told them I purchased it at Amazon, they said, they could not do anything.

This is a lousy product with an even lousier service, so buyer be ware. Now Amazon would only return 50% of the original price.. what a rip off!

Given up on Flip. Switched to Vado
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I thought the Flip was “it.” however, after several problems with freezing, inability to charge and terrible low light picture quality, I have switched over to Vado’s 2nd generation camera. The biggest turnoff about the FLip is their customer service. When my camera wouldn’t charge , they wanted me to send it back to them and wait 3-5 weeks while their engineers took it apart. Have you ever heard anything so absurd? The picture quality is okay, nothing great. Low light is pretty bad. I decided Flip is just a name and that’s how they justify charging more for their product. The Vado has very nice picture quality, a nice wide screen and I have shot a lot of video of my kids outside at night and have been very pleased. The Vado is cheaper, sleeker and overall a better pick in my opinion.

USB will not connect to Mac! Do NOT buy!!!!!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
When I saw a couple of reviews that said the USB does not work, I called Flip tech support. The woman on the phone told me that it DID work and that I should rest assure and buy it. It was an outright lie!! I bought the camera for Christmas and the USB does not fit a Mac!!! Do NOT BUY THIS CAMERA. I had an old Flip video camera which worked fine and I wanted to upgrade to HD, but now I’m not sure I will. I am returning it to Amazon.

Disappointing x 10
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
The idea of a small video camera that fits in a pocket or purse, is easy to use and low priced is wonderful. Unfortunately the trade offs are too great with the Flip high definition, flip mino hd, video.

I have shot video inside and outside and I can safely say each video has been blurry and the colors are awful. Not to mention there is no image stabilization feature so you have to have the hand of a surgeon to not get the shakes in the video.

If you have a project with stable lighting, a subject placed at the optimal distance for the camera (10-30 feet away is my guess), outside in neutral light – that doesn’t move very much – and you use the add on tripod – you might get something worthwhile.

The only thing that gives me hope for this product is the user interface. Its easy to use and efficient.

If I had it to do over again I would wait till they improve the image quality and stabilization before purchasing. I am sure when they fix the quality of the video issues I will be the first in line for a trade in.

Flip MinoHD Camcorder – Powerful Pursesize Pocket HD Camcorder
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am so in love with my Flip MinoHD camcorder. This lil puppy is a purse size, pocket size HD Camcorder. Part of what is so marvelous about it is that I can literally carry it with me ALWAYS in my purse, and use it as camcorder wherever I go. Indeed, you can take photographs with it, and I have because simply I had it with me. However, it’s best used as a camcorder on the go. The visual quality is HD terrific. I highly recommend it and will additionally be purchasing a non-HD version as well to round out my collection. SUPER SIMPLE and EASY peasy to use for non-techies.

Flip Flop
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I could not make the USB connector slip into any of my home or work computers and took the Flip to Best Buy to purchase the specific cords. They did not fit either. At Best Buy I was told that the problem was with the Flip, they had seen this issue before. A few of my friends who have Flips agreed. I contacted Flip directly because I did not want to lose the Birthday party footage I had taken. After a series of email exchanges they sent me the same cord that I already had even though I told them it didn’t fit. I sent the Flip to Flip in CA it was returned in a timely fashion with another cord attached, it’s so tight I can’t get it off. I downloaded the video and am sending the product back for a replacement.

It’s a great little video recorder with excellent quality video.

Won’t Plug Into Mac *angry*
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Okay, so I purchased mine direct through the Flip people, rather than amazon because I created my own… and needless to say I’m IRATE! This is a Christmas present, and seeing as it’s a few days away from Christmas and I will be going out of town I had this item overnighted… it gets here and we go to test it out to make sure everything is functioning properly and ….. BAM! The dang thing doesn’t plug into my Mac!!!!!!

I’m beyond upset at this situation… I had no idea of these reviews until just now, and it upsets me that with so many people having this very same issue they wouldn’t pull the minohd until they corrected this situation.

Now I’m left giving this thing 1 star… It’s a pretty little camcorder, but I can’t review it any further than that since it won’t power on.

Flip Addiction
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The new flip minoHD is amazing! The HD quality is great and it looks just as good on larger screens as it does on the flip screen (which is bigger and much sleeker than the screen on my old one!). Also, they’ve increase in record time to 2 hours, which is a huge plus. I’m no longer running out of time recording – I’m finding 2 hours perfectly adequate for day to day use.

While the new minoHD clearly has a lot of upgraded features compared to the previous model, I love that it has maintained its portability and is still intuitive to use. One of my favorite new features, besides the stylish brushed metal finish , is the HDMI output. Being able to connect the flip directly to HD panels makes it that much easier to access and share video’s.

I’ve played around with the new iPhone’s video features enough to be able to say that there’s no comparison, in terms of video capture quality, stability of the video, sound, low-light filming, etc. Plus, flip comes with a robust, upgraded software package (still pre-loaded) for editing and sharing video.

I loved my old flip, but happy to find myself loving this one even more!

flip minoHD review
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
the product works as advertised. high quality resolution, good audio, intuitive software, easy email capability. have recommended it to family and friends

Amazing Camera oh, and Mac Problem SOLVED!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have just sold my Ultra HD which I loved but I wasn’t carrying it with me because it was too bulky to fit into my pocket comfortably. I thought is it worth it to upgrade (or downgrade) to the Flip Mino 2nd gen. For me the answer was a resounding YES! I think the other reviews do a very good job of stating the similarities and differences.

For me it came down to size. Everything else is the same. The output (from what I have observed) is almost no notable difference than the Ultra HD. They both put out 780. The price is about the same. I love the brushed metal finish on my Mino though.

The one thing that held me back for a little on buying this was all the negative reviews about the usb arm not fitting into the Mac. That is true and it is an inconvenience. That said, the product was far more valuable to me and I found that simply plugging it into any old usb hub that you can pick up anywhere for a few bucks works around the problem. And it downloads right into iMovie unlike the first generation Flip Mino.

It is small potatoes to carry around in my backpack a little portable USB powered hub and the thing works great. I love my FLIP Mino HD!

UPDATE

I have now had my Flip for two weeks and I carry it everywhere. I hooked it up to my cousin’s big screen flat panel yesterday and with the cables you can purchase and the thing works like a charm. In low light the picture is grainy but in good lighting the quality is immaculate and surprisingly sharp. the panel we saw it on was a Panasonic DLP 50 inch screen.

junk
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
-video quality not bad

-I did more than 2 tests with battery fully charged and within 55 minutes of non stop recording,the flip does get hot then shut off,freeze,key not responding/acting like crazy,

-software didn t work with mac mini

-works with windows vista prem but changed color from prem to vista basic

-no Av out put, hdmi only.

-reset buton very hard to reach

and overall:i did send it back.

Does not fit into USB slots
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
This thing does not fit into any of my USB slots. Tried on my Macbook Pro and my Dell monitor. No dice. Returning it today.

My hubby is thrilled!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We gave this to him for his birthday and he loves it. He keeps it with him all of the time so that he can capture our grandchild with every magic moment. Then we come home and watch the videos. We laugh and enjoy all over again. Light, small and easy to use. A great item that will give you hours and hours of just great simple pleasure. I recommend it very highly.

Do Not Buy
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Do not purchase this product. I received it in the mail yesterday, took some video and then tried to download the video onto my brand new desktop computer (HP). The USB attachement would not fit into my USB port. The design of the USB attachment is faulty. The device is already with UPS on its way back to Amazon.

Ecellant new product
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Flip Mino 120 is a great item. I bought one for each of my sons. The Flip is easy to use and has great picture quality. My son made a video while riding on the back of my motorcycle and both the video and sound came out great. He was able to easily download the video to his laptop computer, edit and then upload to the internet. We also connected the Flip to the HD TV with HDMI cables and viewed the video on TV. Again the picture was great.

I am going to purchase the Flip for myself primarily because of the small size, quality and ease of use.

Flip USB and Mac compatibility
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love this recorder. Got it for Christmas and have made a lot of videos since then. The sound and picture quality are very good. The camcorder itself couldn’t be easier to use. However, I was unable to connect the Flip USB to my MacBook Pro. The fit just wasn’t coming easily and I did not want to break either the camcorder or my laptop. I bought the USB extenders that Flip video sells and that solved the problem.

Workaround for USB problem
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I bought the Mino HD 120 after having great experice with the older model (black, 60). The USB arm would not fit into any USB port I tried (3 laptops and 1 desktop, all PCs). I used the online form to file a warranty request at [...] and was immedeately rewarded with their “canned” response. Clearly, no one read the contents of my post and only saw the subject.

Luckily, I found the cause of the problem and a workaround. I am posting my reply to Flip customer support here to help out others that my be facing the same issue. The Flip arm is defective as it is the only device I have that has this problem. I believe they missed a step where the bottom of the USB key would should have been either very slightly beveled or curved to prevent catching on the 2 lower contact prongs. Anyway, please read below for details.

I will not be recommending this product to anyone until Flip/Cisco acknowledges this flaw and corrects the problem.

”

Thank you for the extremely poor customer service. Instead of accepting a known issue in your product, you chose to hide behind a claim of “fully testing” and having “no issue”. You suggestion to try multiple USB ports and other PCs is laughable at best. Had you only taken the time to actually read my original note, you would know that I have already tried it with no success in 3 laptops and 1 PC! I am not the only one with this problem. Take a look at the 1-star reviews at Amazon for this exact same problem:

http://www.amazon.com/Flip-Camcorder-Generation-Minutes-Brushed/product-reviews/B002R5AM7C/ref=cm_cr_dp_hist_1?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&filterBy=addOneStar

That being said, I did some research and troubleshooting of my own. I have found out what the problem is. The Flips USB arm is defective – it catches on the two lower contact prongs of the USB port on the way in, preventing it from being inserted. Through trial-and-error, I was able to push the prongs low enough to no longer block the Flip and yet still allow for clean contact. Please try to communicate at least this workaround to subsequent customers with the same complaint. I will expect my consultancy check in the mail.

Thank you.

PS: I will be leaving a 1-star review at Amazon to disuade others from buying this mis-designed product that is now backed by your insulting customer service.

“

Size Counts
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After trying out tapes, and then recording to mini DVD’s I was skeptical (to put it politely) about the FLIP’s MinoHD camera. Then, seeing it on display, I completely disregarded it. Not only is it small, but it is light enough so that you may not take it seriously – at first.

But don’t discount this gem. Yes it is small. But, think about it: you are at an event and don’t want to lug around a camera bag all day. Slip this baby in your pocket (small and light enough for your shirt) and it’s stored safely away.

Facts? The recording is sharp (even under low light) and the sound is your average camcorder sound. However, with the slightest bit of effort on the photographer’s part, the colors are bright, crisp and clear. You can do simple tricks (zoom).

Yes folks, it only has 2 hours of recording time (reusable) and you can’t add to it. But it is a no-brainer to upload the video from the FLIP to your computer (USB port). The program loads and you can view, or slightly edit, your video as well as sending it to a popular on-line area (YouTube), e-mail it or burn it to a CD.

In short, considering the size and ease of use, this is a fantastic gadget that no video photographer should be without.

That’s What Made It Even More Impressive
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This Flip MinoHD camcorder is amazing– the ideal thing for any family hoping to videotape the kids, friends, events, etc. First of all, it’s completely idiot proof: when you get the box, there is absolutely no assembly required. Your first guess about which buttons are the power switch, record button, and USB connector release will be correct; great intuitive design. The device looks and feels great (as other reviewers have mentioned) and easily fits in your hand comfortably for long periods of time (unlike my blackberry). It turns on and off instantly (unlike my home computer or cell phone) so you don’t have to wait long to start recording that precious, fleeting moment.

The screen is a bit larger than the previous Flip Mino, but that’s not a big deal. Image quality is better than ever, and not too shaky/bouncy. The USB connector is about the same– still very convenient, easy to connect, and you don’t have to go running to find any special USB connector cable (like my old digital camera). The audio is surprisingly good, picking up faint background sounds that I hadn’t even noticed at the time of recording and picking up simultaneous music and voices, near and far, with great quality. The 2-hour battery life is more than I ever use, so it’s great, but I figure people who are videotaping entire concerts or watching grass grow might complain. Honestly I haven’t made use of the HD resolution, but I’m sure that will be fantastic when I start making my own rainforest nature shows. In the meantime, the HD quality is better than anything I’ll ever need. By the way, I know other reviewers have said they can make the camcorder freeze up by zooming in or out during recording, but mine works fine even when I do that. (I purposely tried to freeze it, but couldn’t.)

I saved the best for last: the Flip Video software. That’s what made it even more impressive! It is ridiculously easy to setup, automatically starts when I plug in the camcorder, and makes it completely obvious how to download the videos, play back, freeze frames to make photos, and share. And it’s fast– not much waiting for videos to load up (like other video players). It’s all in an easy-to-use, well-organized (by video date) layout very similar to the iPod control panel (a common comparison, it seems). I wish all software was this easy to use.

I highly recommend this device– it’s a winner!

Video of the USB Flaw on Both Mac AND Acer Laptops
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2NP0LAJOSONRH We bought this camera because we lost our first generation Flip MinoHD, which we loved. I’m sad to report that the USB issues mentioned by countless others are real, and I decided it was worth posting a video that clearly shows the extent of the issue so as to help convince others not to waste their money. This simply doesn’t work with Macs, and as you can see from this video it also doesn’t work with an Acer Aspire One netbook (~20% of all netbooks currently being shipped). This is a fundamental flaw with the product and is completely inexcusable.

FLIP MINO’S USB IS NOT SO UNIVERSAL
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I had purchased a Flip Ultra HD (120 min) for both my sister and boyfriend. They really enjoyed it and took it around a lot to document their everyday lives. When my birthday came around, my boyfriend got me the Flip Mino HD (120 min) and I was excited to join in on the fun. The newer model had a sleeker look with soft touch buttons on the back. I thought it was very much an upgrade from the ones I had purchased them. However, when I tried to plug it into my MacBook Pro, it didn’t fit. The whole idea of the Flip is that it makes it easier to record and upload videos, no? And doesn’t USB stand for Universal Serial Bus?? I love USBs because their so easy to use and I never have problems with them. So I did some research online and lo and behold I wasn’t the only one having this problem. I contacted Flip the next day and the rep acted as if this doesn’t happen often and that they have tested the Flips on all types of computers, including Macs. He said unfortunately that both the MacBooks and Flips have USBs that are on the “lower end” whatever that means. I told him that I read another review where Flip sent the customer a Flip that was for sure able to work with their MacBook as it had been tested. He didn’t seem to think that was an option and said that all he could do was send me a USB extension cable. He didn’t seem very apologetic, either. Fine, I guess I’ll have to take that even though that completely defeats the purpose of the flip USB arm!

So I receive the extension cable in the mail. It’s a little less than a foot long and bright yellow all around. Nice…. It easily connects to my computer but when I go and try to connect my Flip… it doesn’t FIT!!! There’s some uncomfortable metal-crunching noises that I don’t dare push it any further. Awesome. This is really ruining my Flip experience. It seems like such a rookie mistake, too, that they don’t care to address. Well, I sent them a response so we’ll see what they say….

The Flip Video is a very nice little digicam.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Flip MinoHD Camcorder 2nd Generation, 120 Minutes (Brushed Metal) NEWEST MODEL this camera has become part of my personal arsenal of electronic gadgets. It’s very handy to have a simple device that I can just pull out and start recording HD video. Good HD video. That combined with the fact that there are no cards or cables to lose makes this camera my new favorite among my all my electronic gadgets.

I think I’ll give this one to my sister and go get a newer/fancier model.

The camera operation and usb file transfer (to Windows 7) are simple and straight-forward.

I assume that the HDMI operation is as great as everything else about this camera, though I have not tried it due to lack of cables.

But not to worry concerning USB cables… the USB plug is built into the camera. File transfer and battery charging both take place over this switchblade-style USB plug.

Also, no need to buy an SD card. The camera has 8 gigs of flash built-in. Though I would much prefer to have the large internal storage and a microSD slot, being able to forget about cards is nice. I Now think of it as a USB flash drive with a camera. You do have full access to the device filesystem.

The Battery lasts a long time. I don’t know how long ’cause I haven’t run it out yet. I don’t think I’ve even had it down to 50% power – even though I’ve recorded many great moments with it.

The Screen offers live view while recording and playback in a very tiny and rather high resolution display. The specific stats’ll be on the product page.

Tripod mount on the bottom allows for very precise framing on a tripod. it also allows a rather simple attachment mechanism for arms, cranes, balloons, and other types of automated and controlled motion.

Flip video and USB ports failure
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I bought the Flip MinoHD camcorder for Christmas. It did take good quality HD video that can be played back on HD TV with a cable. But I wish it had a white balance adjustment control because the background looked yellowish in dim light. The worst happening was the failure of all the USB ports in my desktop to recognise any connected USB device (power was OK) after connecting the flip to one of those ports. Flip’s customer service has not found a solution for me even after a week.

Very satisfied
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Love this camera!! Very easy to use and convenient to take anywhere. The battery life is good and the only thing i would change is the size of the screen.

Not bad at all
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Love this camera overall, it is easy to use, gives a decent picture and the sound is ok. Only problem i have had is when inserting it to my computer the leg often doesnt seem to want to go in and looks a smidge crooked. Not sure if that is how they all are or just mine. Besides this and wishing the audio was a little better i have NO complaints and recommend it.

Love it!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love this new Flip. Excellent HD quality and 120 minutes of it. A bit easier to use than the last version, extended time and same ease of use. I can blow it up on my 60 inch HD TV and it looks great. I would highly recommend the Flip for anyone who loves great quality, quick and easy video.

FLIP is way cool
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this for my wife for Christmas and a couple days later we went to Marco Island for New Years. This is so easy to use and small enought to fit in a pocket. It is very handy and the picture quality is incredible. I plugged it into her laptop and in a few minutes everything was ready to go. If you are looking for high quality but easy FLIP is the way to go.

I’d give it 5 Stars but I can’t overlook the USB issue.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Yeah, the flip out USB plug does not “Fit Well” in my MacBook Pro’s USB port. You can get it to fit with a little encouragement but I’d imagine over time you’ll either break the FlipVideo or break your MacBook Pro’s USB port.

Aside from that, the best of the lot.

Flip Mino HD my experience
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Good product have to read instruction to really understand how to use keys very sensitive to the touch. Video very sharp. puts video in MP4 format I have to convert to wmv so I can watch in windows media player or realplayer. If you have an old PC Flip program takes up a lot of Memory. Over all takes great pictures and sound is good also. This is just my experience for me.

MacBook/Pro Customers Beware!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Like several other reviewers we were given a Flip Mino HD for Christmas. We were very excited to use it and started recording video right away. The tragedy came when we went to plug in the Flip to one of our MacBook Pro laptops. The USB on the Flip wouldn’t connect. At first I thought maybe I was missing something, but after completely checking it out, I was sure it was a problem with the Flip. I saw reviews on Amazon that said Flip support was telling people they needed a USB extension to make it work. So the next day I went to Best Buy and spent $30 on the USB extension pack.

Here is probably the worst part of the story. Only 1 (one) of the three USB extension cables worked with the Flip. I have to give this version of the Flip only one star because one of the most unique features about it (the built in USB plug) doesn’t work with Mac’s (and apparently HP’s). The sad part is that USB is a standard, for Flip to completely not test something as simple a USB plug on different Mac’s earns them a failing grade in my book. I have to say that so far we’ve liked the videos, the size and portability, but apparently we’ll need to carry around a USB extension cable with us everywhere we take our laptops. #fail.

NOT Mac Compatible
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
The product packaging says it’s Mac compatible. It’s not.

* It won’t plug in to my old MacBook Pro.

* It won’t plug into my new Mac Mini.

* It will plug into a new MacBook Pro but it will not charge the battery. (Yes, the Apple software iMovie and iPhoto recognize the Flip device and successfully import movies, but the MacBook Pro won’t charge the battery. The battery indicator shows red even after charging for 12 hours. Note: there is no other way to charge this device; no separate power cable, etc. But, it’s USB, it’s supposed to charge over USB. And what gives? I thought USB stood for Universal Serial Bus. Not so universal it seems.

Shame on Cisco for saying this is Mac Compatible. This is the second Flip Mino HD I’m taking back to Costco and I’m glad Costco has such a great return policy. I hope they stick it to Cisco for the false claim.

USB Connection Doesn’t Work
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I ordered a replaced for the 2nd gen. Doesn’t fit into any of my USB ports. Sending my first generation in because plastic USB arm wouldn’t support the weight of the camera and cracked. My original first gen camera was a lemon and it took a month to get a replacement. When it works it is a nice little camera. Just wish they could get the engineering and quality control right.

Defective Unit
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Started to freeze and crash while recording from the first day on. In a week it was completely dead. Returning it to Amazon as a defective product.

almost as good
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I want to love this new version as much as the last ones, but I have two complaints: the buttons are too sensitive — it’s too easy to erase videos. And I liked the bigger screen on the other! (I know, I know, in technology, smaller is better). I still love Flip, no matter what. Genius. We gave one to my in-laws with videos of their grandkids already on there!

RECORD light does not turn off….oh yea and USB lacks
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
OOK. I got this after much research. The result is better than I expected video quality but the actual device IS NOT WORTH THE HEADACHE ! ! I opened it up, used it for 30 mins and decided to charge it in my computer because I did not receive the wall charger yet. EVER since the flip does not turn on, nor will it charge. The only thing that happens is the record light is on, and literally on for 2 days straight without going off. I was told by tech supp that I should reset it and charge it and should work…nope charged for 4 hours on my pc…and nothing but record light is on. prob a fluke flip…but the frustration with the usb is weird enough..it does not fit my dell laptop at all…but fits my hp desktop usb.

Great
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I got this for Xmas and frankly, I love it. It’s perfect for casual use – I’m not much of a videographer/photographer but this works wonderfully for my uses. It’s also small enought to be carried in my purse for those moments when you wish you had something with you!

I thought the FlipShare software was pretty cool; you can create greeting cards, emails, channels to view videos, photo stills and upload to YouTube, MySpace and (using code they give you) other sites. Pretty much covers any idea I had about it! Oh and you can add music to your videos!

I’m happy with mine

Joe Kaski
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Junk.

Support at Flip..punky, inexperienced!

This camcorder came in a beautifull little box. Box looks very good!

Too much money for not enough picture quality
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I bought this for my wife for Christmas and I thought it would be perfect for her to carry around and take videos of our two little kids. It’s a very simple product to use and it would be great if the picture quality was better. I took about an hour worth of video and the playback on the computer was okay, but I wanted to see what it would look like on my 47″ sharp LCD. I used an HDMI connection and the picture was very blocky. It looked prettty bad and I wasn’t even expecting that much. I realize this is not going to measure up to the true HD camcorders out there, but I thought it would be at least better than my cell phone. Once they improve the picture quality of these portable camcorders, they will be worth buying. ButI reccomend to stay away from this product at the current price point (Paid $200).

great little camera/works great with MAC USB
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I purchased this for my wife for Christmas. I was worried with all the reviews that it was not fitting MAC USB’s. well she opened it up today and everything works great. She has an older MAC and I have a MAC pro that I just purchased 2 weeks ago and the USB connector fits both with no issues. The video was a little grainy inside under low light conditions, but nothing to complain about consider the price. We moved outside to shoot some of the kids in the snow and the picture quality was outstanding. overall I am happy with the purchase. I also received the free tripod that amazon threw in and it works great for hands free operation. Looking forward to trying it at different venues.

Flip Video – Does it again!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Flip Camera does it again!

I recently upgraded from my Flip UltraHD, and I have to say that the MinoHD is the sleekest camera to date. Who can argue against 720p HD quality images? Who can say that the Flip is not the best valued video camera on the market? The answer: No one.

It’s so easy to use. Record, plug in, upload. I even convinced an old lady to buy a Flip while at Best Buy last May. Don’t let that scare you – it’s not your average point and shoot camera. Whip out your Flip for any occasion, and people will take notice. The new MinoHD is beautiful, and it fits comfortably in the palm of your hand.

Like any digital camera, super bright lights (like direct fluorescents) translate to “blown out” images. I shot a great image, though, at night in San Francisco. The Bay Bridge looks wonderful against the urban night sky. To be honest, I can’t tell much picture-quality difference between the UltraHD and the MinoHD – it’s just smaller. However, I was very impressed my the MinoHD’s sound quality. At a party, on the road, anything – you won’t be disappointed.

The MinoHD is not only a cool gadget, but also it delivers a great video that will keep you ahead of the game in this digital age.

Buyers Beware!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Like many, many others I purchased this cute little camera as a Christmas gift, only to find that the USB connector doesn’t fit my wife’s MacBook, nor does it fit my HP laptop or the USB ports on my Dell monitor. This is a serious problem, but one the manufacturer doesn’t wish to acknowledge. Without the USB connector, this device is worthless. It can’t be recharged, can’t uplodad videos, can’t install the software… it’s an expensive paperweight. I called tech support for several days, tried leaving a voicemail and was told “you can’t leave a message, that mailbox is full.” Yep… I’ll bet it is! Finally, after sitting on hold for an hour, I got through to a rep who told me “The USB connector is within industry standards and has been tested with a variety of computers.” I see that many other people have received the same nonsense answer. I’ve got 7 computers in my home, and probably 100 USB devices, all of which fit perfectly except this one. They’ll send you a free extension cable if you bought the camcorder directly through their web site but otherwise you’re on your own.

Any manufacturer can have a defect, but it’s what they do to stand behind their product that makes all the difference. The makers of the flip MinoHD have decided that rather than acknowledging the issue and working to make it right for the customer, they are going to deny the problem exists and try to make it the customer’s problem. Shame on them for not owning up to their responsibility to those who purchased their product. I’m returning mine, and will not purchase another.

Truly a product and company to be avoided!

Great little fun unit
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Seems to be very high quality. Very easy to use. Very well made and well thought out and simple design. For me it performs exactly as it is supposed to and fulfills the purpose it was built for.

The best piece of technology I own
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
A must have piece of technology. So small, yet so easy to hold and operate. So light, yet so well made. So affordable, yet such incredibly high video quality. So stylish & sexy, yet so practical. I LOVE my Flip Mino HD. 5 members of my family have a Flip and everyone agrees it’s the best camera they have ever owned. BUY IT!!! Makes a great gift…especially for adults with children…or grandchildren. Fits easily in your pocket and won’t fall apart when your kids throw it around. Trust me, I know.