The VAR Guy Flips for $150 Video Device

The iPhone remains The VAR Guy’s favorite digital device. But Flip, a $150 video camera from Pure Digital Technologies, has just made his favorites list as well. It’s a slick, simple device for solutions providers that want to make quick Web videos without spending a fortune doing so.

The VAR Guy spotted Flip at a local CostCo. Depending on the model you buy, the point-and-shoot video device holds either 30 or 60 minutes of video. The USB connector allows you to offload the video to a PC or Mac, and bundled software lets you quickly edit and/or upload the video to AOL or YouTube.

Before making his purchase, The VAR Guy read a bit about Flip online. The Wall Street Journal, CNet, and several other sites gave the Flip generally upbeat reviews. So The VAR Guy opened his wallet and purchased it yesterday.

Making videos is as easy as snapping a digital picture. Linking Flip to The VAR Guy’s MacBook Pro was easy. But Flip’s bundled software froze from time to time; the code felt like clumsy Windows applications ported to the Mac. No worries. The VAR Guy simply viewed the videos on his Mac using QuickTime, iMovie and other Apple-developed tools.

Flip’s video quality is surprising good, considering the device’s nominal $150 price tag. When The VAR Guy connected Flip directly to his 19-inch TV, the video quality rivaled VHS — but certainly not DVD or HD quality. And no, this isn’t a device for watching family or business videos on big-screen TVs.

By it’s very design, Flip is perfect for anyone who wants a video device that fits in a pocket. Powered by two AA batteries, the Flip doesn’t require you to carry around a battery charger. And best of all, linking Flip to a PC or MacBook Pro allows users to publish videos on the web in a matter of minutes.

Take a look at the following video clip. It’s been compressed a bit, so the quality isn’t great. But The VAR Guy’s son knows how to work Guitar Hero and the online crowd, doesn’t he?If you’d like a look at Flip’s higher-quality capabilities, check out this video from The Wall Street Journal. Flip falls short if you want exceptional video and quality. But for video blogs, roaming reports, customer endorsements and other quick-hit video tasks, The VAR Guy gives Flip a thumbs up.