Flip Video
We have 35 here ... our teachers clamored for them once they saw them.
Yes, they are just that easy. I am the school videographer and do a lot
of editing for school productions. The sound and picture quality is
amazing and, once you get them downloaded, the video is just as easy to
manipulate. I wouldn't go through Follett, though, they are a lot
cheaper in stores and you can get them every where, Target, Walmart,
Best Buy, Radio Shack.
The Flip is very easy. FYI...WalMart carries them also. Price is
around 150.00. I don't know how that compares to Follett. I purchased
mine at WalMart. I record a weekly news broadcast on mine and import it
into a MAC computer. Very Easy! You will love it.
We have a few and our students and teachers love them. One tech problem
that we had is that because of restrictions on downloading of software
on our computer lab machines, we initially had problems downloading
files from our flip videos. We now seem to have gotten the kinks worked
out with our computer services guys and things run pretty smoothly.
The cameras are easy to use and the recordings are of a surprisingly
high quality. Our tech integration specialist recommended purchasing
the less expensive version of the flip (don't know which models) that do
not have the built in rechargeable battery since with those models once
the battery dies you need to replace the entire unit.
We have small wonders by RCA at school because you can burn a dvd
directly from the machine (business department got them, not the
library). I personally have a flip cam and I love it. It does only
record 30 minutes but I'm working on my doctorate and did all my
interviews that way. No problems at all.
We are going to be getting Flip videos at our elementary school, K-3,
for the students to use. They really are super easy to use and the
students will have no problem with them. They easily plug into the
computer and TVs. The only problem our tech people have is that you need
to download the Flip video software which many of computers will not let
you do and it does not interact with Windows Moviemaker.
They have been very well received in my school. They are especially
useful for us because we always have a bunch of student teachers wanting
to tape themselves. They don't have anything to break, and require
almost no instruction to use. I have kindergarteners who can use them
easily! Yes, they are as easy to use with email, facebook, youtube, tv
as promised. My advice: spend the extra money to buy the kind that
recharge. Also, make sure you're getting your educational discount...
you might want to shop around before you buy from Follet.
I am not familiar with the Follett brand, but a few issues that always
come up with flip cameras are sound quality and editing. Sometimes the
compatibility of the newer flip cameras with windows media player or
I-movie if you are Mac, can be tricky. If your video playing and
editing programs are a bit older they might not translate, so make sure
the software your school has is compatible. Sound quality is very poor
on any flip camera, so I always tell students if they are going to speak
in the video to make sure they are either close to the camera or speak
with a lot of volume and clarity.
I bought a Flip Video camera for my Academic Decathlon team to videotape
interview and speech performances. It is VERY easy to use. Put in the
batteries and you're ready to go. Plug it into the computer and
downloads start up automatically. The one issue I've had is that
sometimes the files have to be converted (easy to do with the software
that comes with the camera) before they can be e-mailed, saved to a
flash drive, or put in a multi-media presentation like power point or
Moviemaker. It's not difficult, but something to be aware of.
I purchased a Flip camcorder this year and it is as easy as they say. We
lent the Flip to a "responsible" student to take some video clips of our
school's "Color Wars" competition in the gym. She just pressed the
button when she wanted to record, pressed it again to stop recording.
When she was done, I inserted the camcorder into my computer's USB port
(software is downloaded the first time you use it), checked out the
clips and then selected to create a movie. I then had a .wmv file that I
was able to upload to our school's website. I also purchased the RCA
Wonder camcorder that is similar to the Flip except that it is a little
bit larger and the lens is on a swing arm so that students can view
themselves while filming themselves for when they are recording a
commentary, etc. I have not tried this camcorder yet but hope to do so
in the next few days.
I don't want to be a stick-in-the-mud, but I was given a Flip and can't
get the movie clips to download on my MacBook laptop. (Even with my IT
guy's help.) We were able to download "Flip for Mac" to facilitate the
video clips, and the clips are on my desktop, but we can't open them to
view or edit.
I LOVE our flip camera, except the audio could be better. You have to
get fairly close to whatever you are recording so you can hear voices,
etc. They are very easy to use and I am buying myself a personal one
because I liked it so much after using it in school.
We love ours! The kids love to use them and they really are very easy.
They don't have great microphones, but they work very well for school
projects because the kids can use them so easily.
I just bought 8 Ultra260 60 minute Flips last Tuesday from Amazon.com at
$114.95 each with PTA funding. They arrived today. That price
supposedly ended May 31st.
Just go online to get the best quote...Target, Walmart, etc. I think
the last time I checked on Titlewave that they were pricey. I also
bought the tripods, USB cables, and pouches. They are easy to use, but
as with all tech. equipment, teacher savvy will determine how easy it
is. The sound is not very good unless you are very close to what you
are videoing. We now have 14 and the PTA might get a few more for us.
Students use them on field trips and for science experiments.
I purchased and RCA small wonder since I saw a side by side comparison
with the Flip and the RCA had better sound quality.
I recently took one on a school trip. I got some great videos plus lots
of buzz from the students who were very intrigued! It was easy to use
and easy to download the movies. Uses a lot of computer memory though so
keep the recordable DVDs handy...
I purchased the flip videos, though not through Follett, through Costco.
They were less expensive for the hd and they are as easy as they
proclaim. The teachers love them.
I have one personally and love it. You do need to be fairly close to
pick up sound decently. The capabilities are limited but for much of
the video taping that our schools do I think they would be great. I am
requesting to purchase some for our schools for next year. They really
are so simple to use and download.
We used it at our conference, to add to our blog and to show the site to =
our members. It really was plug and play.
I wrote a grant and received 13 of them. I managed to add to that a and
now have 18. I haven't used them on TVs but my students shoot the
video, upload and edit in Microsoft movie maker. They love them and are
working on projects right now.
I bought four from Amazon.com on sale for $60 each. They are very easy
to use; the only downside is the sound; you can only hear it if you are
very close to the person/thing being recorded. As soon as you connect
the camera to the computer, the Flip website pops up where you can add
music, edit your video clips, etc. You can even import it to MovieMaker
and do more advanced editing. I have tried using Moviemaker
with a digital camera before, with poor results. This is a piece of
cake, compared to that.
I purchased a flip for the library. It is definitely easy to use and
upload to a computer, although I have had problems getting the volume
high enough. I 'm planning to use it with 7th grade to film them doing
book talks.
We have one for our school and they work well and are easy to edit the
movies. We use the Flip Ultra.