Creative gets official with Vado cheapcorder

JR.com may have let the cat of the bag, but Creative's not letting that stop it from getting all official with its new Vado Pocket Video Cam, which is taking square aim at the likes of Pure Digital's Flip Video cheapcorder. Like the Flip, Creative's offering comes packing a lowly-but-YouTube-friendly 640 x 480 resolution, along with 2GB of built-in memory (with no expansion options), a 2-inch display, a flip-out USB connector, and a promised two hours of battery life on a charge. Not exactly the most feature-packed camera out there (even for a budget model), but the $100 price tag is certainly right, and you can get it in your choice of silver or hot pink.

[j_g_puff @ May 13th 2008 1:50PM]

It's hardly inspiring, but flooding a market with loads of nondescript devices is a good thing - it encourages people to differentiate. And for that reason, I say 'yes'.

[Drew @ May 13th 2008 1:53PM]

What we need now is a cheap day/night vision camera for the car, so when someone hits you, you just send in the video to the insurance company and let the other drunk person who was texting on the cell phone while eating a Ribwich tell all the lies of how it went down...

[justin @ May 13th 2008 2:02PM]

FINALLY, i can follow through with my "Indie Girls Gone Wild" idea i've been kicking around. Just look for the tiny pick camera ladies, show me some love at the Les Savy Fav show!

[min @ May 13th 2008 2:05PM]

Do you know how it compares to this?http://www.someonespoilme.com/gift-review/casio-exilim-ex-z80gn-81-megapixel-digital-camera-/
This one is only $80 more- what is the difference?

[Ayle @ May 13th 2008 2:31PM]

This is a el cheapo camcorder while the exilim is a full fledged camera. And I'm pretty sure the exilim would record better videos too.

[CraigJ @ May 13th 2008 2:22PM]

Seems they're filling a gap in the market that never needed filling. Anyone feeling the need to get a 2GB mp3 player probably already has some kind of camera phone, with a pretty similar resolution!

Also, can it play doom?

[wizzle @ May 13th 2008 2:59PM]

do some homework, and you'll find that the flip is selling like hotcakes, so there is a considerable market for these.

[ChrisTheFeralCom @ May 14th 2008 4:59AM]

Why would you want to play doom on a camera o.O

[Robert Yesselman @ May 13th 2008 2:30PM]

I wouldn't buy another Creative product if they paid me. They don't give a damn about you after a purchase - 3 year old MP3 player from them is now a useless white brick - they never developed a Vista driver and it is impossible to speak to the company once you're out of warranty. Don't buy the camera and stick with the Flip if you intend to keep the camera for longer than the warranty period.

[Mike Street @ May 13th 2008 4:20PM]

Umm...so true so true. Nothing from Creative that is years old works on vista.

[Redstripe @ May 13th 2008 4:32PM]

At least is actually still functions. Most apple products die before 3 years!

[Can @ May 13th 2008 5:45PM]

Well my Zen Vision:M had never issues and still works greatly since I've bought it more than two years ago. It still works superior and I use it every day. I also have other Creative products such as Webcam, sound card and speakers. I've had no problems with them at all.

I also use Vista Ultimate and guess what? My sound card, webcam, and mp3 player works flawlessly with it! There is a driver for everything, especially mp3 players, you just need to search for it.

[Can @ May 13th 2008 5:48PM]

and my sound card is a SoundBlaster ZS 2, webcam is one of those old ones.
I don't have all those Vista certified stuff. All devices I use is at least a few years old, AND they work with Vista.

[granny down east @ May 14th 2008 12:46PM]

@Can; If you know where there are Creative Vista drivers for their 9-10 year old "PERFECTLY GOOD" Live! drives, let's see a link.
@Robt Yes'man- I feel your pain.

[jvandervalk @ May 13th 2008 2:30PM]

"Cat of the bag"? isn't it cat OUT OF the bag?

[Californian @ May 13th 2008 4:25PM]

Yeah I was just going to say that.

[whatishalo? @ May 13th 2008 2:38PM]

I wonder if it has auto-high-school-beat-up-session-intended-for-you-tube detection to automatically alert the police...

[Californian @ May 13th 2008 4:25PM]

Hopefully. I don't want to bother making it seem like an accident and that I didn't realize that the entire world could see the video if it was on youtube and it would be really easy to trace me, too!

[chickenator @ May 13th 2008 3:12PM]

can it play crysis?

[Chris Macdonald @ May 13th 2008 4:29PM]

no.

[Bizam! @ May 13th 2008 3:15PM]

Darth Vado

[shanoboy @ May 13th 2008 3:35PM]

I have a Pure Digital Flip. It's really not too bad for the price. I actually like it a lot for what it cost me ($120). this looks like a pure rip off, except it has a built in battery. that can be both a pro and a con I guess.

[ugg.tryptophan @ May 13th 2008 3:46PM]

no expandable storage option sucks, does the flip camcorder have a card slot?

[Castaa @ May 13th 2008 4:21PM]

None of the Flip Video camcorders have memory expansion capabilities either sadly.

[Bob @ May 13th 2008 3:46PM]

Go for the Aiptek A-HD: it's roughly the same price and records 720p video that looks great for what you are paying. Just don't expect a RED quality recorder for this type of product.

[Adamwho @ May 13th 2008 4:26PM]

I have the Flip and I love it. If this is the right price and records similar quality video then it will sell.

People fail to understand why the flip is so popular; it is ridiculously simple, inexpensive, and it works good enough. The same reason people prefer snap-shot cameras over complicated SLRs.

[Vault @ May 13th 2008 5:08PM]

Reminds me of "The Running Free" for some reason. I'm confusing myself.

[roman.kim @ May 13th 2008 6:44PM]

Cameraphone minus the phone? That's hardly creative..

[freakmarket @ May 13th 2008 7:56PM]

totally what i was thinking ... my cell does this.

[Unregistered @ May 13th 2008 8:43PM]

I hope this is as good as the FLiP or better! Cos Flip isn't available in my country, whereas Creative is. This may save me from having to amazon & ship a Flip :)

[cDub @ May 13th 2008 10:44PM]

Thank god Creative spent time making this thing and not a true Zen Vision M replacement. I know people have been clamoring for a hot pink youtube camcorder.

[Paul @ May 14th 2008 1:06PM]

Rechargeable battery and cheaper than the Flip Video is nice.

Creative Vado: http://shrinkify.com/6ka
Flip Video: http://shrinkify.com/6kb