Cisco To Shut Down Flip Video Business; Will Give Pink Slips To 550 Employees • Hacker News Board

Re: Cisco To Shut Down Flip Video Business; Will Give Pink Slips To 550 Employees

#61

Post by xsmasher » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 6:09 PM UTC

dr_ wrote: post #11

krschultz wrote: post #9

I really think the GoPro killed them. If I want good quality video, I need something better than a Flip. If I need a durable, small, device for getting some OK video, I'll get a goPro. If I need OK video quality and don't care about durability, I'll use my smart phone. When I'm out skiing, I see half the teenagers with GoPro's mounted on their helmets, their ski poles, chest harnesses etc video taping each other hitt…

Mmmm...I think it's more likely all the smartphones out there that now have decent enough video capabilities for most people.

Yes, sounds like phones ate the low end of the market and goPro ate the high end. Left Flip with nothing.

Re: Cisco To Shut Down Flip Video Business; Will Give Pink Slips To 550 Employees

#62

Post by advancingdagger » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 8:25 PM UTC

I got the Kodak video cameras:

Playsport - waterproof Playtouch - for non waterproof and editing video

Love them both - I have two smartphones and do take pics and record video too - but for taking video or pics of my babu, recreation, or just fun - the dedicated device is actually really useful. Sure, when I'm out and about I record on my smartphone and send the video up to Facebook, but for anything business related or just seriously good video quality and long recording times, I'm back to my Kodaks.

The Kodak's are far better than my Flip by the way, for quality and reliability. So I'll keep my Kodak cameras for those purposes and it's nice not having an incoming call interrupt my recording.

As you say - we are tech geeks. Krschultz is wrong, nobody but the small community of us geeks care about these cameras. It's the smartphone that killed the pocket video market.

Re: Cisco To Shut Down Flip Video Business; Will Give Pink Slips To 550 Employees

#63

Post by newtonapple » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 8:37 PM UTC

krschultz wrote: post #9

I really think the GoPro killed them. If I want good quality video, I need something better than a Flip. If I need a durable, small, device for getting some OK video, I'll get a goPro. If I need OK video quality and don't care about durability, I'll use my smart phone. When I'm out skiing, I see half the teenagers with GoPro's mounted on their helmets, their ski poles, chest harnesses etc video taping each other hitt…

I think the Kodak Playsport is a better comparison: http://store.kodak.com/store/ekconsus/en_US/pd/PLAYSPORT_Vid... It shoots 1080p @30fps or 720p @60fps, supports SD memory, is waterproof, and has similar price point (slightly more expensive w/ SD card).

Re: Cisco To Shut Down Flip Video Business; Will Give Pink Slips To 550 Employees

#64

Post by japherwocky » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 9:19 PM UTC

advancingdagger wrote: post #62

I got the Kodak video cameras: Playsport - waterproof Playtouch - for non waterproof and editing video Love them both - I have two smartphones and do take pics and record video too - but for taking video or pics of my babu, recreation, or just fun - the dedicated device is actually really useful. Sure, when I'm out and about I record on my smartphone and send the video up to Facebook, but for anything business relate…

mostly unrelated: why is your name green?

Re: Cisco To Shut Down Flip Video Business; Will Give Pink Slips To 550 Employees

#65

Post by jseliger » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 10:19 PM UTC

japherwocky wrote: post #64

advancingdagger wrote: post #62

I got the Kodak video cameras: Playsport - waterproof Playtouch - for non waterproof and editing video Love them both - I have two smartphones and do take pics and record video too - but for taking video or pics of my babu, recreation, or just fun - the dedicated device is actually really useful. Sure, when I'm out and about I record on my smartphone and send the video up to Facebook, but for anything business relate…

mostly unrelated: why is your name green?

I believe new user accounts are now green.

Re: Cisco To Shut Down Flip Video Business; Will Give Pink Slips To 550 Employees

#66

Post by jseliger » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 10:41 PM UTC

dools wrote: post #49

I'm glad I got my flip before they shut it down! It's been a tremendous asset in catching all my daughter's big moments so far. The value for me is in how quickly it boots up and starts recording, the fact that it's on a completely separate battery to my phone, has a good picture, steady cam and plays nice with iPhoto. It also came with a nice little tripod that we set up at christmas/birthday to catch the opening of…

I'm glad I did too—I've had one since 2009, and it's been one of those delightful and unexpected gadgets. The video quality is still far higher than my iPhone.

This is particularly distressing because, even though phones might make Flip cameras irrelevant in the future, they haven't yet. Buying Flip only to shut it down seems cruel and stupid.