Peenie Wallie

www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/technology_news/4266947.html

Last year's ultraportable Flip Video camera was a sleeper sensation, quickly becoming one of the top-selling camcorders around—and remains so to this day. Within a year it reportedly snagged 13 percent of the entire camcorder market. It was small enough to fit in just about any pocket or purse, and at $150, cheap enough to be tossed around without worry.

So it should come as no surprise that imitators would follow. Like the Flip, the new Creative Vado Video Cam ($100) is extremely tiny (it's about the size of a deck of cards), shoots 2GB of VGA-quality video and charges and offloads video via a built-in USB plug. Rather than differentiating itself from the competition by stuffing in more features (something that would defeat the whole purpose of a super-simple camera), the Vado simply gives you a slightly larger video screen (2 in.instead of the Flip's 1.5) in a smaller body, and for less money.

I've been playing with the Vado for the last week, and I can honestly say that I love it. It's got a pleasing shape, is incredibly easy to use, and, come on, this thing's a steal. Plus, the video quality is at least as good as most of what's on YouTube these days.

For quick outdoor shots that require little setup, Vado's convenience and value can't be beat. But you pay a price for that $50 discount over the Flip—Vado's low-light color saturation leaves much to be desired. My indoor videos come off looking almost black and white. In contrast, one of the Flip's breakthrough features is its admirable low-light performance.

Bottom line: The Vado isn't a marked improvement over the Flip. Instead, it's a sign that the ultracheap, ultraportable video-camera market could be an area of immense growth over the next few years. RCA introduced its similar Small Wonder last year—looks likewe have a certifiable electronics trend on our hands. So look forward to seeing many more of these little guys on the market. They'll last until cellphone cams catch up and make them all obsolete....