Neil Lemons’ Blog

I just finished writing an article for a new business site we launched two days ago. I’m not going to mention it here yet, but will eventually. It’s so great to get back into blogging for myself again. I’m just now feeling the therapeutic affects that have been missing for a few years.

This business is actually more service-based, but within one year should afford me the resources I need to create multiple information products I want to create. My first information product (an ebook), should be out within the next month or so, I’ll share it here. Two Internet info marketing gurus (Eben Pagan & Yanik Silver) I have been following for years have recommended running consumer surveys and writing a sales letter first before even writing it. I’ll put both of those up here, and after I have gathered enough data I’ll write the book.

I just ordered The Flip Video Camcorder because I plan on doing some video blogging as well as tutorials and content fodder for my other sites. This was recommended for quality for the price by some other known Internet marketing gurus. The reviews were well-rounded explaining the strengths and weaknesses of the device. To be honest, the more simple it is, the better.

Here is the main customer review of many reviews for The Flip Camcorder I read which others seemed to agree with:

By Railgun
PROS:
* Inexpensive.
* Conveniently small size (fits in a shirt pocket).
* Easy to use.
* Easy to just drag movie clip files straight over to hard drive (they are stored in the DCIM folder sequentially).
* Movie files in the AVI format (but see Con comment about codec below).
* Easy enough to delete clips you don’t want to keep.
* Play straight to TV.
* Seems durable though no protection for lens or playback screen.
* Uses ordinary AA batteries.

CONS:
* Menu buttons a little hard to press (zoom & volume control)
* USB connector arm bad idea. Should have just been a USB socket. Never matches up with the USB socket on any computer or laptop so you have to get an extension cable anyway which can be difficult to connect without breaking the arm off.
* Uses DivX codec (technically 3ivx, Wiki the difference if you really want to know) which means having to install one of a variety of 3rd party plug-ins. Would have been nice if they could have used H.264 but using 3ivx probably helps keep the cost down by using a less powerful chip.
* Included software was a hack job, UI is terrible.
* Silly proprietary interface at the top to burn contents to DVD at participating stores. Just a way for water to get in, should have been a memory card slot.
* Included carrying bag just gets lint all over it - don’t use it.
* Sound playback level is lost once the unit turns off which means having to turn the sound down every time you turn it on.

CONCLUSION:
If you really want to record some video to edit on your computer but don’t want to shell out hundreds for a digital video camera, this is a worthy alternative. Go ahead and get the 1 GB version (1 hour) since there is no memory card slot or upgrade path. After installing a DivX plugin on your computer, you should have no problem editing the clips in your favorite movie editing program like iMovie. I had to install a plugin on both my Intel MacBookPro and Dell 8600 Windows XP (SP2).

Accept that you are going to have to purchase a short USB extension cable unless your USB ports are on the side and the extension arm lines-up perfectly (i.e. the computer doesn’t put any weight on the arm). Even a short 3 ft cable like Cables To Go 19003 3-Feet USB A/A Extension Cable will do. The kind you need is a USB A socket on one end and USB A plug on the other (if you can connect the cable ends to themselves and make a hoop you probably have the correct one).

This is a great first try but there is lots of room for improvement like replacing the connector arm with a USB socket, ditching the DVD burning interface for a memory card slot and making the menu UI buttons easier to push.

Over the next three years, my dream is to build multiple Internet-based information product businesses that will produce residual income while I sleep. Videos will be apart of the information package for what I plan to sell. Since people consume information differently, I plan on offering multiple formats including ebooks, videos, DVD, CD, and podcasting. I just realized I this blog is going to help keep my accountable for my dreams and goals. I plan on using on of Robert Cialdini’s Six “Weapons of Influence,” commitment and consistency, to keep myself on track.