Flip HD, Kodak Zi6 or Creative Vado HD?

Oh boy, I was so excited when my wife approved the purchase of a Flip HD for my birthday this weekend. The caveat, of course, is that she returned the picture frame I bought her that I HAD NO idea she already had. Also, she wants to win Super Bowl tickets making a quick a dirty home movie for an online competition.

Here is why I HATE most retail stores. We return the frame, I see the Flips and ask the “salesperson” at Best Buy if they had the HD model. Of course, the guy has NO IDEA what I’m talking about , gives me the rolling eyes look and then looks it up on the computer. BTW… you can’t call Best Buy and get anyone to answer the phone! Customer service?? Yes, you are needed.

Turns out no dice; online order only! I then call Wal-mart, Target, Fry’s etc… all the big box box stores have the standard models but no HD!! It appears everyone is trying to blow out the standard def models for the new HD series. I even tried smallerindiana.com and Twitter, where local New Media king Kyle Lacy exclaims “THE FLIP HD!”

Ok, normally when someone like Kyle makes a suggestion, you heed his advice. Kyle researches stuff like crazy, so he’s like a built in web filter!

Now after checking out the video above from Chris Prillo (I LOVE BLOGS)

Chris does a review of all three here’s his consensus:

* Flip Mino HD Likes: small and lightweight; has decent software that runs on both Mac OS X and Windows; decent “foreground subject focused” audio in noisy situations.

* Flip Mino HD Dislikes: Touch controls are too sensitive; there’s a plastic protector that flips out along with the USB connector; colors are always washed out; flat video quality; white balance is impossible; tons of noise in low light; my skin tone never looks right indoors; built-in YouTube uploader decreases quality automatically; tiny LCD screen; cheap plastic wrist strap.

* Kodak Zi6 Likes: decent saturation; decent audio; great LCD size; uses AA batteries; uses SDHC media; macro switch; great quality when not blurring.

* Kodak Zi6 Dislikes: unpredictably blurred recordings in low light; no clear audio when noisy; no Mac software support; can be oversaturated in certain scene; heavy construction.

* Creative Vado HD Likes: great balance of color and saturation in the average shot; tends to favor skin tones; wide angle lens; can record two hours; replaceable / rechargeable battery via USB; lightweight; sharp definition.

* Creative Vado HD Dislikes: included skin doesn’t accommodate battery replacement / hard reset; audio is treble muted from behind (in narration); skews to light which isn’t always neutral; has a wrist strap slot but doesn’t come with a strap.

Now I’m still leaning on the Flip as it seems to have better video quality and better sound. But the Vado Has twice the capacity 8GB, removable battery and better wide angle lens!

Thoughts?