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Comment by krschultz | Hacker News Reader

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 hitting jumps to put it up on youtube. When I'm at a car race, half the guys have GoPro's mounted on their rollcage. Flip just kind of missed the niche.

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GoPro and Flip were never competitors. If Flip got killed by anything, it's by smartphone.

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

For most people, yes. I think the all-in-one packages of phone, mp3 player and camera has put a dent in the bottom line of any low-end single-use device. I bought a Kodak Zi8 back in '09 and to be honest I've only really used it once. The camera on the iPhone can't compete with it, but for a multi-purpose device I'd much rather have a GoPro. I guess Flip failed to take notice that a niche was driving the market.

I have a Zi8 which I haven't used in a long time and didn't use that much when I had it. Now I take video with my iPhone4 all the time.

I had the Zi8 too. The iPhone 4 shoots better video in my experience, and allows me better ability to review / edit / share on the fly.

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

I'm a Cisco employee and own a GoPro but not a Flip. :-P

That said, the two devices are really aimed at different niches. The GoPro is pretty useless for point-and-shoot. It has no preview screen, and the viewfinder is pretty crummy. You basically point it in the right general direction, and hope for the best.

OTOH, the Flip is too expensive and fragile (and possibly too big) for the use cases you describe. Amazon has tons of complaints about the Flip's waterproof case being less than waterproof.

I've never heard of GoPro before, if skiing and racing cars are your markets I don't think it's competing with Flip.

I think Flip actually lost the fight against PRO-ish (high-end) photo cameras, now they're cheaper, smaller and shot video just perfect, I have seen many youtubers using those instead of Flip (what I believe was their market, home videos).

Check it out (Gopro): http://www.amazon.com/GoPro-HD-HERO-960-Camera/dp/B003YMN3O6...

Compare it to this (the flip): http://www.amazon.com/Flip-UltraHD-Video-Camera-Generation/d...

The gopro is a really great little camera, and it's actually pretty cheap.

People mount these to RC aircraft, or to the side of their motorcycle, or the front of their surfboard, or, anything...

The fact that you've never heard of it isn't an indication that it wouldn't be a competitor to the flip, it's just an indicator that gopro hasn't decided to advertise to you yet.

In my opinion, the gopro is the hands-down better of the two cameras.

They just seem to have entirely different purposes. GoPro looks really good for doing POV work. But, flip seems to be better for standing and filming something. I am a swing dancer and people seem to always use a Flip (or a cell phone) when recording themselves or others.

So GoPro may be the better camera but that doesn't mean it is appropriate for every situation just as the Flip is not appropriate for every situation.

I can vouch for this. "Extreme" sports practitioners are divided into two groups: those who own a GoPro, and those who covet them.

Now if only GoPro would produce a lens that could focus properly underwater I think all of my scuba diving friends would buy one.

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).

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