The Flip's greatest strength is its simplicity. Once you pick it up, you don't need extensive user manuals to figure out how to use it; there aren't a ton of confusing buttons and options, no menus to surf through, and no strange attachments to figure out. You'll need a pair of AA batteries. Toggle the on-off switch on one side, and the Flip springs to life. Press the big red button to start recording and zoom in or out with the plus and minus buttons. Once you've finished shooting a video, you can immediately play it back on the Flip's built-in display. The Flip is so simple that I'd give it to a child or a grandmother to try out.

The Flip Video Ultra that I received was a 2GB model and can record an hour of video. The display shows a timer of how much video time is remaining as you record more. For less money, you could go with the 1GB version that can record only half an hour. The video is of so-so quality and the zoom is only 2X; I wouldn't record my nephew's graduation or my best friend's wedding with the Flip, but it's perfect for parties or casual get-togethers where you won't look back and wish you had had a higher-quality recording.

This goes back to my digital camera analogy. Some people buy an expensive DSLR because they need the features, love photography, and plan to do a world of post-processing on their photos. The people who would buy the Flip Video Ultra are the type to buy a point-and-shoot: They prefer simplicity and ease of use, and will sacrifice the high-end quality for having a tool that's light, durable, and works well for their needs. I can see the Flip in the hands of pre-teens and teenagers who might want to record a birthday party or a class project but don't need the power of a more expensive, beefier camcorder. Similarly, I can see people who just don't need to take professional video or do extensive video editing using the Flip to take videos that are Web-worthy and can be shared with friends.

Once you've recorded your video, you can flip out the built-in USB port on the side of the Flip and plug it directly into your computer. You don't need drivers or special software to connect the Flip to your PC; everything runs directly off the camcorder itself, and smoothly at that. Once you plug it in, the Flip mounts as an external drive, and you run the capture software from there. You can snag photos as stills from your video or watch the videos play back on your computer screen. If you like, you can immediately share your videos with friends and family.

The Flip's built-in software allows you to upload your videos to YouTube, AOL Video, or another video-sharing site immediately. With another click, you can e-mail videos to your friends, create a custom greeting card, or upload them to your personal Web site. If you're just taking videos for yourself, you can download them from the Flip and organize them on your computer, freeing up the Flip to take more video. If you prefer the big screen, the Flip Video Ultra comes with a connector cable to plug directly into your TV.

The Flip Video Ultra comes with a carrying case, which you'll need because the camcorder's so small. I found myself tossing it in my bag as I went from work to home to social events. It's comfortable to hold and lightweight, and it powers on almost immediately; no worrying about catching a shot. Also, the Flip is literally a point-and-shoot camcorder; there's no configuration required when you turn it on, unless you want to zoom in on your subject.

The Flip Video Ultra costs $149.99 for the 1GB version (30 minutes of recording time) and $179.99 for the 2GB version (60 minutes) and comes in four colors. All the videos are recorded in gloriously compatible MPEG4, and the device is supported in Windows XP, Windows Vista, and MacOS X.