Are you ready to record -- err, I mean, rumble?? Let's meet today's contestants!

To the left, we have the Flip Mino HD ($229.99); to the right we have the Kodak Zi6 ($179.99).

Evaluation
When looking into a handheld HD video camera, what *exactly* are you looking to do with it? Seems like a stupid question, but it was a vital one for me when taking on a review of these two competing brands of HD camcorders.

For me, I need something portable, fast, easy to use and of good quality. The smaller the better, but not at the expense of interesting features or any modicum of functionality.

So, unlike your normal, techno-babble heavy review laden with features so intricate only a salesperson at Best Buy (a former life of mine) would know, I offer you a more useful one.

Which minicorder reigned supreme? Now, don’t just skip to the end to see which one I’d pick for the aspiring director on your holiday gift list – take my experiences within each category to decide which one is the best fit for you.

Installed software
The Flip Mino’s proprietary software opens as soon as you plug the device into your computer. The attached USB offers a fool-proof open – one click, one pop and you’re good to go.

The software program has a clean, attractive GUI that is oh-so simple to use. The graphics are big and colorful and feature (again) idiot-proof labels to help you find quickly what you need. The saving and exporting process takes a few minutes, but the wait time isn’t unreasonable – you are, after all, uploading an HD video file. You can’t expect it to be lightning fast.

The Kodak third-party ArcSoft software didn’t register with my computer the first few times I plugged the device in – and even the act of plugging it in was a bit of a hassle. The USB is clearly on the side of the device, but I honestly had to look at the instruction manual to figure out how to pop it open. Once I did, I had to turn the whole unit upside down to get it to insert into the computer’s hub. Can you say design flaw?

Perhaps I’m a little cautious, but I don’t like the idea of the little Mino hanging off the front of the computer, but I dislike even more the idea of a bigger, thicker and *heavier* unit similarly dangling off whilst on its head.

Anyway, the Kodak photo program has too many options, too many checked boxes and too much technology behind it. Weird me saying that, I know, but sometimes the simplest solution (or simplest way of presenting something) really is the right answer.

Point: Mino

Ease of Use
The Mino again has the upper hand. Its power button and recording instructions are crystal clear without even picking up a manual (did it even come with one?). The big red button means record, and the touch buttons give the device a sleek look while providing perfect reaction time to my requests.

Kodak, while also easy and intuitive, took some getting used to. Pressure buttons in odd configurations confused me, and the joystick-ish center controller shifted almost without warning. It’s not a bad idea, but it’s definitely not what I would consider smooth.

Point: Mino

Special Features
This is the one category where the Kodak takes the top spot – it offers the ability to take still images. A built-in 3 MP camera is a hot little offer…

As far as screen size, I don’t really understand all the hype over a large viewfinder. Mino has a little one, Zi6's is twice as big -- I could see fine using both. Perhaps this is just me, but as long as you’re pointing it in the right place, does it really matter how many little pixels are on the screen? Save for my 2-year-old begging to ‘look’ at the videos seconds after I record them, I don’t actually sit and peruse the videos on the device.

It just seems silly to pay for a little extra visibility on something that isn’t more than a courtesy way to see what you’re filming. Oh, how quickly we all forget the Le Clics of our youth. That doesn’t mean I want to go back to those days of actual film, just that it could be worse.

Kodak also has a cool feature the Mino does not have – the ability to expand the internal memory of the device with a memory card. So, you can video a wedding or longer ceremony (or pirate a movie audience-style -- stupid) with the Zi6, which is not possible with the Mino’s 60-minute limit.

Point: Kodak

Picture Quality
Negligible between the two. Both offered the same slightly grainy picture, despite claims that they offer HD videos. While I highly doubt that either company is lying about this, it must be the quality of the HD recording. When not focusing on a single object or action, both videos blurred as the camera moved.

The darkness/lightness ratio in the Mino was much improved from previous versions where dark scenes showed up black.

When it doubt between them, I’d always advise you to go cheaper, which would point to the Zi6, but I am too impressed with the Mino's improvements to discount it.

Point: Neither

Overall Likeability
Kodak offers its camera in the hottest shades on the market today: metallic pink and black.

But, Mino has it beat with panther-ish black cover or, lest you don’t want to look like an awesome spy, a fully customizable face featuring images you can download using their online interface. Oh, not to mention the hundreds of picture options they’ve designed.

While both are small and portable, Kodak is nearly twice as big as the Mino. Which is that better for? Well… it’s a toss-up. The Mino is sleek, skinny supermodel, while Kodak is more like a beautiful buxom broad everybody likes. Both feel great sitting in your hand – it goes to personal taste here which you prefer.

Point: Both

Final answer?
For my money, I love the Mino HD. It’s pretty, fits in my pocket and offers me the quality I want at an awesome, reasonable price. The customizable designs of the face probably pushed it over the edge, but I can't tell which feature of this fantastic little gadget I love the most. No, love isn't a strong enough word -- adore? Cherish? You get the picture.

Kodak was good, too, but it’s not my cup of tea -- it's too big, the controls take too much attention and the customizable software is too fussy.

Thanks to both companies for participating in this lightweight minicorder battle! Please let me know if you decide to get one of these cool little gadgets this year!


** Speaking of which, meet me back here Monday for three more awesome gadgets on my Byte-Sized Holiday Gift Guide! I may just have a big announcement, and, in a few weeks, I’ll name my top gadget of 2008!