THIS is designed with one purpose in mind - capturing videos for video-sharing websites, such as YouTube and Photobucket.
So, avid bloggers will find that the Creative Vado is one handy tool.
Don't expect high definition video capture, though. The Vado records in MPEG-4 (30 frames per second) at 640 x 480 pixels.
The key selling point of the Vado is really how simple it is to use.
Its fuss-free looks hint at what to expect: a simple, lightweight (84g) device that's about the size of a deck of cards.
On it, there's a directional D-pad.A hidden USB port swings out from the base.
Hit the play and delete button simultaneously to bring up a set-up menu.
To start recording, simply press the button at the centre of the D-pad. Press the up and down buttons for a 2x digital zoom.
To upload videos to YouTube, all I had to do was plug the Vado into my PC's USB port and run the Vado Central software (PC only) stored in the device.
Next, I selected the video that I wanted and clicked on the upload button. A dialogue box then prompted me to enter my YouTube user name and password, as well as some basic information about the clip.
That was it - the world could now enjoy my video.
The Vado's 2GB built-in flash memory promises about two hours of standard quality video; Creative claims its battery life should last as long. Indeed, my test set's battery sputtered at around the same time the storage space ran out.
The Vado doesn't have an external memory card slot - charge it by plugging its USB connector to the PC.
Video quality was surprisingly good. My clips, played off my hard drive or on the Vado's LCD, turned out mostly sharp and smooth, with rich colours. Its white balance proved accurate under different lighting conditions.
Unfortunately, the same videos became murky after they were uploaded on YouTube. For example, the numbers on a car licence plate - clearly visible in one of my clips - could barely be made out on YouTube.
Final say
An easy to use and affordable videocam. Adding an optical zoom and Wi-Fi would make it better.
