I have photographed professionally but our adventures in video are better described as “modest”.  But also not completely new, as we have owned the very first Canon miniDV digital camcorder model, and a non-digital tape version prior to that.  Do to the hassle of importing and exporting video, we had never bothered editing together compilations or stories and distributing to family and friends.  Until Now.

Around the first of the year, we purchased a Kodak Zi6 video camera that shoots 720p h.264 high def video on SD cards.  For the first time ever, the camcorder is often in a pocket and therefore handy for when those timeless moments happen.  The lack of zoom or other features  cannot offset the convenience factor for us.  The digital files are simple to move onto a computer for quick editing.  Fun * 2.

Apparently, we are not alone as 9 of the 10 best selling camcorders on Amazon are similar pocketable camcorders from Flip, Kodak, and Creative Labs.

The 720p resolution leads to a unique problem… how to distribute our best video to friends and family?  After a few hours researching with Google and chatting with friends,  the problem is still considerable.

The most obvious answer is Blu Ray.  None of our laptops have a Blu Ray burner and upgrading is cost prohibitive.  If we were able to burn the discs a quick pole revealed only one member of our family has a Blu Ray player (PS3).  While HD televisions are becoming commonplace in our family, none are even considering purchasing a Blu Ray player in the near future.  Perhaps in a year or two this will become a viable option, but it is not today.

I assumed that a stopgap format was developed to play 720p video on normal DVD discs using the up converting DVD hardware.   Several members of our family have purchased up converting DVD players to go with their new televisions.  With the hardware becoming common,  all that is needed is the correct software loaded into the firmware.

After hours of research, the closest I could find was Divx HD.  A visit to the website revealed the latest Divx version 7 utilized the same h.264 codec as our camcorder and most other high definition devices.  A quick glance near our television revealed that even our personal up converting DVD player has a Divx logo on the front.  Quickly my hopes were dashed upon discovering that not a single DVD player on Amazon will play the high definition version (Divx HD).  It appears Divx was slow developing a very obvious solution

I was really hoping for a  solution built by the open source community or Quicktime.  I fear the open source community was a non start (or was unable to find).  I really didn’t expect forward looking Apple to develop a near term solution using Quicktime.

Perhaps looking to “shiny discs” as a distribution method is simply too dated?  We re-purposed an old computer with an upgraded graphics card and new hard drive into an inexpensive media player.   With a $9 Nnetflix subscription, Boxee (Alpha), and Hulu, we canceled our cable subscription.  I have read countless blog posts on utilizing Apple TVs, Mac Mini’s, Xbox’s, PS3’s, and even $100 dedicated media players to fill a similar task.  However, a quick poll of our family revealed our household stood alone, ruling out simply distributing the 720p files on digital media.

To date we have “punted” and given our friends and acquaintances (i.e. teachers) old fashioned DVD’s with downscaled video.  It is disheartening knowing the video  is downgraded to approximately half its native resolution.  At this time, a better solution has yet to present itself.

I keep reading bloggers that can not believe Apple would not want to follow the latest hot trend and build a netbook (as we know it).  This is similar to wondering why Mercedes doesn’t build a Chevy Aveo, and the answer is simple, branding and profit.

One common argument is that not everyone can afford a *real* laptop, but can afford a netbook, especially in the current economic climate.  You could make the very same comparison with the Aveo starting at $12,685, roughly half the price of the average automobile.

Another argument is that a netbook is all that most people really need, with the ability to surf the net, write a blog, or open the occasional text document.  The Aveo fills that role in the automobile world as well, with most people really just needing to move a few people, and perhaps some light luggage  from one place to another.  Most people simply lack the need to haul heavy loads or lots of people, at least in their second or third vehicle.

While the Aveo is functional, it is simply not a great user experience.  The small size makes using the vehicle cumbersome.  Similar to the user experience of small cramped keyboards and screen real estate that makes having two documents open side by side challenging.  They are functional but the race to reduce costs requires many compromises that also reduce the user experience.

Mercedes and Apple have both built brands that users expect a great user experience and quality products when they see the logo.  Producing lower quality inferior products for the masses they jeopardize losing the brand and its selling power (value).  Branding it the first reason Apple should not build a netbook as we know it.

The second reason is Profit.  Both Mercedes and Apple are for profit companies.  They have built the brand images and quality products that allow them to sell at above average margins.  Without even looking I am positive GM makes sub par earnings on the Aveo.   Netbooks are sold at razor thin margins by companies hoping that volume will lead to a meager profit.

There is simply no good reason to follow the masses and enter a market that jeopardizes the brand and makes sub par profits.  This is why the smart pundits are betting on Apple reinventing the category if and when they do enter, creating something similar to what I wrote about here.

I believe most of these writers really want an Apple but can not afford one, and therefore digress to whining about it on their blog.  I would really like to buy a new Mercedes for $13,000, but it is simply not going to happen unless mercedes invents a totally new concept of  a simple but high quality vehicle to move people from place to place, sold at a profitable margin.