
Is virtualisation the next frontier for network attached storage
Why virtualise your NAS environment?
We liked the variety of shooting options on the ZX1 and its compact yet durable design. We would’ve liked to have seen more on-board memory or the provision of at least a modest SD card in the box, however. And while the footage we took looked good, we found the controls rather fiddly and their purpose not clearly marked. A better zoom would have boosted the good-looking Kodak’s score.
The Kodak ZX1 closely resembles the Creative Vado HD and, with its metalised front, reminded us of the company’s Zen Micro MP3 players. Its red-on-black colouring, meanwhile, reminds us of props from Disney’s ‘Tron’ film.
More importantly, the Kodak ZX1 is an admirably compact camcorder — approximately a third smaller than the Kodak Zi6 — that tapers down to the bottom and fits naturally into a pocket. We took it on a fairly hectic cycle ride, through forests and down steep hills, where it had no problem capturing our descent. It’s not great at zooming though.
At 90g, the Kodak isn’t much of a burden. But, as with the Flip Video MinoHD, it’s slow to fire up and we occasionally found it didn’t want to switch on, causing us to miss the odd interesting bit of action.
We preferred the ZX1’s rubber casing to the scratch-prone examples found on several of its rivals. Kodak claims this casing makes the Kodak ZX1 weather-resistant, which is good news given the track record of the British summer.
The Kodak ZX1 has a 2in LCD screen and snags 1,280x720 footage at 30fps or 60fps. You can then view the results on an HD screen, thanks to the provision of an HDMI output alongside USB. You also get an AV connection and the cable to hook it up this way.
What we liked far less was that the Kodak ZX1 doesn’t really come with any internal memory. You can record approximately 15 secs before having to resort to an SD or SDHC Card. We were also surprised to find AA batteries powering this camcorder, which make it significantly heavier than the svelte Vado and Flip.
Unlike some of the other contenders, the ZX1 can take 3Mp stills as well as standard-definition and HD footage. The footage you end up with offers pretty good approximation, with colours turning out fairly natural and not too much overexposure.
Offering a lot of what we like about Kodak's Zi6 pocket camcorder, the Kodak Zx1 has a slicker, more durable frame.
Like the Kodak Zi6, the Kodak Zx1 has the ability to shoot 720p high-def video at either 30 or 60 frames per second and carries the very reasonable price of £121 inc VAT.
The Kodak Zx1 also shares some other nice features with the Kodak Zi6, such as the ability to shoot 3Mp stills (they look better than your standard mobile-phone camera's shots, but not by much); expandable storage via a covered SDHC card slot on the side (alas, there's no on-board storage; you must use an SDHC card); the ability to flip between those 30fps and 60fps rates; recording standard-def VGA video, as well; and recording all three video modes as H.264-encoded .mov files.
But the Kodak Zx1 isn't just the Kodak Zi6's guts in a smaller, ruggedised frame. First off, gone is the flip-out USB connector, which makes sense because it would probably snap off during your first snowboarding wipe-out. Instead, you must attach an included USB cable to the Zx1 to offload videos on to your computer.
Why virtualise your NAS environment?
The latest business news, reviews, features and whitepapers
Visit our shop for the best deals on hot products
Watch our video news and reviews from around the world
Comprehensive buying guides, features, and step-by-step articles
Brother MFC-L9570CDW Multifunction Printer
Touch screen visibility and operation was great and easy to navigate. Each menu and sub-menu was in an understandable order and category
Brother MFC-L9570CDW Multifunction Printer
The printer was convenient, produced clear and vibrant images and was very easy to use
WD My Cloud Home
I would recommend this device for families and small businesses who want one safe place to store all their important digital content and a way to easily share it with friends, family, business partners, or customers.
Brother QL-820NWB Professional Label Printer
It’s easy to set up, it’s compact and quiet when printing and to top if off, the print quality is excellent. This is hands down the best printer I’ve used for printing labels.
Sharp PN-40TC1 Huddle Board
Brainstorming, innovation, problem solving, and negotiation have all become much more productive and valuable if people can easily collaborate in real time with minimal friction.
Brother QL-820NWB Professional Label Printer
The print quality also does not disappoint, it’s clear, bold, doesn’t smudge and the text is perfectly sized.