MT,
It sounds like you're having some initial good experiences. Let's hope it keeps up. Did you have to format your SD card and was there a downloading of software into the camera before you could use it?
That's how it is with Gopro and that's were I'm stuck in limbo since the newer Gopro software requires at least Vista in a windows OS. I had XP, bought another machine used which originally had Vista on it, loaded the OS and figured I was good to go. I had previously wiped the hard drive with software for that and partitioned the hard drive to accept a dual boot of linux Ubuntu 14.4 alongside Windows Vista. What happened next is one of the reasons I really like Ubuntu as an operating system.
When I brought up Ubuntu everything on the new to me laptop worked beautifully, sound, video, wifi, loaded a freeware video player and it does video playback without a hitch. Perfect, and to think the operating system is free, no registration, and is constantly being worked on to improve it more by a voluntary world wide network of users. There is a core organization which does the programming, but with input from all over the world. People working together to make something good to share with each other... that's the way things should be, isn't it?
Then there's Microsoft Vista which is not freeware as we all know, but is "feeware" (just thought of that new word). I booted up Vista and there was no sound. The video is rough and needs a driver. Media player doesn't work. It did not come with a video player bundled in the software, that will be an extra "fee" to pay later. And the wifi did not work. Other than that, perfect.
So one operating system was made by volunteers and the other by highly paid technowizards for a system to be licensed to certain laptop manufacturers, including HP which made my Elitebook laptop. You would think the A team would win this contest, but not so. And you would think the drivers for the machines made for and paid by the licensed computer companies would come bundled in the Vista install disc. It was in the Ubuntu disc. Why not Vista?
There is no support from windows on supplying the drivers and a search on the internet, including ebay did not turn up a cd with the appropriate drivers. Not windows responsibility, I guess. HP does have free drivers to download assuming you have a way to get on the internet... that the wifi works, but my machine needs the appropriate driver (catch 22).
I thought maybe I could get around that with a USB wifi adapter and I had one which I once used on an XP machine. Not so fast, buddy. It would connect momentarily and as soon as you try to go somewhere on the net the connection would drop. Arrrggg... Then last evening I looked at other wifi adapters on ebay and discovered that some adapters are not compatible with Vista. So I have ordered one which is compatible and in a week can try again. All this so that I can use the gopro camera while I wait for the clone in a bottle to drift my way.
Shooting videos is a lot of fun....... I'm hoping. So far it is a lot of hassle including some hurry up and wait. Please forgive the rant. Before you buy a camera see what you need in terms of your computer first. If your machine is old, be forewarned. If you have newish stuff or Mac, you're good to go.
SB
