Date: Monday October 5th, 2004
Article by: Nathan Glentworth (Owner, Head Editor & Hardware Reviewer)
Product was donated by: Samsung Canada
<--SHOP FOR A SAMSUNG SCD103 DIGITAL VIDEO CAMCORDER HERE

COMPANY PROFILE

Head Office Corporate Information

Samsung delivers management reform through New Management to maintain high international competitiveness. SAMSUNG is dedicated to contributing to mankind's quality of life. The year 2000 will be declared as the First year of Samsung Digital Management to speed up the digitization of all areas of management with an ultimate objective to become a leader in the digital age of the 21st century. Samsung has continuously improved its financial structure by increasing profits, reducing costs, and enhancing brand image. Samsung's stability and development potential are universally recognized.

Canadian Corporate Information

After only a decade of growth since first entering the Canadian market in 1987, Samsung Canada, headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, has emerged as the market leader. We are growing in Canada by about 20% per year and continue to build a strong presence in every market we enter. Operating as part of Samsung's Americas group, our Canadian operations gain considerable competitive advantage from Samsung's local Americas R&D, manufacturing, and technical support. Samsung Electronics in Canada focuses on consumer electronics and information systems products. Consumer electronics began in Canada in 1987, followed by IS in 1992. The information sales division has grown 61% since 1992. Samsung has introduced a wide range of IS products into the Canadian market, which include hard disk drives, CD-ROM drives, printers, fax machines and monitors enforcing its leading market position and fast year-over-year growth with a strong local presence and reseller network to serve Canadian consumers from coast to coast. Samsung is building a strong presence in Canada as it has all over the world.

PRODUCT INTRODUCTION

My first impression of a video recorder was back in the day when the recording media was full size VHS video cassettes and the actual camcorder was a five pound anchor uncomfortably perched on a soon to be sore shoulder. Since the initial full size release, camcorder evolution has progressed from the VHS to 9mm to Hi8 and then to the recent DVC specification. There is the direct DVD burning camcorders available but at this time they are a little too high priced for most people and the recording disks are quite expensive.

The average consumer in need of a camcorder requires several features for everyday recording.

- Product needs to be well priced.
- Product needs to be easy to use.
- Product needs to be built well and able to take a little abuse without failing.
- Accessories need to be available for upgrading.
- Product needs to have a good battery life when using normal features during playback and recording.
- Product needs to be full featured.

Today I will be reviewing the above SCD103 camcorder from Samsung and hopefully cover most of the bases and show you exactly what you get for around US$300-$325.

As you will see soon, you get one heck of a lot.....