Advances in technology are breathtaking. Nowhere is this truer than in video. Fifteen years ago, camcorders were expensive and not very good. And everything was analog. You played them in your VCR. And you played what you shot.

Today, camcorders are digital. You can easily transfer videos to your PC or Mac for editing. Prices of camcorders have plunged, even for high definition.

I can’t begin to cover everything that’s available. But if you’re in the market for a camcorder, you won’t go wrong with these picks.

Creative’s Vado will appeal to anyone looking for a compact, easy-to-use camcorder. It is ideal for shooting videos for the Web. And, at $100, it is also great for the kids.

The 2GB internal storage holds two hours of video. And the Vado is small enough to slip into your pocket.

Simplicity is at the center of the Vado’s design. The camcorder has few buttons and no optical zoom. But minimal features also make it easy and fun to use.

Uploading video to your computer or the Web is a snap. Just connect the built-in USB arm. On-board software helps you work with your videos. The high definition version of the Vado runs $230.