Just rec'd notice from Panasonic announcing this blog. It's been around for a little while and has been discussed elsewhere on the net... there was some speculation that it was a Panasonic marketing technique and not an actual privately operated personal blog in the traditional sense, and now Panasonic has owned up to that fact. From the press release:

PANASONIC LAUNCHES BLOG TO DISCUSS AG-HVX200 AND HIGH DEFINITION

“Tosh Bilowski” Puts Human Voice to Technical Information

SECAUCUS, NJ (October 27, 2005) -- Panasonic Broadcast announced today it has launched http://www.defperception.com/, a blog to inform and educate video professionals on the new AG-HVX200 HD/SD DVCPRO P2 camcorder and on high definition technology topics in general.

The blog, featuring “Tosh Bilowski” as the company’s human voice, provides Panasonic a forum to express its views and share its opinions on new technologies, products, features, and activities, as well as answer questions in a meaningful way.

“This web log will serve as a centralized source for accurate information on the AG-HVX200, DVCPRO HD, P2, and on a host of technology subjects, and Tosh allows us to put a human face and personality to it,” said Jim Wickizer, National Manager, Marketing Services, Panasonic Broadcast. “In the past, this type of information has typically been presented in a far-less-interesting manner. The on-line journal’s goal is to be helpful and relevant to video professionals and provide them with a useful reference.”

Once again that link is www.defperception.com

Special thanks to Panasonic for including a link to our forum from their site!

[QUOTE=The blog, featuring “Tosh Bilowski” as the company’s human voice[/QUOTE]

If that is the human voice of Panasonic then what is Jan. Hmmm! She must be a T1000 then.........................

Sorry, but I don't like this at all and I hope Panasonic and other companies don't do it often. It really bothers me that they put it out there like it's a real user when the content is really under their control. Yeah, they admitted it in a press release and they do have "brought to you by Panasonic" at the top, but I still think it's written in a very sneaky way to seem like it's not an advertisement for them.

At least they finally came clean about it...

KW

Seems to me Chris, that imitation is the the sincerest form of flattery. The way you run this forum... is a tribute to the power and integrity of it's voice. What company WOULD'NT want a "DVINFONET" style blog or forum that would push their product.

I find DVINFO.net a valuable resource, as it's based entirely on user's personal experience. The pany blog, however, seems like a good marketing tool, but it's just that, a marketing tool. I'd rather read blogs like those found at hdforindies.com, and the like. Where the moderator/owners are partial to a particular product, but have zero ties (i.e. on the payroll) with the product manufacturers.

I did submit a comment on the site pertaining to HDV vs. DVCPRO HD, and have yet to see it posted. My only guess is that it's moderated during normal working hours : )

Truthfully, I think the folks at Pany will get better feedback/market research from this site. I'm sure they do, and certain they bound by corporate policy in terms of how they communicate.

Sorry, but I don't like this at all and I hope Panasonic and other companies don't do it often. It really bothers me that they put it out there like it's a real user when the content is really under their control. Yeah, they admitted it in a press release and they do have "brought to you by Panasonic" at the top, but I still think it's written in a very sneaky way to seem like it's not an advertisement for them.

At least they finally came clean about it...

KW

Anyone paying 9k for a camera is going to rely on more than a simple blog for an expensive camera purcahse. I wouldn't worry about it, these messages boards (like DVInfo.net) are all you need to get a real good sense of what a DV product is all about.

Hi,

The purpose of the "blog" is to discuss the camera, its inner workings, P2 and DVCPRO HD, where that is all that is discussed. It is intended as an educational forum in the long run and hopefully it will turn out that way. Sometimes my ideas backfire, but I am hoping that this one will succeed as I think that it does provide a service where someone can ask a question relative to the intent and not be blasted with diogatory comments about the camera. I know that it doesn't happen as often around here as it does in other parts of the woods, but frankly I have seen too many people intimidated about asking questions or even learning and that is where the site is intended to go.

We chose a voice because I didn't want it to be me, heck, I am already too "popular" and that is a handicap for me. That was not and is not my ever my intention. I am hoping that Tosh can funnel questions to me that I can answer, and to others in the organization that others might better answer, thereby serving the community and getting the right answers to folks.

I am hoping that it does work. It isn't marketing as someone said above, it is about the camera, and DVCPRO HD. It is not the same as DVInfo. We do not have to engage in comparison ad nauseum, we don't have to let negative commentary stand, we can print all that we feel is necessary to educate the customer about the camera, P2 and its formats. We are hoping that it can grow, as it is a direct link to some of the best people within Panaosnic Broadcast, and if it catches on perhaps on a worldwide basis, but I'll be happy with the US.

Thanks,

Jan

It isn't marketing as someone said above, it is about the camera, and DVCPRO HD.

Come on...we don't need to go there. :-) We'll let you do the guerilla marketing as you see fit, but it CERTAINLY is marketing. All the things you listed could've easily been integrated into the Panasonic site, where there is no doubt who is responsible for creating the content.

Personally, I think your presence here speaks volumes and I think that some users don't realize how great that is. I am astounded that we don't see Canon and Sony reps here...speaks volumes.

I guess I am just very sensitive in this "information age" we're in, as to where we are getting our information and what biases they may contain. It's similar to political blog sites that receive their "talking points" from higher sources. Hardly independent and unbiased.

Just my $.02. Don't mean to make it a big deal...

KW

Whatever the 'wrapper' you put on it, it is marketing.

I'll read the carefully worded brochures, set forth within the quidelines of corporate policy. Then I'll ask and consider the real world experience of users whom bought the product and put it to actual use.

Personally, I enjoyed "discovering" the blog, and it helped me close in on my pre-ordered purchase. With so much fear, uncertainty, and doubt, I was happy to just read something with the details, some positive vibe, and why the technology is of benefit. Don't get me wrong. I've been researching every speculative and factual tid bit of info all over the net since March (or whenever the rumors started early 2005). Something finally clicked, I've pre-ordered, and now I have only one real question left...

When might FedEx/UPS show up and request my signature in exchange for this revolutionary camera? Hopefully soon in December. :)

Jan it's guerilla marketing... My older brother is an award winning PR agent as well he has been in the PR industry for many years. This is marketing no matter how you slice it. Your better off not BSing this one, your hurting your PR rep now......... It's disgusting and horrible to see Panasonic stoop this low in marketing.

It's no different when Sony Pictures created David Manning a fictitious critic to review their own films back in 2001. There also was a class action law suit that followed. Very crappy thing to do Panansonic.

What's so stupid is the HVX200 will sell itself and there are plenty of sources of good info out there. I thought the mockup of NAB was bad, but this is a new new low.

Maybe http://blog.contentious.com/ will figure it all out. I don't care that much, but if it's true that this "Tosh" is fictional and a Panny rep is still saying things like "I am hoping Tosh can funnel questions to me..." than I would be very unhappy and disappointed. Trust in a company and a brand IS important these days.

I love the web...I hate the web.

Kevin

PS-The quote at the end of the site...I say it's all BS:


"Thanks for visiting my blog and please remember, I'm just a blog."

I've really been biting my tongue on this thread but I gotta say my piece. So against my better judgment I'm going to make three comments. They are nothing more than my observations and opinions, so just please accept them as that and nothing more. I hope I succeed in keeping them reasonably polite as all posts here should be:

1. Jan, I'm sure it was unintentional and he would probably never say so himself, but I think you stepped on the toes of our mutual friend Chris Hurd. We all know he runs one of the tightest ships in the world of discussion boards; he does not let unjustified negative commentary or intimidating behavior stand. A hand-picked team of moderators is on guard against policy (http://www.dvinfo.net/network/policy.php) violations around the clock to keep DVinfo's signal to noise ratio sky high. So your comment in this thread justifying the blog because "...someone can ask a question relative to the intent and not be blasted with diogatory [sic] comments about the camera. I know that it doesn't happen as often around here ..." does not sit well. Even softened, that characterization of DVinfo is simply not justified; yes, tough questions are perfectly within bounds but intimidating or rude? No. Very few get by the team for even as much as a few hours. I settled here as a regular member, and eventually became a moderator, precisely because DVinfo is a pleasant and highly informative site. So let's agree: if Panasonic wanted a blog; Panasonic has a blog and it has nothing to do with how DVinfo is run.

2. I did give the blog a quick read once Chris kindly pointed it out by starting this thread -- didn't see anything new, except perhaps more direct negativity toward HDV than I've seen in the official Panasonic documents I've read. My perception is that rather than shielding tender souls from hard questions in discussion board posts or presenting new information, it is a vehicle to slide in negative commentary against competitors...will it really be a first source of newly released information? That would surprise me, but ya never know. Even if so, I don't need to follow the blog because anything new will be talked about on DVinfo almost immediately.

3. So does the fact that the blog doesn't sit well with me mean I won't buy an HVX200? True, it doesn't help to endear Panasonic to me, but in the end it doesn't much matter. Whichever camera best suits my needs will be the one I buy. I'll determine that by gathering technical facts (like sensor and lens details one of these days!) about the camera and the most nearly objective expert opinions available to me. My sources will be official spec sheets, white papers, hands-on reports and images, and last but not least DVinfo, including posts from Jan, who deserves no end of kudos for maintaining a presence here!

I look at it this way:

I know it's a Panasonic website and fully appreciate that everything in it is aimed at marketing the camera. But at the very least it's not fictitious nor erroneous information. It's not hearsay nor unsupported guesswork. I can peruse it for details about a product that may not be found elsewhere.

In no way would I think of it as an unbiased source of information. Rather I consider it a dynamic version of a brochure. Nothing more.

I look at it this way:

(...) But at the very least it's not fictitious nor erroneous information. It's not hearsay nor unsupported guesswork. I can peruse it for details about a product that may not be found elsewhere (...)


Well, let's see if this "Josh" persona is real. I particularly like his "visit to a friend" in Japan and inside look to the Panasonic HQ there... It sounds so "genuine"....

I agree. Dvinfo is one of the best international forums for dv production out there. It is my primary source for real hands-on experience. People have their own likings here like anywhere in the web, but these boards are very well moderated and have a user group whose knowhow is immense. Add to that a very rational and respectful discussion code, and you get really good information to help you on your productions.

As for unbiased blogs, I suggest hdforindies.com. It's a very informative Blog from someone who really knows his business. If you like to discuss the HVX with a little Bias towards the camera (naturally), just go to dvxuser.com. While biased, its still one of the best resources for indie filmmakers. But since mostly everyone over there is a owner of a DVX (and happy about it), you certainly will not hear very bad comments for the camera... And these people are a heck of a lot more influencial in a marketing sense than a certain "Tosh"...

Hi,

The purpose of the "blog" is to discuss the camera, its inner workings, P2 and DVCPRO HD, where that is all that is discussed. It is intended as an educational forum in the long run and hopefully it will turn out that way.

An alternative approach would have been simply to create a site and call it it P2/DVCPRO HD Education - or something similar.

Canopus did this with the advent of HDV. They created a separate site called HDV Education. It can be found here:
http://www.canopushdv.com/abouthdv/

I think it did a reasonable job of explaining many aspects of the HDV format and how Canopus products worked with it. I hope that they will do something similar for their P2 editing solution.

<<<hdforindies.com>>>>


Agree! Mike runs one of the best ""REAL"" blogs out there on filmmaking.

Congratulations Panasonic. A human voice to encourage questions from users.

So far a total of 9 "replies" to 3 articles. Thats ummm ... 3 per article on average. Looks like this thing is a rip roaring success.

Is it just me ... I think this might have got more exposure if they had come clean and posted this blog on the Panasonic website to begin with..

I can't say there's anything wrong with the idea if it's presented in an upfront fashion and placed where it squarely belongs; on the Panasonic website.

Which Panasonic site, exactly? There's quite a few of them. The blog is clearly labeled "brought to you by Panasonic," it's right at the top where you can't miss it. I don't see what the big deal is.

A hand-picked team of moderators is on guard against policy (http://www.dvinfo.net/network/policy.php) violations around the clock to keep DVinfo's signal to noise ratio sky high. So your comment in this thread justifying the blog because "...someone can ask a question relative to the intent and not be blasted with diogatory [sic] comments about the camera. I know that it doesn't happen as often around here ..." does not sit well. Even softened, that characterization of DVinfo is simply not justified; yes, tough questions are perfectly within bounds but intimidating or rude? No. Very few get by the team for even as much as a few hours. I settled here as a regular member, and eventually became a moderator, precisely because DVinfo is a pleasant and highly informative site. So let's agree: if Panasonic wanted a blog; Panasonic has a blog and it has nothing to do with how DVinfo is run. Thanks Pete for stating this better than I could have. Our regular, dedicated members know this already, but for someone who tends to peruse a lot of other message boards out there on the web, it's easy to make the mistake of lumping DVinfo in with all the rest. I can forgive Jan for that, as she spends a lot of time putting out fires on other sites; with all that surfing elsewhere on the web, it might be easy to overlook the big difference that we offer here. This isn't your average message board. I'm glad to see that Panasonic thinks enough of us to throw us a link from that blog. Besides the blog format doesn't really compete with what we do here. Ultimately Pete is right: Panasonic has a blog and it has nothing to do with how DVinfo is run.

I don't need to follow the blog because anything new will be talked about on DVinfo almost immediately.Giddyup!

I'd have to agree with several posters here that this so-called "blog" could do more harm than good in the long run. Users of high-tech equipment are not fools, and the minute they sniff something rotten in the air, they can get really nasty. If the HVX200 is as good as it is being made out to be, then it'll virtually sell itself. If it's not, and the "Blog" turns out to be an attempt to disguise technological shortcomings in the product, I wouldn't want to be in Jan's shoes!

Jan is one of the best reps in this industry ever! Sooner or later, everyone who follows a particular thread will know from whence the source of information comes and judge how much color is true color.
That's even true for political hacks running blogs fronting for interest groups under the guise of being independent. The defperception site clearly states it's a panasonic site so I have no problem with it. We will all gage out reaction to whatever information comes out of a site by the responses of those we trust. That's the key to a successful blog = trust.

Which Panasonic site, exactly? There's quite a few of them. The blog is clearly labeled "brought to you by Panasonic," it's right at the top where you can't miss it. I don't see what the big deal is.


It wasn't always there.
I'm glad to see that now it's clearly marked as a Panasonic site.

I don't have a problem with this form of marketing like others seem to, as long as it's clear that it's coming from Panasonic and not some sort of third party objective source. It doesn't sit too well with me that they made up a guy who (supposedly) is not part of panasonic, but at least the site is clearly marked with "brought to you by Panasonic."

The thing that perplexes me is who is this site aimed at?
It seems like the market of people who would be considering purchasing the HVX are professionals, or would at least like to think of themselves as professionals. I can't seem many video professionals feeling too good about communicating with what boils down to a company mascot. It just seems kind of strange.

It wasn't always there. I'm glad to see that now it's clearly marked as a Panasonic site.I'm aware of that; in fact that's the reason I've held off posting about it. Only until they "made it official" that it is in fact a Panasonic operated site, did I bother mentioning it here. It's been around for a little while... nice to see it finally go "legit" under an official Panasonic badge.

The sign saying "Brought to you by Panasonic" wasn't always there, like Luis said. The site is active for a long time, like Chris said, and that sign wasn't there. That's why I said something about user feedback making Panasonic "come clean". If you see the Bloger's info, he never says he is from Panasonic, just that he mght have some "inside info"because he "knows some sources from the inside". But its time to put this to rest, i believe. The HVX still sounds like the best of the low end pro HD cameras on Paper, and Panasonic has to know that its the real life results the camera achieves that will make the success of this camera. User feedback in sites like DVinfo.net will eventually help the sales of the camera- not fake blogs.

Which Panasonic site, exactly? There's quite a few of them. The blog is clearly labeled "brought to you by Panasonic," it's right at the top where you can't miss it. I don't see what the big deal is.

Chris - to be fair I did say "posted on the Panasonic website to begin with" in other words from inception.

As to which website I would have thought the appropriate product website/s. And the only point I was trying to make was that presented in a straightforward fashion on a Panasonic site they would have got more traffic (and less criticism).

...That's why I said something about user feedback making Panasonic "come clean". If you see the Bloger's info, he never says he is from Panasonic, just that he mght have some "inside info"because he "knows some sources from the inside".

Sergio, Agree. Honesty is your best bet, and product should sell itself.

Personally, I think a blog's use in today's corporate world is a dangerous thing. With the likes of email and public postings being regarded as legal fodder, a slip of the tongue (er, smack of a few wrong keys) can set a company up for trouble.

Maybe I'm paranoid -or because I work in corporate communications in the heavily regulated medical device field. Regardless, we had consultants come in and train us on the do's and dont's of public communication. "Be careful what you say in your email, or post on a public site." A blog is certainly no different.

I have no problem with specs, brochures, advertisements, and now blogs... all of which can be grossly misinterpreted... all of which are marketing. Often there is a lot of marketing leading up to a product release, and then very little support or commentary afterwards. The nice thing about a blog is the frequency of updates.

David Newman of Cineform runs a blog (http://cineform.blogspot.com/) that I like to peruse regularly. His statements are typically well-informed and professional, not to mention backed up by evidence. He also plays with toys I can only dream of. Of course it's centered around Cineform's products... but that's the point.

All methods aside, I think the most valuable marketing a product can get is unsolicited praise from actual users. That's where DVinfo comes in.

-Steve

Chris - to be fair I did say "posted... to begin with" in other words from inception.My apologies John for not catching that the first time around.

Jan,

First I'd like to say that my hat is off to you for being so active in this forum. I can't believe how many manufacturers can't grasp the concept of the amount of buying decisions that are made from a forum like this on an hourly basis.

On to your comments for Panasonic's fake blog:

The purpose of the "blog" is to discuss the camera, its inner workings, P2 and DVCPRO HD, where that is all that is discussed. It is intended as an educational forum in the long run and hopefully it will turn out that way.
Why be deceitful then by making up a person?
Why not just post what you just wrote here at the top of the page?
Why did you choose a blog instead of a forum?

We chose a voice because I didn't want it to be me, heck, I am already too "popular" and that is a handicap for me. That was not and is not my ever my intention. I am hoping that Tosh can funnel questions to me that I can answer, and to others in the organization that others might better answer, thereby serving the community and getting the right answers to folks.
Then why not hire a real person who knows the product (and other HDV products) like the back of their hand?
Pay them $40 to $50k per year and/or give them a % on units sold directly through the site as an incentive. Even if your net profit was only $200 per unit (which I think is VERY conservative), your site would only have to sell 200 to 250 units PER YEAR... Internationally to break even. The world is flat you know - A quick glance down the "Locations" from the members in this thread alone can quickly illustrate that... Cape Town, South Africa to Tokyo, Japan to Houston, Texas. You would be directly over the person you choose to represent your product(s) and meet on an "as needed basis" or for a fixed amount of time by day. You could also hop on the web anytime to see how it's going and see if your help is needed. Plus, if your person was good (and product proves to be good), you could begin capturing the HDV market while it's in its beginning stages.
I am hoping that it does work.
Easy enough to tell. Ask Chris if you can do a poll in this forum to see how many people from this forum are going (and continue to go back to) to your blog after they read about here. Personally, I went once - was on it for about 2 minutes - and left... and have not returned. Everybody in this forum is too intelligent for a concept like TOSH, might as well have called it HAL, HAL 9000.

You can take a look at my profile, as well as some of my other post and see that I'm a member of your target audience. And will be buying another camera, which actually at this point will probably be a DVX100B, but I may wait a little bit longer to see if my money would be better spent on a HVX.

Like I said at the beginning - I applaud you for being so active in this forum. It's for that reason that I just took 30 minutes of my 24 hour day(18, after six hours of sleep) to give you a few suggestions.

But hey what do I know, I'm just a college grad with a degree in Advertising, with an additional Area of Emphasis in Marketing and a minor in Graphic Design... who's discovered the wonderful world of DV!

Great points Derek West.......



Here are some definitions of the word blog. When you read these, it makes it very clear that Panasonic marketing did a ""FUBAR"" on this blog matter....


Definition:

1. • A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger." Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog.

2. • a public web site where users post informal journals of their thoughts, comments, and philosophies, updated frequently and normally reflecting the views of the blog's creator.

3 • A personal journal/diary that is available on the web.




Making up a person/voice was bad just like Sony Pictures did in 2001 with the fake critic named: "" David Manning ""

very, very ucky............

Pappas

In my opinion, and this is no way a reflection on Jan, I think the term "BLOG" is just a popular "Internets" term tossed loosely around board room tables, with half of the people using the term not even knowing the meaning.

My apologies John for not catching that the first time around.
Chris you never have to apologise for anything around here.

As usual you are just the voice of reason...

Derek West wrote:

>Why be deceitful then by making up a person?

Hi Derek,

I don't see it as deceit, but a response to a rather a known fact about human nature. People talk to people and giving it a persona, does this.

>Why not just post what you just wrote here at the top of the page?

We were trying something new, however from the beginning it was always identified as Panasonic, by the copyright notice. But since none of us have done this before, we are learning. Maybe not fast enough for the most critical but frankly we are working at it and trying to make the turns necessary to make it a resource.

>Why did you choose a blog instead of a forum?

A forum would compete with nice places like this. It is not a forum, we didn't want that, the post stays on track and doesn't get hijacked. And even in the best of forums this happens. We wanted to establish a learning scenario about P2, DVCPRO HD and the HVX200, and with luck it can become a world wide spot. It has some growing pains and I hope we can make it past the uproar, because the one thing we am not willing to have happen, is that the uproar over an informational "blog" turn folks sour on one of the coolest little cameras introduced in years. We will pull the plug on Tosh if need be.

>Then why not hire a real person who knows the product (and other HDV products) like the back of their hand? Pay them $40 to $50k per year and/or give them a % on units sold directly through the site as an incentive.

We have a team of brilliant folks that are behind Tosh and we make alot more money than that. ;-) See, the problem is with notoriety, comes fame, and it drives me nuts. I can be standing in a tradeshow booth and one of our sales people will bring a customer over that is familiar with me via the internet. I can see it happen, there is an immediate disconnect with their local sales person and the followup email that is to me and not to their local person, proves me out. To make it an individual, creates a monster, Barry Green, Chris Hurd, all know what I am talking about. It happens, it is human. We wanted a person to talk to but to leave him as a persona so he wouldn't be tracked down at every trade show.

>Plus, if your person was good (and product proves to be good), you could begin capturing the HDV market while it's in its beginning stages.

Frankly the team that back Tosh right now is some of the best. Our marketing the blog has been a little flawed, but show me the model to follow in the video industry. We are doing something that is totally out of the box, not to be trite or use a cliche, but it has not been done before.

>Easy enough to tell. Ask Chris if you can do a poll in this forum to see how many people from this forum are going (and continue to go back to) to your blog after they read about here.

You may find that over time you do go back to Tosh for info, and then come here to discuss, as I can assure you that Tosh will have the information first. ;-)

>You can take a look at my profile, as well as some of my other post and see that I'm a member of your target audience. And will be buying another camera, which actually at this point will probably be a DVX100B, but I may wait a little bit longer to see if my money would be better spent on a HVX.

I apreciate that and the fact that you are considering a Pansonic camera. And the DVX100B is an awesome little camera, I am absolutely pleased with the features that the factory gave us, it truly made a great little camera even better.

>Like I said at the beginning - I applaud you for being so active in this forum. It's for that reason that I just took 30 minutes of my 24 hour day(18, after six hours of sleep) to give you a few suggestions.

Thank you, I appreciate the feedback. It is only with the feedback that we can round out the site and make it into what we want it to be. We don't want it to compete with the forums, this is really one of the best ones, and in no way do I want to change that. But if I want to have a site that helps even the beginners along, that is part of the aim, or acts a resource for the more experienced, that too is the objective. It is so much in its intital growing stages that it cannot all be covered here, and only with some time behind it can it develop to what it will become.

>But hey what do I know, I'm just a college grad with a degree in Advertising, with an additional Area of Emphasis in Marketing and a minor in Graphic Design... who's discovered the wonderful world of DV!

And it is one of the reasons that I responded to this post. I do appreciate your suggestions, and you have been respectful to the folks that worked very hard on this project with me. I have been on the web since 1992, and a geek since a child. I have been in this business since 1974, and no I wasn't 12 when I took my first professional job. ;-) I think that the internet has and will continue to play an influential role in the video business as Video and IT become closer and closer. All of this means that we are paying attention, we are attempting to develop something that has not been done before and before we go crazy with it, we need to see if it can at least stop drawing negative commentary like we are some evil empire.

Okay so we have now made it about as clear, on the blog, as a blue sky on a hot summer's day as to what the site is, let's see how it goes from here.

Thanks for the insights.

Best regards,

Jan

Jan,

Thank you for your comments. You have some points I agree with and some that I don't. But overall, from what I've seen in this forum you are a real contributor and Panasonic should be happy to have you representing them. I also appreciate that you are trying new concepts that benefit your clients.

You mentioned something -
"We have a team of brilliant folks that are behind Tosh."

Now knowing that, I think you may have gotten an even better response with a "HVX200 team" blog. People like dealing with people, and I'm sure your team would not mind helping you out with the notoriety & fame at the trade shows.

Best of luck to you and your team with your current and future product endeavors. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your comments in DVinfo.net and seeing the HVX200 in December.

Derek, perhaps you've hit on a key issue for Jan and her team.

My belief is that consumers are yearning for a personal touch to world that is increasingly becoming detached from itself. So substituting Tosh with the "HVX100 Team" would immediately give credibility to the site as the pre-eminent source of accurate information on this product. There is no need for one person to take on this role, personally I'd be more likely to place trust in a team, rather than an individual.

Your point on Jan having a presence here is very well made. I can appreciate why retailers sometimes avoid presence on boards, particulary when their products are causing problems for their users (not suggesting the DVX100 is!). There is a risk associated with making statements about products, particularly considering that DVinfo is very well indexed by google, and the site itself is archived. However, Jan, sites like this and a few others that I participate in (like pana3ccduser, dvxuser etc.) are populated by folks who are fans of particular products, and altruistically volunteering large amounts of time to assist others with the same. This can only lead to sales.

So the fact that the DVX100 is a great product backed by a real human presence "stepping down from the corporate heavens to interact with mere consumers" is refreshing, smart, and entirely appreciated. Why do so many corporations feature their CEO in the marketing scheme on TV and otherwise?

The Blog is another intelligent attempt to connect to your consumers, and with a few tweaks, will be very well received. Cheers.

Incidentally, I like the idea of a "team".

Now that it has been exlipicitly stated that "Tosh" is a virtual person, any interest in the content I had has plummetted.

What would strike me ideal is having the "blog" openly run by a team of real people - each of which with their own expertise and profile. Questions could be sent to the blog, directed to a specific member of the team, which could then be answered by the person best suited to answering them.

A personal touch is a good thing.

-Steve

I agree. The simple fact that Tosh is a virtual entity turns people off immediately. The blog itself is a great idea, if it develops further. But having a non-existent guy run it... well, it has a certain psychological effect on people. I think.

A frank, open alternative - an actual team of unnamed individuals from Panasonic helping out with P2, DVCPRO HD and all these concepts - would have a much, much better impact -if only for the reason that other companies don't do it. It gives us a feeling that Panasonic is warmer, closer to the public.

But put that invented character Tosh there, and the effect is definitely inverted - a feeling of deceit instead of reaching out to people.

"Tosh" is vaporware, eh?

Jan,

What originally sold me on my cam was seeing footage in DVinfo.net's forum and then seeing the comments behind the footage.

Since resources don't seem to be a problem at Panasonic -

"We have a team of brilliant folks that are behind Tosh and we make alot more money than that."

Why don't you give 5 of your HVX's to some people who can really do something with them and give them space on a site? They could post real comments on the camera and more importantly, the entire workflow related to using their camera all the way from the "shoot" to distributing their finished product. They would use the cameras for their regular work, in addition to special "Panasonic HVX200 Projects."

Good footage sells and knowing that it's possible for me, the average person, to make this footage (with the right skills and other necessary equipment), is why I buy.

This concept would just help Panasonic market it's products like athletic sports equipment & apparel manufacturer's have been doing for decades.

Take a look at this JVC HD100 thread for inspiration:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=53759

Then take a look at the hits and comments and hits it's gotten (and that's just since Nov 3rd). This thread will be viewed for the next two years by intelligent people wanting to make an educated buying decision, and anyone looking for guidance in which HDV or HD camera is not going to pass it up. When it came to my last purchase, there were actually two people who encouraged me to buy the XL2 and they never said a thing. It was the footage and reading posts by Steev Dinkins & Josh Caldwell.

By the way, Nate, Steev and Josh are real people (or Canon and JVC have done a fine job in creating them).

Kind Regards.

But remember...it's not marketing. :-)

Kevin

Don't worry. This issue will solve itself. Once these camera's hit the shelves, I'm sure the blog's we'd like to see will come out..