I don't know if my PM got to you, but the Flip UltraHD is a very good alternative for video shooting on a budget. It does 720p (1280x720px) and records 120min on the internal storage. It also has built in software (windows only) that will allow you take that footage directly to online services such as Youtube. It's currently $159 USD at Amazon.com.
http://www.amazon.com/Flip-UltraHD-C.../ref=pd_cp_p_3