The digital camcorder, along with the advent of sites such as Youtube, have turned just about everyone into miniature Scorseses. Before, the old style video camera used to be the exclusive domain of that uncle who wouldn't let anyone within 14 feet of his prized contraption. Now, camcorders are completely digital, can fit inside the palm of your hand and can be hooked up to your computer to upload your movies straight to your desktop.

Before you run out and purchase a camcorder so you can create the next great epic, there are certain things you should ask, research and find out. If you've made the decision to purchase a digital video recorder, you probably have a nice chunk of change saved up to do so. Asking the following questions before you buy your memory making machine now can save you a ton of money & even more aggravation later.

1. How long will the battery last? Camcorders can run out of juice in a hurry, so you want to make sure that the battery will last longer than all the videos or hijinks you plan to shoot.

2. Can I hold it? If the camcorder you purchase is cumbersome and uncomfortable, the quality of the video that you'll shoot will be the same. Handle, fiddle and get to know the video camera you intend on buying before you buy it.

3. What media can I create with this thing? Videos, obviously. But, can you make DVD's with it? What kind of files will it record and where can I play them? And most importantly, can I upload embarrassing videos of my friends to the internet?

4. What accessories come with this? Don't ask what accessories do I need, because salespeople will tell you that you need everything! Find out what's available with the camcorder, and decide for yourself if you need it.

Those are just some questions to ask before you purchase a digital video camcorder for yourself. You can have a ton of fun (and get into even more trouble too) with a camcorder. But, without asking some important questions, you won't have much fun and you'll be asking for way too much trouble.