Hi Bob: AVCHD is a 4:2:0, 8-bit, MPEG-4, long-GOP codec. The Panasonic HMR10 records this to SDHC cards at a max. data rate of 24 megabits/sec.
Apple's ProRes codec files are typically encoded @ 10-bit and contain much, much more video information (4:2:2 or 4:4:4) and at data rates up to dozens of times higher than the particular AVCHD implementation used in the HMR10.
There's lots of good info out there about ProRes, including here on the COW (see the Final Cut Pro & AJA forums). The following PVC article describes in part the ProRes recording modes relevant to the AJA KiPro, and the Apple article describes the newest ProRes modes available for post-production:
http://provideocoalition.com/index.php/apple/story/prores_a_closer_look/
http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/finalcutpro/apple-prores.html
And, yes, the KiPro can be run from an external battery. Its I/O and specs are described in detail on AJA's website.
AVCHD recordings created from a high quality source can look very good, and certainly are occasionally broadcast. However, AVCHD's technical capabilities/limitations may or may not be appropriate for every application.
ProRes recordings have many fewer technical limitations compared to AVCHD, so ProRes is appropriate when higher quality is desirable.
