Help buying Digital Picture frame

[Simon]

I'm looking to buy a frame for the girlfriend for Christmas. Let me know what I need so its not a crappy one but I can't spend over $75.

 

[Killick]

Staples has an 8" one for $69. Has decent features. Off-brand name, so I can't vouch for quality control.
Also, see: http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/64532/
(Though, there wasn't much help there...)

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Can't help much with specifics on brand or anything, but I would recommend going with a standard size as opposed to widescreen. A lot of them are widescreen, but the photos you'll be loading on the frame likely aren't.

 

[ArnoldBabar]

Keep in mind that you'll also have to buy or provide a memory card (SD card, memory stick) for the frame to work, so factor that expense in.

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

The price usually reflects screen size/resolution, whether you want Wifi and ability to play music and/or video, and some internal memory. If you just want to display pictures and don't need a large screen (if a 7- or 8-incher is OK), you may even be able to get a name brand like Kodak for under $75.


http://www.consumersearch.com/digital-picture-frames

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

Keep in mind that you'll also have to buy or provide a memory card (SD card, memory stick) for the frame to work, so factor that expense in.

Some have internal memories. I know the Sony one I bought does. So does the HP one I just bought. However, the HP one is a ***** to load. You can't load photos from the computer to the frames internal memory. You can only do so from a memory card.

 

[slappy4428]

Ms. Slappy bought one for her mother last year.. spent about 100 bucks and it was awful... still havent seen one I like,.

 

[ArnoldBabar]

Keep in mind that you'll also have to buy or provide a memory card (SD card, memory stick) for the frame to work, so factor that expense in.

Some have internal memories. I know the Sony one I bought does. So does the HP one I just bought. However, the HP one is a ***** to load. You can't load photos from the computer to the frames internal memory. You can only do so from a memory card.

Yeah, for the one I bought you have to buy a separate USB cord to link computer and frame directly. I was able to get photos preloaded on it using a memory stick, but even though the frame plays music, I couldn't get music files to transfer.

To do that, apparently you have to use the software CD that comes with it -- which doesn't work on a Mac. Funny, on the box they didn't list owning a Windows PC as a requirement for using the ****ing frame. Dicks.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

I just love the idea of someone named Simon buying a digital picture frame. I thought the things you drew came true??

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

Keep in mind that you'll also have to buy or provide a memory card (SD card, memory stick) for the frame to work, so factor that expense in.

Some have internal memories. I know the Sony one I bought does. So does the HP one I just bought. However, the HP one is a ***** to load. You can't load photos from the computer to the frames internal memory. You can only do so from a memory card.

Yeah, for the one I bought you have to buy a separate USB cord to link computer and frame directly. I was able to get photos preloaded on it using a memory stick, but even though the frame plays music, I couldn't get music files to transfer.

To do that, apparently you have to use the software CD that comes with it -- which doesn't work on a Mac. Funny, on the box they didn't list owning a Windows PC as a requirement for using the ****ing frame. Dicks.

That was my big worry; being Mac compatible. But I didn't get one that played music. And yes, I had to USB cord, too. But I just used the one that came with our digital camera.

The HP, though. That was a *****. Had to bring home a card reader from work, transfer photos onto the card, then pop the card into the frame. Then I have the option of either running the slideshow of all the photos on the card, or transferring only 45 pictures to the small frame's internal memory.

 

[beardpuller]

I bought an HP model for my mom for Christmas. You can load through a stick or a USB cable, which is what I did, the cable. All you do is right click on the photo you're sending. I spent $80 or so at Staples. I think the images look OK, and it seems pretty easy to use, which is a must, my mom being 80+

 

[txsportsscribe]

i hope this doesn't sound too ignorant of me but on your typical $75-$100 frame does it have to be connected to the computer or have a memory stick plugged in all the time to see the photos? and how many photos do they typically hold?

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

i hope this doesn't sound too ignorant of me but on your typical $75-$100 frame does it have to be connected to the computer or have a memory stick plugged in all the time to see the photos? and how many photos do they typically hold?

They vary. Find one that interests you and check the specs, read a review or two.

At that price, if there's any internal memory, it's probably 128 MB. How many photos that holds depends on the photos' quality -- higher-quality photos use more memory. I'd guess about 100 for the average user.

Just about all of them accept memory cards. Usually they can also connect to your computer via USB or accept a USB external drive the size of a pack of gum, which nowadays can hold from 1-32 GB. Some slightly more expensive frames can connect to your computer wirelessly.

 

[Del_B_Vista]

Try this:
http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-picture-frames/?tag=pm

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

i hope this doesn't sound too ignorant of me but on your typical $75-$100 frame does it have to be connected to the computer or have a memory stick plugged in all the time to see the photos? and how many photos do they typically hold?

Big Sony I bought holds "up to 500 photos" in its internal memory but I'm guessing more around 200 of high quality.

The small HP one I bought holds "up to 45 photos" in its internal memory.

They both work with memory cards.