Digital Photo Frames - advice please?

katyk_2

Hi
Can any one give me any advice about digital photo frames as I have just come across the idea (yes I know i'm living in the ice age) and think it may well be the idea I have been looking for regarding the parents who don't really need anything specific for xmas!
Trouble is I don't know much about them ie price ranges, which makes are good/bad etc
Any advice would be really appreciated!
Thanks a lot
Katyk

bob_a_builder

Apart from the obvious points about size and resolution etc

One thing to consider is - does it plug in a play right away or do you have to press fiddly buttons etc to get it showing pictures each time you switch it on - if so probably not ideal for the oldies !

If it wasn't for that very feature ( or lack of it) I would recommend the Linx 8" (720x480) (reviews here)- you can get it for about £69 - did get some 7" (480x234) last year - But Linx much better image quality etc
BUT unfortunately it doesnt start up showing pictures on its own !!!

and if I may plug my own thread regarding how you might put stuff on it - HERE

Oh, and did I say, steer well clear of anything to do with Redsave - I usually do !

You can get a better indication of range and prices HERE

katyk_2

Thanks Bob
Dad pretty good with his digital camera although at 83 may be better to avoid anything too technical. Mum will just leave him to it then sit and enjoy the end product!
Certainly gives me somewhere to start looking

bob_a_builder

Unfortunatly, whilst all the sites flogging these will tell you resolution etc etc.

Very few, if any will mention the auto start up feature.

What we really need is those users who do have one that will auto start let us know model etc so we can build up a list. (i'm intrested too)

I'm sure most of these are bought for just the reasons you say, and so would need them to be as simple as possible to use at that level.

Any extra button pressing just to get the thing displaying pictures on a daily basis is likely to mean it just won't get used

donny-gal

Hi I have this on order to collect (purchased with voucher so less):
http://www.jessops.com/Store/s69700/0/Digital-Picture-Frames/Jessops/8-High-Resolution-Digital-Photo-Frame-(Black-Acrylic)/details.aspx?&comp=n

Can anyone comment on the quality or ease of use of this?

Thanks
DG

katyk_2

OK can I get this right please? These little wonder gadgets (note the highly technical terminology) allow you to select about 50 of your fav digital photos and have them on show in rotation on the mantlepiece? Someone has also suggested you can download pictures off the net to include on your choice? (DD was earwigging and having glorious thoughts over 'photos' of fav young actors/popstars waving at her from the mantlepiece!) So what else above the actual frame would I need to buy? Do I need a further little chip thingy so that dads one stays in his camera? (In case anyone is curious, I am not blonde!)
Thanks

converse

The Phillips models get very good reviews, but sometimes fail for no reason, so buy from a reputable outlet, with a warranty. John Lewis have many on show, and there is a £20 offer off £100 until 19/12/07 the discount code is TEL258CCT200.

bob_a_builder

Do I need a further little chip thingy so that dads one stays in his camera? (In case anyone is curious, I am not blonde!)

You will need a memory card of some sort to suit the Frame - should be mentioned in spec of frame
And also a card reader ( unless your PC already has one) - although some frames allow you to connect to them via USB and to write the pictures to the memory card which you have plugged into the frame

You can then put card from camera in reader, copy all pictures onto the PC
put blank card in reader and write pictures to the new card which will live in the frame

As I already said though its well worth spending a little more time to crop those images to pick out the area of interest in the picture and to save space by using that Image Cropping software I was able to get some 400 pictures into 50 MB so no need for a massive card ( although they are cheap enough now)

bob_a_builder

Can anyone comment on the quality or ease of use of this?

The OP on this thread got one of those - try in that thread or PM'ing them
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=605165&highlight=digital+frame

computerwoman

I've just got this one for my brother and sister in law...

http://svp.co.uk/product/bluview_dpf_minus_056t_56_minus_inch_digital_photo_frame_4789

you can put a 2gb SD card in it you can bluetooth it with your pc or mobile phone via a dongle that you put in the frame or via usb cable I had it up and running in minutes and bluetoothed over some christmas desktops from

http://www.caedes.net/Zephir.cgi?lib=Caedes::Gallery&gallery=holidays

also you can put MP3's on it which I have put a couple of christmas song's on and it looks great sounds great and a 5 year old could use it...:D and video's

PeteMc

The Philips models are superb. They have no bells and whistles like sound and video but mine turns on and off automatically everyday (different timings at weekend). Picture quality is A1.