Digital picture frames

[mrdale]

Anyone have any experience with digital picture frames ? What works, what doesn't ? Looking to make a holiday purchase.

dale

[kirbinster]

I have several of them and love them. The most recent one I got was a Pandigital 12.1" from Costco. It is the older 4 x 3 format which I live better than the new 16 x 9 format screens. The software with it is not great, but if you are used to using lightroom or photoshop to resize pictures that is not an issue. The main difference is resolution and software on the frames - the more you pay the better it is. But if you have any digital capability there really is no need to use their software. Further, you don't need super high resolution. Just say away from the real cheap ones that are something like 320 x 400 resolution.

[TFord.LTTP]

If you're going somewhere like BestBuy throw some pictures on a memory card and take it in to stick in the frames since a lot of them vary in terms of quality even within brand. Of course something like the HP Dreamscreen is incredible at $250 but I picked up an 8" Insignia for my mom last mothers day for like $80 that still looks good. A lot of it comes down to what you want to spend and your expectations.

I will agree you don't need crazy high resolution but look more at what resolution is paired with what size. They're getting better but a alot of 7" and below were ~640x480 (depending on aspect ratio) or below where you step up to an 8" and you're getting ~800x600 which is another 25% resolution in not that much bigger area so usually significantly sharper. On the other hand a lot of the frames 10" and above will still be ~800x600 so lower dpi, usually lower quality panels as well to keep cost down and if you look at them from off to the side or from higher above (like you would when it's on an end table) the viewing angles sometimes are a lot lower.

Bottom line is check out your own photos on it for yourself first and make sure the return policy works for you.