A big breakout item this year for Christmas gifting seems to be computer picture frames. These have been around for a number of years, but the technology seems to be finally clicking — USB and memory card interfaces, decent quantities of memory, decent resolution on the pictures. The ones I’ve been seeing most commonly run $100-$300 for something pretty nice.
Just two concerns:
- You have to know that if the prices are that right now, next year they’ll be half the price for twice the memory and resolution.
- I’m just not sure where I’d put one. Where is a backlit digital picture appropriate? If you put multiple pictures in rotation, how distracting is it, and do you really want people standing in your hall, or office, or family room, or bathroom watching the photos cycle? Sure, the screen saver on your PC is fine for that sort of thing — but that’s different from something hung on the wall as decor.
It’s this latter problem that really keeps me from asking for one — or thinking of getting one for anybody. What do you guys think?
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I’ve asked my family for one for a couple of reasons:
1. When we have our annual Star of India crew party, we all bring photos to share. However, making multiple copies gets pricey especially when you don’t know who might want a particular photo. With the digital format, it means printing photos no one might want. This way I can put the best shots in the frame and them let people write down what photo they want, and I can email them – no photo paper used.
2. I can them put the frame in my house and enjoy those (and other photos) until I’m sick of them and then change them around. I kind of thinking of putting the frame (should Santa grant my wish) on my desk.
I’m likely going to set the frame to change daily, but that’s just my preference. I’d think you’d like a frame on your desk that showed a “new” photo of say Katherine or Margie, or even a great shot of the Rockies (the mountains not the baseball team). I think we get used to the photos that are always the same and don’t actually notice them after a while. Plus I plan on scanning a couple of older shots that I’d like to see.
You mileage may vary.
I added one to our wedding registry because I suspect we’re going to get a TON of wedding photos, not just from the professional photographer, but also from our guests. I want a fun and easy way to display a selection of pics without wallpapering the house with framed prints.
My brother gave one to my parents, loaded with a bunch of pictures of their new grandson. They love it. It sits in the living room, and I’m not sure how frequently the picture changes, but I think it’s on the order of every 15 minutes. It’s slow enough to change that I am not inclined to hang out there to see what comes next, instead I glance at it when I go by to see if it is showing something I haven’t seen yet.
When my parents come back from a trip, Mom sometimes pops the chip out and puts in a chip straight from her camera, before she’s chosen the ones she wants printed. I’m not sure how she proceeds, but I think having the picture show going somehow helps her decide what pictures she wants to print.
I suspect that my brother will give my parents a new chip with a bunch of new pictures of their grandson for Christmas. So they will get a whole new set of pictures without any need for a new digital frame.
My feeling is that they’re best suited for pictures that have a relatively short wall-life: pictures you might want to have around for a little while but that you don’t want to go to the trouble of printing, framing, and hanging. They might also solve a wall-space problem, allowing you to “display” a bunch of pictures in a very small space.
Excellent comments, all of you.
1. Yes, if it can be set to change every 15 minutes, or hour, or daily, that would be nice. I was deceived by store displays where they cycle like a screen saver, which I would think would be (as said) very distracting.
2. “Short life cycle” photos — yes, that makes sense, too. Or maybe a “hmmm, am I going to love this enough to print and frame?” kind of thing.
Gives me something to ponder, it does. Thanks, all.
It’s a super-cheap public information system for businesses. Put it in a waiting room showing people exercising, showing healthy menu items, etc. (or if you want to be negative, chest x-rays of smokers). Put one where it can be seen by people waiting in line or waiting to be seated at a restaurant. Insert pictures illustrating menu items (at a coffee shop or restaurant), or documents they’ll need (such as at college registrar), or information the customer should be aware of (such as what worn tires look like at a car place).
That’s a good point (though only applicable to me if I were running a business).