Digital picture frames are a still relatively new category of consumer electronics, but already there are too many of them. Choosing can be daunting for consumers. However if you stick with high performing brands from Kodak, Smartparts, or Portable USA, you usually will do fine.
These FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS can make it easier to buy the best digital photo frame for your needs:
Q: What features should I look for when comparing brands and models?
Q: What size digital photo frame should I get?
Q: Which digital picture frame makes the best gift (but is also affordable)?
Q: Are digital picture frames easy to use?
Q: What if I don't know what color or style frame I want?
Q: Do I need to worry about getting memory or a memory card?
Q: Should I get a digital photo frame with internal memory?
Q: What digital frame resolution is best?
Q: I have high resolution pictures or I want to display very clear and detailed pictures on my digital frame. Which ones are best?
Q: Is a remote control important for a digital picture frame?
Q: How will I get my pictures from my camera or my computer to my new digital picture frame?
Q: Should I get a wireless digital picture frame?
Q: Should I read digital picture frame reviews before I buy?
Q: What digial frame brands are the best?
Q: What features should I look for when comparing brands and models?
- Size of the frame (usually somewhere between 5 inches and 12 inches). We recommend at least a 7 inch frame.
- Color and style of the actual frame. This is a picture frame with an actual frame, often wooden. What color do you want? Most a basic and fit any decor. Consider a variable color frame option.
- Screen resolution
- Internal memory or external memory only
- Wireless capability
There are many other features but the above is most important. top of page
Q: What size digital photo frame should I get?
- Basically, whatever you can afford, but a 7 inch or 8 inch looks great on a desktop, in an office, and in most rooms.
- We recommend at least a 7 inch frame.
- Go 11 inch or 12 inch if you plan to put in a large room or hang on a wall.
Q: Which digital picture frame makes the best gift (but is also affordable)?
Decided on a digital frame as a gift for someone? Here's what we'd recommend:
- The best quality frames at affordable prices: Kodak P520 5 inch or Smartparts SP700B 7inch.
- Bigger, nicer frames for a little more: Kodak M820 8 inch, Portable USA PU-10W 10 inch, or Smartparts SPX8 8 inch.
- "I want to get something really nice for Mom/Dad/Grand mom/Grandad": Kodak W820 8 inch Wireless, Kodak W1020 10 inch Wireless, or Portable USA PU-12WB
Q: Are digital picture frames easy to use?
- Yes! If you can use a digital camera, HDTV, or cellphone you'll have no problem.
- Even if your digital frame is a gift for someone who is less technology savy, simply loading pictures and displaying them is quite simple.
- As with any device, there are advanced features and configurations on some digital frames that take more learning. But in general, digital frames are user friendly gadgets.
Q: What if I don't know what color or style frame I want?
- Strongly consider Kodak's popular frames with a 'Home Decor Kit'. These come with 2 additional mattes and a black faceplate so you can create up to 6 unique looks.
- Most of the Smartparts frames have very simple and stylish looks. The frames are black or brown wood and will match most any room.
Q: Do I need to worry about getting memory or a memory card?
- Probably. Just like digital cameras, digital frames need a memory device to store pictures. The good news is they are very inexpensive and hold 1000s of pictures.
- Most digital frames accept several different kinds of memory cards and formats. We'd recommend just getting a simple 2GB or 4GB SD Flash Memory Card (~$8-$12), which virtually all accept.
- You'll see some digital frames with internal memory, which can eliminate the need for a memory card, but even with these a memory card is handy for transferring pictures.
Q: Should I get a digital photo frame with internal memory?
- Its not necessary, but of the 'optional' features in a digital frame, this is one of the most useful.
- Since an inexpensive SD memory card will 1000s of pictures, internal memory is not necessary.
- Internal memory is a nice feature on a frame as it will make storing collections of pictures over time simpler (and you plan to have this frame for a long time, correct?)
Q: What digital frame resolution is best?
- It all depends on what size frame you have. For example, a 7 inch or 8 inch should have at least 480 x 234 resolution. A 10 inch need 800 x 480.
- Fortunately, all the digital frames at DSF.com have been chosen to have the recommended resolution for their size. Many have more.
Q: I have high resolution pictures or I want to display very clear and detailed pictures on my digital frame. Which ones are best?
- Get a higher resolution digital frame, preferably 800 x 480 minimum.
- The Smartparts SP1000EF 10.4" and Portable USA PU-12WB 12.1" both have big screens and 800x600 resolution.
Q: Is a remote control important for a digital picture frame?
- In our opinion, no. If you plan to use a digital frame for just displaying photos on your desk or around the house, its probably not mandatory.
- However remember digital frames have many features like slide show modes, photo sorting, volume, alarms, and more that make a remote nice if the frame isn't on your desk.
Q: How will I get my pictures from my camera or my computer to my new digital picture frame?
- There are multiple methods, but in general its quite simple and straightforward.
- A memory device (SD memory card or USB flash drive) can simply be taken out of your camera and plugged into the frame with pictures. It works almost the same from a computer.
- From your computer, a USB cord is usually attached much like you do with your digital camera.
- This shouldn't be too big a factor in choosing your frame as they all make it fairly easy. UNLESS, you are considering a wireless digital picture frame.
Q: Should I get a wireless digital picture frame?
- You should strongly consider it. The Wi-Fi feature adds some costs but it is definitely where digital frames are going.
- A wireless digital picture frame makes transferring pictures from your computer much simpler. Basically, you can set your frame up to connect and download new pictures frequently from your picture management software like Flickr or Picasa.
- There are new services like FRAMECHANNEL that allow wireless digital picture frames to also stream news, weather, and other info. As mentioned, this is the future of digital photo frames.
- The Kodak W820 8 inch Wireless and Kodak W1020 10 inch Wireless are great wireless digital picture frames.
Q: Should I read digital picture frame reviews before I buy?
- If you have the time! As mentioned, there's a flood of digital frames on the market. Knowing which ones are better than others is tough for individuals consumers, but independent reviews are certainly a great source.
- But who had the time for this type of research? We at DigitalSmartFrames.com do, of course, all we sell is digital picture frames.
- First, only offer digital frames from the brands we know to be of quality. We select their best frames for sale on our site.
- Also, we'll show you for each frame some of our sources and how they were ranked. If you buy a digital picture frame from DigitalSmartFrames, you'll be getting a highly rated frame from independent sources.
Q: What digial frame brands are the best?
- You can find good digital frames from many manufacturers, but the ones we choose to offer based on the best reviews, quality, and set of features are from Kodak, Smartparts, Portable USA, HP, Sony, and Pandigital.
- The digital picture frames from Kodak, Smartparts, and Portable USA on our site are all highly rated frames from these quality manufacturers.
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