Rosewill  8" Digital Photo Frame

The remote is the only way to fly with this type of device but without it you aren't completely lost.  Along the right edge are power, auto, menu and up and down selector buttons that allow minimal control of the unit without the remote.  Also present here is the AC power input.

Opposite the frame mounted controls is one heck of a card reader.  Most all standard memory cards can be inserted for MP3, video or image playback.  There is even a 15 pin USB port here.  Since the Rosewill frame doesn't have any native memory the only use you get from it is to use the frame as a card reader.  Which the more I think about it, can come in handy in a pinch.  Unfortunately, this USB cable isn't included but it is the same size cable that comes with most all digital cameras.

The remote keys are fairly self explanatory.  In looking them over you can readily appreciate my remarks on the buttons mounted on the side of the digital frame as allowing minimal control.

Installation / Operation

Setting the Rosewill Digital Photo Frame up was no more difficult than inserting a SD memory card with a bunch of pictures on it.  You have the ability to zoom, repeat and cycle through your images, videos, MP3s at will with the remote or you can let the frame cue them up automatically.  The speakers were nothing fantastic but what can you expect out of 2 watt speakers.  Anyway, this is a digital photo frame.  The same holds true for displaying video.  The Rosewill did a nice job showing MPEG files but having video running on a picture frame made my desk feel like it was off the set of Harry Potter.

Getting to what the frame will be used for by 99% of end users we found an excellent 640x480 display of our images.  The 8" size seems a nice fit for displaying digital photos that doesn't overpower a room.  And yes, in case you were wondering that is me in the middle on the second picture below.  (Santa ran out of elf helpers to collect lists from the eastern district.)

  

Conclusion

Rosewill's 8" Digital Photo Frame is a nice blend of quality and value.  The ability to hang or stand the frame in any variety of angles was a huge plus as was the multiple memory standards that could be read from in the frame's card reader.  The only disappointment was the unit's instruction manual which left a lot to be desired.  Things are straight forward with the images but when you add in music and video some minimal thought it required and the manual leaves you hanging.  But the thought required wasn't that much.  Far less than was needed to snap or record your images in the first place.  Pricing is $129 which is on par with the competition.  Between now and 12/19/2007, Newegg has a $30 mail in rebate offer bringing the unit's price down to $99 which makes it a steal.  This low price point is probably the main reason for there not being a USB cable included.  But again, 95% of people with digital photos will have a camera with the smaller USB tipped cable already.  If you are looking for an excellent geek gift, the Rosewill 8" Digital Photo Frame may be just what you're looking for.  A worthwhile item and one well worth our recommendation.

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