Home > Consumer Reviews > Philips 10.2-inch LCD Digital Photo Frame with 9.4-Inch Display (White)

I bought this frame for my wife over a year ago. It has worked fine without problems, the picture quality is good and we like that we can rotate the frame to either portrait or landscape view and the frame automatically adjusts. We also enjoy the selections and groupings the frame chooses when displaying photo montages. None of the other frames I have bought for other members of my family have compared, but I didn't want to spend over a $100 on their frames.

Very difficult user interface with controls poorly located. Fair picture quality. A superior build or finish quality though.

Our unit lasted 3 months and then the picture failed. Sent it back and they returned it still not working. Finally resolved 4 months later.

Not a good choice.

I am having so much fun with this frame, which I gave to myself for my birthday! The picture quality is excellent - I have not noticed that they look dark at all, but rather quite spectacular - maybe because I have mine on the wall instead of tilted on a desk? The options are fun and easy to use (once you spend some time figuring out how the frame "thinks"). The documentation should be much better. Those who are not computer-savvy might feel quite frustrated. Things that should have been addressed in the manual:

1. DO NOT try to use the photo frame itself for cropping, zooming or organizing photos. The PC software is much easier and more intuitive (you can use the keyboard for typing names). As far as I can tell, you will need to use the frame for adding borders or making color adjustments.

2. In the Photo Manager software, crop and zoom BEFORE you move photos from your PC (left side) onto the frame (right side) or you will notice a significant loss of quality. This is because when you move photos from your PC to the frame, they are automatically reduced, which allows you to load tons of photos, but which also means that if you crop on the frame side, you are cutting the size yet again. (Doing this does not affect your original photo, as the Photo Manager creates a copy of your original with "New" appended onto the name. It does mean that you may want to clean out your photo files once you've moved the edited photos onto the frame - or enjoy the new look of your old photos by keeping them.)

3. The crop feature allows you some control over how the frame adjusts your picture to fit, so you are less likely to have cut off feet, heads, etc.

4. Make sure the USB cable is completely connected. More than once I thought I had plugged it in, the photo frame said it was connected, but there was no response from the PC. An additional push on the plug made the connection. I wonder if this is why folks have had connectivity issues.

This was such an awesome present to myself. I will be enjoying it for years to come - until they come out with a bigger model at more modest prices!

This digital photo frame is available on sale from time to time at $100 to $120, and at this price it represents an outstanding value. Using its internal 128 megabyte memory, the photo frame can hold hundreds of photos when they are uploaded to it in JPEG format either at 720 by 480 resolution for display in landscape format, or at 480 by 720 resolution for display in portrait format. The images are bright and clear. The frame can be programmed to turn on and off automatically at preset times. And, conveniently, the photo frame displays photos in a 3:2 aspect ratio that many digital cameras provide. I own two of these frames: one for landscape format and another for portrait format.

Some reviewers have reported difficulties with loading photos onto the photo frame. Their complaints are certainly legitimate because the "Quick Start Guide" that is included with the photo frame does not offer enough detail to really get started. However, a "User Manual" that may be downloaded in PDF format from the Philips web site (similar to the "Digital User Manual" that is provided on the enclosed CD) does provide clear instructions for operating the frame.

Now for the downside of this photo frame and the reason for which I rated it 4 stars instead of 5. The photo frame has a support leg that in theory can be rotated so that the photo frame can be free standing in either landscape or portrait position. To place the support leg in landscape position, the leg is rotated fully clockwise (as viewed from the back of the frame) until it stops. With the leg in this position, the weight of the frame pushes the leg against a stop, which results in a stable position for the leg. To place the support leg in portrait position, the leg is rotated counterclockwise, but not until it stops. Instead, the leg is rotated until an audible click is heard, at which point portrait position is achieved. With the leg in this position, the weight of the frame does not push the leg against a stop, but rather tends to rotate the leg clockwise towards landscape position, which could cause the frame to fall.

It is possible to lessen the chance of the frame falling by GENTLY prying the 2 inch diameter white plastic cap off of the back of the frame using a flat bladed screwdriver, then GENTLY tightening the underlying bolt using a 4 mm Allen wrench so that the support leg rotates less freely. But I hope that Philips fixes this design flaw in future photo frames.

Software provided won't recognize that the frame is connected. Frame itself states it is connected. Frame won't work while connected. Tried with XP and Vista. Neither worked. So far support is non existent. Have written them 3 times. Pretty bad when USB won't work.