Digital Picture Frames are designed to display digital photos taken by a digital camera or photos that have been scanned and saved as a digital file. They make it easy to share digital photos from your own camera as well as from others. With a connection to your computer or even through your phone line new photos can be uploaded from anywhere. They also accept digital memory cards. Photos can be viewed one at a time or they can be viewed as a slide show. The downside of digital picture frames is the price. It should not surprise you to see many of them priced at $200.00 and up. I have picked out a few options that may suit your purpose at more reasonable prices.

Digital Picture Frames are typically found in sizes ranging from 7" to 9" LCD screens. There are some though that measure much smaller. Often you can find them made of wood, plastic or metal.

Cevia makes digital picture frames. Though many digital picture frames are astoundingly expensive, Cevia has come up with a somewhat less expensive version. The 7 inch digital picture frame is approximately $149.00 and the 8 inch digital picture frame is approximately 199.00. Both sizes can be purchased in wood version or a black version. Both have high resolution LCD screens. Both frames are capable of Wi-FI and Ethernet connections.

Features that you would expect of find on these Cevia frames include USB connection and an 802.11 adapter. But, you would not find either. However, Wi-Fi adapters can be purchased at an additional cost of $34.95 while an Ethernet adapter cost an extra $24.95. Both frames do accept multiple memory cards including SD, xD, miniSD, CF, MMC, MS, Micro Drive, Smart Media, MS Duo and MS Pro.

One feature that is somewhat unique is the "Picture Plan". After the first 3 months a $6.95 per month service fee is charged for a dial up connection. Updates and new photos are loaded (by you or other approved person) through your normal phone line. You also receive weather, sports and news updates free of charge.

Digital Frames Inc. designs, manufactures and sells digital picture frames to their customers directly or to retailers. They offer stand alone digital frames in three different sizes. They offer frames that measure 5.6 inch, a 7.0 inch and an 8.0 inch.

These frames accept multiple memory cards including SD, CF, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, MMC, Micro Drive, Smart Media. In addition to displaying photos it is also possible to watch videos and listen to MP3s through their built in speakers.

More on the "just for fun" side there are digital picture frames that hang on your key chain. The frame is a mere 1.1 inch but you can view 196 different photos on it. The price cannot be beat at $16.99. You can view the photos one at a time or watch them as a slide show. Included is the software used to transfer your digital photos to the frame.

The GPX 7 inch digital picture frame has a great price. At Amazon.com you can buy this 7 inch digital picture frame for under $65.00. The price may make you think that the features would be wimpy but you will be pleasantly surprised.

First of all, you get 3 interchangeable frames instead of just one. There is 16MB of internal memory. This frame also accepts external memory sources such as SD, MMC and CF cards. Photos can be viewed one at a time or as a slide show both as portrait and landscape orientation. This frame has MP3 playback.

Make your own digital picture frame making good use of the old laptop you may have just hanging around. There is a site dedicated to telling you how to do it.

I have seen digital picture frames that are great looking. But, I have yet to find one that is good looking enough to pay the high prices.

However, I can imagine one good reason to have them. If you have family or friends that always want fresh photos from you (and are not techie), it would be so great to be able to automatically upload them to digital picture frames at their home. For those that can use a memory card it would be almost as easy.

I have considered hiding a computer in my living room with a large monitor setting in a more conspicuous place doubling as a picture frame. Who among us does not have a computer that has been left behind after we upgrade. They are usually worth more to us than to anyone else. Another advantage to this arrangement is that you have a computer available for visitors that may be staying with you.

Maybe it is just me, but I do not like other people messing with my computer. Anyway, I digress. There are options to paying the price of digital picture frames. But, when the need arises, I suggest checking out the different features that are available on various digital picture frames because they are not all created equal.