Kodak Smart Picture Frame

by Kodak

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004ZCMW
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1999

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kodak frame blows away Ceiva, November 7, 2000

By 

MJK "mjkboston" (Belmont, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kodak Smart Picture Frame (Electronics)

I wanted to get a frame for my mother-in-law who is in a nursing home. Saw the ads for the Ceiva about a month ago, Kodak frame wasn't shipping, so I bought it. Played with it for 3 weeks and shipped it back, image quality was very bad (washed out) no matter how much you boosted the contrast in photoshop and it would fail in slideshow mode (just would get stuck). Ceiva web service wasn't bad. Boy, am I glad I switched. The Kodak Storybox frame is excellent. Many more features than Ceiva like the direct CF input. 3x the number of pictures, the online service has better pricing options (you don't have to pay for channels and 3rd party content if you don't use it) and best of all, the picture quality is very good. The frame automatically sets itself up and find the right phone number when you first plug it in where the Cieva ask you questions on the web site. The controls are really easy to use. I actually like the weight and stability better too. All-in-all a great product.

74 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Contract is confusing - I spoke with Kodak and Storybox....., December 14, 2000

By 

C-Man "Tech Fan" (MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kodak Smart Picture Frame (Electronics)

I also found the StoryBox service contract for the Kodak Smart Picture Frame to be confusing. You can transfer pictures to the frame using one of two methods: 1) Compact Flash Card, or 2) Via the Internet using the "StoryBox Network" - the frame uses a built-in modem to dial into StoryBox and retrieve pictures that you (or others) uploaded to the StoryBox Network.

It stated on the box that a one-year subscription was required for the frame to work. It also states this in the StoryBox terms of service agreement. The agreement specifies that a subscription to the service is necessary for the frame to work. The agreement also states that the frame needs to dial into the service every 10 days or the frame will stop working. I found this to be very unreasonable, as the recipient of this gift (my wife) owns a Kodak digital camera (that uses a compact flash card) and has no need to use the StoryBox service to get pictures to the Smart Picture Frame.

I spoke extensively with Kodak and StoryBox about this. Both admitted that, after my initial 6-month subscription (provided free with the Smart Picture Frame) to the StoryBox Network expires I could discontinue service and continue to use the frame by transferring pictures using ONLY my compact flash card.

The StoryBox website is VERY misleading with regard to this fact, while the Kodak website is very truthful and states that a subscription to the StoryBox network is only needed to share pictures to or from your frame, print pictures from the frame, and receive news, sports, etc.

Bottom line: If you have the ability to transfer pictures using a CF card, you won't need to continue to subscribe to the StoryBox service (Note: you will need to subscribe for the first free six months to activate the frame - after the free six months you can cancel with no early termination fee).

I have yet to actually use the frame (Christmas gift) but gave it three stars based upon the headache I had to go through to figure out how this thing works!

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Christmas gift, November 14, 2000

By 

Amanda Norris (Carrollton, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kodak Smart Picture Frame (Electronics)

The Smartframe arrived today and took very little time and effort to set up. The picture quality is excellent, the connection time is fast, and the setup very simple. You can see the bright pictures even from side angles, and the wood frame looks elegant, not cheap. The website is easy to maneuver around and I already have pictures on my frame! I'm giving it to several as a Christmas gift. Although it is more expensive than the Ceiva, it is head and shoulders above that black overstated advertisement when you take into account the more extensive features, prettier look, and ease of use. It's definitely worth the extra dough.