Get a 10-inch Kodak Pulse photo frame for $164
That may seem high, but the Pulse normally runs $199.95. Why the premium price? Because it's supereasy to use and comes with its own e-mail address.
Earlier this year, I splurged on a Kodak Pulse photo frame. Though not the cheapest of its kind, it's definitely one of the easiest to use and manage. It can pull photos from your Facebook account or receive them directly via e-mail. That's right: the Pulse has its own e-mail address. (And you get to choose it, too.)
The original Pulse had a 7-inch display, but Kodak just released a 10-inch model. The list price is steep ($199.95), but Provantage has the 10-inch Kodak Pulse for $164.25--the lowest price I've found anywhere. Shipping adds another $6 or so.
Because the Pulse connects to your home Wi-Fi network, you and anyone you add to the "approved" list can e-mail photos right to the frame, where they're automatically added to your existing slideshow. (Don't worry: you can opt to review newly arrived photos before they're added, just in case you're dealing with pranksters.)
That's a huge plus. It not only greatly simplifies adding new pictures to the frame, but also creates the nice surprise of unexpected additions. For example, you could send snapshots of the new baby to Grandma's Pulse.
Setup is a snap thanks to the touch-screen interface, and Kodak even gives you the option of configuring the frame for someone else--great if you're giving it as a gift. You don't have to connect it to a PC even once; it slurps up pictures wirelessly via e-mail, Facebook, the Kodak Gallery service, and/or selected folders on your hard drive.
Of course, you can also pop in your camera's memory card or a USB flash drive. The Pulse comes with 512MB of storage--enough to house upwards of 4,000 photos. Large snapshots are automatically resized to conserve memory and fit the frame's bright, 800x600-pixel display. There's even a programmable timer that shuts down the frame at night to save electricity. Smart!
Sorry to gush, but I really dig this frame. I always thought the 7-inch model was a hair too small, but the 10-incher is perfect. It may be a little pricey, even at $164, but it's a killer gift item.
Bonus deal: Sorry for my oopsie yesterday. Today I've got a bona fide killer laptop deal: the refurbished 17-inch Acer Aspire AS7741Z-5731 for $429.97 (plus $8 for shipping). The sellout risk is high, because this baby's got a dual-core CPU, 3GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, HDMI, 802.11n, and more.