Why You Can Trust CNET Kaiser Baas KB015-256 review: Kaiser Baas KB015-256
The Kaiser Baas KB015-256 15-inch digital photo frame provides a large, good quality screen with handy multimedia functions and acceptable performance.
Design
The Kaiser Baas KB015-256 15-inch digital photo frame sits at the top of the Kaiser Baas range. With the largest viewing area currently available, the unit almost looks like a miniature TV and could be mistaken for a computer monitor.
Kaiser Baas KB015-256
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
The frame looks identical to the other Kaiser Baas frames, including the 8-inch model we reviewed earlier in the year. It comes with two interchangeable face plates so you can choose a black or white look, and is surrounded by a clear border which gives it a more contemporary looks than traditional frames. The border doesn't serve any other purpose though, and makes the already bulky unit even larger.
The physical layout of the KB015-256 is fairly standard, with memory card slots on the side of the frame and navigation controls across the top. The on/off switch, power input and USB port are located on the underside of the frame, which we're relieved about as the power cord is so short (not much longer than a metre) you need it plugged in fairly close to a power socket. If you choose to mount the frame using the key holes in the back, it will have to be very low to the ground also.
Features
The 256MB internal storage is more than we've seen on any other frame, though the display area is considerably larger too. Like we've mentioned previously, the built-in memory fills up fast when used for large image files as well as audio and video. In terms of memory cards, the KB015-256 can handle Compact Flash (CF), Sony's Memory Stick and Memory Stick Pro (MS), Multimedia Card (MMC), Secure Digital (SD) and xD Picture Card (xD). Alternatively, you can also use the USB port to transfer files from your computer or view them directly from your digital camera.
The KB015-256 offers built-in speakers and a headphone jack to make use of its multimedia functionality. It supports JPEG images up to 16 megapixels, MP3 and WMA audio files and a large range of video formats including AVI, M-JPEG, MPEG-4, DivX, Xvid, and MPEG-1 @ VGA resolution.
TV output allows you to play slide shows and videos on your television but the resolution is too low to replicate good quality images.
Images are displayed in 4:3 aspect ratio at 1024 x 786 pixels and can be viewed individually or as a slide show with transitions and background music. You can zoom and rotate photos when selected manually but not in slide show mode -- you're stuck with whatever orientation you shot (or transferred) the images at. You can also adjust brightness and contrast but colour settings are non-adjustable.
Other less-notable features include a clock, calendar and timer to turn the unit on and off automatically.
The infrared remote control seems to have improved since we last tested a Kaiser Baas frame and we think it's probably a more useful accessory for a 15-inch display than the smaller offerings available.
Performance
While not outstanding, the 15-inch screen produces accurate colours and is bright and clear, if a little washed-out at certain angles.
Setting up and using the frame is straightforward and media loaded nicely though larger file sizes tend to create a small amount of lag. The limited control when using the slide show mode is frustrating, but if you adjust your images prior to loading, this can be avoided.
Our biggest gripe is probably the ridiculously short power cord that restricts how and where you can display the unit.