Tagged Products - 5.6in

Portable USA 5.6 Digital Picture Frame

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Fujitsu LifeBook U810 Notebook-Fujitsu LifeBook U810 Notebook

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compared to full-size notebook nor desktop PC. However, with the thumb-pointer + stylus + finger control + virtual keyboard, I could do almost all operations on this machine without using the highly trimmed down keyboard. With the additional 3 Fn + navigational keys, 3 customizable application keys, the dedicated Ctrl+Alt+Del key and the Fujitsu software function menu, control is easy.

The finger-print reader is very accurate and is a perfect device used in a UMPC for which typing is a heavy duty operation. It accuracy is very promising - the error rate is lower than 5% as I experienced.

The extended battery is a must. I swap between standard and extended ones for different usage. Also the hardware Wifi+BT on/off button is a good design as I could immediately turn them off in 1 sec to save battery life.

I would give it a score of 95/100. Very finely made machine with solid built that fit my purpose very well.

Coby DP-559 5.6-Inch Digital Photo Frame with MP3 Player

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compared to full-size notebook nor desktop PC. However, with the thumb-pointer + stylus + finger control + virtual keyboard, I could do almost all operations on this machine without using the highly trimmed down keyboard. With the additional 3 Fn + navigational keys, 3 customizable application keys, the dedicated Ctrl+Alt+Del key and the Fujitsu software function menu, control is easy.



The finger-print reader is very accurate and is a perfect device used in a UMPC for which typing is a heavy duty operation. It accuracy is very promising - the error rate is lower than 5% as I experienced.



The extended battery is a must. I swap between standard and extended ones for different usage. Also the hardware Wifi+BT on/off button is a good design as I could immediately turn them off in 1 sec to save battery life.



I would give it a score of 95/100. Very finely made machine with solid built that fit my purpose very well.

Nextar N5-105 5.6-Inch Digital Photo Frame

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resized photos, you should be able to put more than a thousand photos on it. Now that's quite a slide show, isn't it?

This unit has no frills. There are buttons to pause, go back, go forward, change aspect ratio and go into "power saving mode". It is a bit of a pain to deal with them and I doubt that many people will.

Personally, I just load a card with processed photos, put the unit on a shelf, plug it in and let it run. For those content with the smallish 5.6" screen, somewhat coarse resolution and merely acceptable color quality, this unit is more than adequate and a very good value if you get it on sale or heavily discounted.

Jerry

Lifebook U810 Notebook A110 800MHz, 512KBL2, 400MHz, 1GB, 40GB, NIC, abg, BT, 5.6"WSVGA, VB

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nice and sensitive with no need for multiple taps to "wake it back up" after a few seconds of activity. The screen's resolution is sharp and clear at 1024x600, and with these last remaining years of this 40 year old's perfect eyesight, represents no problems for me. I'm enjoying it while it lasts, but for those whose time has already come for eyesight correction, the features we're already familiar with in the Windows operating system are there to assist. Further, the unit comes with magnification software preinstalled for further functionality.

KEYBOARD
Ah, yes - the controversial keyboard. You may be interested in knowing that I am typing every bit of this review on the U810 keyboard. Simply put, the buttons are too small for normal touch typing. And no matter what kind of typing style you adopt, it will be slow and you will be making lots of mistakes. Due to multifunction operation of arrow and tab keys, not to mention completely absent end and home keys (which can be re-added by programming the programmable keys - keep reading), quick cursor position changes are fairly cumbersome no matter what combination of keys and built-in mouse you use. You WILL be coming up with your own method of typing, and I'm willing to bet it involves your forefingers. I've read a lot about how people are trying to figure out if the size of their hands will help/hinder their use of the U810's keyboard. Pay attention to this statement, it's important: No matter how big or tiny your hands are, they are too big for normal typing on the U810. Got it? Good. I personally use both forefinger and middle finger on each hand to type and usually hold the unit still in my lap with pinky fingers on the sides and thumbs in front if the ride is bumpy enough. Next important statement: You will also find that the unit is really too large to thumb type with PDA/"Crackberry" style, and if you do hold it that way, (by it's sides), you'll have a little tiny jet of warm air blowing on your right hand/forefinger, as the cooling fan exhaust is right under the mouse control. Further, thumb-typing might produce too much pressure on the true laptop keys, which are very sensitive and only require very light contact. Buy the U810 knowing that you will be learning a new (but easily adapted) way to type.

COOL ADDITIONAL KEYS
Fuji was smart enough to add a few things to ease the uncertainty about that keyboard. There is an additional button on the right side of the screen right under the fingerprint reader. It has a symbol on it that looks like "CaltD", but much more symbol-like. I could not figure out what it was, so I just hit it for the sake of it to see what would happen. Lo and behold, it is a CTRL-ALT-DEL button. Now that's handy! Almost as handy as the other programmable keys by the mouse stick, which allowed me to get my HOME and END keys back! Also, there are three buttons at the bottom middle of the screen itself. The left-most button turns the keyboard headlights on and off (see next review item). The middle button brings up the on-screen keyboard for tablet mode. The right-most button changes the screen orientation from panoramic to tablet mode and back again (orientation can be changed to all 4 sides).

KEYBOARD HEADLIGHTS
As for the keyboard lighting with the little LED headlights, it's cool - and important - enough to get it's own mention. I've read mixed reviews about the keyboard "headlights" (well-named by Fuji). I actually think Fuji hit a home run and people are too dumb to realize it. Allow me to explain. Since nearly all regular laptops don't have lit keyboards of any kind, and since PDAs and cell phones don't have real keyboards of any kind, I think Fuji found a brilliant combination here, a perfect match. Had the 6x2.5" keyboard been backlit like a smartphone, it would have used too much of the battery, warmed up the keyboard that much more, and the real laptop keyboard would have to be replaced with one of those annoying, cheapo, touch-style smartphone keypads (no thanks, I'm sick of those things and I hate the way they feel - it's the last thing I want to see on a laptop). Though the headlights are not perfect and do not light up the keyboard brightly (which would be annoying actually), the headlights DO work and you actually can type in total darkness. They also use barely any battery power (they're LEDs - bright ones for their size), and will make any laptop owner jealous when they see you don't have to annoy other passengers on the redeye flight by turning on overhead lighting (the other passengers trying to sleep next to you will love you for this). This was an extremely welcome feature of the unit, and it's also different enough to turn heads in such an "everybody has a toy strapped on" environment, which I thought was a lot of fun. I also have to mention that the headlights are hidden brilliantly - when they're off, you can't even see where they are on the unit. Brilliant camouflage. Matter of fact, they're 100% invisible.

AND DON'T FORGET...
One last item to cover on the keyboard. Do not forget Vista's built-in voice control. I have not tried it yet, but the U810 has a great microphone for the job. Vista also has beuilt-in Text-To-Speech. Think about the possibilities here.

PORTABILITY/WEIGHT/SIZE
The first time you open up the box and pull it out of the styrofoam, you immediately recognize that this unit is heavier than it looks. You are instantly woken up to the fact that this is a real laptop and not some cheap little plastic toy. I recognized two facts right away - this thing is too big and heavy to put in a pocket (in other words, it's small and light , but not that small and light), which means I can't slam it around like I do with my PDA (PocketPC). It needs to be carried in a protective case of some type. I went with the "convertible bump case", it's fantastic. The case is vented and accessible, and it allows you to use the unit in any mode while still in a protective case. It also has a shoulder strap (heavy duty metal clips) which causes the U810 to become a true, sturdy road warrior package. Again, brilliance. I carry my U810 right behind my right arm, slung over my left shoulder. Without taking the sling off, I just whip it around and set the unit on my lap (if something else is on my lap as a booster, such as a jacket) or any table in front of me and start working. When I gotta move, I just close the lid (which I have set for hibernate), zip 'er up and off I go. The unit might be too big and a tad too heavy to stick in a pocket, but slung over the shoulder in the convertible bump case makes it virtually disappear - a grin will creep across your face knowing that this t little tiny thing over your shoulder that you can barely tell is there is a full-blown laptop. I'm having a lot of fun with that and I find myself taking it with me to restaurants on lunch breaks. And it's so dinky that when the food shows up, I sill get to leave it on the table while I eat. Years of PDA ownership has allowed me to grow accustomed to watching movies with headphones on while I eat. Compared to my PDA, the U810 makes it feel like I'm sitting in front of a plasma. :-)

Note: Make sure you get that convertible bump case, it does NOT come with the U810. The U810 does not come with any protective case of any kind.

STYLUS
Not much to say about the stylus other than it's your standard everyday PDA variety stylus. I saw someone complain about the size of the stylus and that it was too small to use. That person was probably unaware that the stylus is telescopic and expands out a full additional inch - and a very critical inch, too. Placement of the stylus at the top of the screen is the only realistic place it could have been mounted. If I had designed this unit, that's exactly where I would have put it. I do note, however, that the stylus is covered up by the bump case - which explains why the bump case has a place where you can relocate the stylus.

FINGERPRINT/BIO SCANNER
Cool if you need that different kind of security, but I don't like them. On every laptop I've tried them on, by the time you run your finger over the reader 4 or 5 times before it registers, you could have entered a lengthy, complex password. Only passwords don't require device drivers and extra memory. So thought I'm sure the fingerprint reader works fine, I'm just not interested in sacrificing the memory, cpu cycles, drive activity and battery power to use it. It's up to you, but this is a laptop and I instinctively go out of my way to preserve battery life. Speaking of which...

BATTERY LIFE
Holy cow. Egad. Dude. Depending on what you're doing, it can go over 5 hours, no joke. Pay attention to this statement: This is a full-blown laptop with a better battery life than stingy, gutless PDAs that were designed for battery life above all else (I know, I've been using Palms and then PocketPCs since the mid-90s). I've never seen anything like it. I bought a spare battery and I'm now wondering if I'll ever need it. As I type this, it says I have 5hrs and 18min left on the battery, which is reporting as being at 80%. It was reporting well over 6hrs at 98%. Even if that's not accurate, I've never seen anything even remotely close to that on anything calling itself a laptop before.

RECHARGING
The battery life is impressive, but the recharging rate so far doesn't seem as glamorous. At first look, that is. It took 2hrs 15min to get the battery from about 40% to full. But I've been typing more of this review on the U810 while it was charging, so I'm guessing that's probably the reason. All the recharging I've done with it so far is simply on par with other laptops. Given the battery life once charged, however, it's wonderful, so I still consider it a better recharge than a traditional laptop.

PERFORMANCE
Pleasantly surprising. I was worried about this and considered my purchase a gamble. Fear not. It runs fine out of the box, but if you follow everyone's advice on trimming Vista down and tuning it, you'll love it even more. It will perform almost as well as if you were using XP but still have all the new Vista features like ReadyBoost (a must - get yourself a 4GB 133+ speed SDHC card, ReadyBoost will use 2.5GB of it - and yes, the "SD" card slot is actually true SDHC) and SuperFetch, both being massive memory management and performance gains over the soon-to-be discontinued Windows XP. Don't buy this unit thinking you're going to be playing any modern graphically accelerated games on it. However, if you're a fan of "Quake 2", you'll be happy to know that older games like that actually play fine on the U810. Also, make sure you use the standard Vista interface (very XP-looking). Or even kick Vista's interface down to "Classic" mode. I do not suggest using Vista's "Aero" interface mode, it will bring the U810 to it's knees performance-wise, thrash the hard drive to death, and you'll kiss all that great battery life goodbye.

UPGRADEABLE?
I've read that this system is not upgradeable. Being a masters-holding systems guy, I choose to dispute that fact. For one, in seconds you can slap in a 4GB SDHC card and devote it to Vista's ReadyBoost feature, which functionally speaking, is basically a RAM upgrade. Next, you can do your "hard drive upgrade" by slapping in a huge Compact Flash card as a new additional hard drive, which works great (mine is a very comfy 32GB, which shows up as my E drive). And finally, the internal hard drive and possibly the ram can be replaced if defective - which means they can be replaced with bigger drives and ram if Fuji ever decides to make them available. Time will tell on that, but the SDHC and CF cards are enhancements - potentially HUGE ones - that you can do in mere seconds that make big performance and storage increases (a.k.a. "upgrade").

PRICE
Upon being tipped off by another review I read, I went to (let's see if I can get away with this) laptop authority (no space) daught calm. Best prices I've seen anywhere, no tax (outside of Nebraska), and get this - no shipping (the owner cancels the $30 shipping fee). Bought my Vista Business version of the U810, complete with screen and keyboard protector skins, spare battery, 1y extended warranty and bump case for just over $1,300. I'm only posting this review on Amazon because I'm interested in contributing to the great reviews here that caused me to buy my U810, even if I did buy it somewhere else. Amazon's always the best place to go to read reviews about anything, regardless of where you buy. And no, I don't work for the above mentioned vendor (I'm the CIO at a web development company).

MANDATORY ACCESSORIES
Just trust me here.
1. 133x speed (or faster) 4GB SDHC card for Vista's ReadyBoost (the SD slot is actually full SDHC). You can get a bigger card like I did, but don't bother. Vista will eventually and automatically use only 2.5GB of it (no matter how you configure it) and you can't use the rest of the card for anything else while it's devoted to ReadyBoost.
2. Convertible "bump case". Mandatory. There is a non convertible version - make sure you get the convertible one, which allows you to keep the U810 in a protective case while you use it in normal or tablet modes. This is also very applicable when you get to the next section of this review.
3. Spare battery is always a good idea, especially if you're going to be using it for lengthy sessions, doing heavy processing, heavy networking/wireless, watching movies or any other form of "power user" kind of stuff. The battery life is great, but only based on how you have the U810 configured and how you're using it. Like with any other laptop, you CAN get the U810 to go through it's battery fairly quickly if you work it hard.

TEMPERATURE
People will wonder about this, and they should. The U810 is small and thus it warms up quickly. It doesn't get hot, as it does cool itself very well. But it does get warm. Quite warm, in fact, particularly when the hard drive is getting slammed - like during the 3 hour install of Vista SP1 (I have no idea why it took that long, the U810 runs everything else at an acceptably predictable speeds). It really warmed up for that. But it does cool off quickly when the heavy action is over. During normal use, from the middle of the keyboard to the left side of it, you will always be able feel a small amount of radiant heat coming up between the keys. It's not a problem, nor is it even annoying, but it is noticeable (all laptops do this to some extent). The bottom of the unit also gets very warm during heavy use. Not quite hot (I've had laptops darned near burn me because they ran so hot), but definitely something to think about as a good reason to get that bump case, which does a fantastic job of letting you forget about that warm underside. The main heat release is from the exhaust vent, which I mentioned above in the keyboard section of this review. Overall, the U810 runs cool enough to not cause any concerns. Frankly, there are units out there that are extremely popular and run downright hot to the touch, especially on the bottom. They've made lots of news in recent years by catching on fire on airplanes. The U810 isn't anything like that. Buy with confidence.

TABLET FUNCTIONALITY
I actually bought my U810 as a tiny laptop, not as a tablet. However, having tried it out in tablet mode, it's really neat. I suggest disabling the touch-screen power saving mode (in Device Manager). This will allow the screen to be very sensitive to the touch/stylus at all times without having to be tapped repeatedly to "wake it up" first. This solves a common complaint about the U810, which is most always mistaken as a performance problem. It will use a bit more battery power, however, but only as much as a PDA does for the same thing. Also, at the bottom of the screen is that middle button I mentioned earlier, which when pressed, brings up the on-screen keyboard for you to use PDA-style in tablet mode.

MOUSE
The mouse controls, though extremely robust, durable and functional, are oddly placed and you have to stop whatever you're doing to use them because it's a two-handed mouse due to how they split the controls up. In fairness, however, that's how ALL laptops are. I discovered that the "stick mouse" on the U810 actually has the "tap to select" and "double tap to open/run" functionality built into the stick itself. I really enjoy that Fuji built this unit with quality all over the place. Technologically speaking, the U810 surprises me (in a good way) everywhere I poke around on it. Still, your best bet is to get yourself a tiny bluetooth mouse for serious work, it will save you a lot of time and feel much more natural.

COOLING FAN
I've seen some reviews claiming that the U810's cooling fan is too loud, while others claim it's quiet. To be as accurate as I can, it's a lot quieter than every laptop I've ever owned, but it's not silent either. The speed of the fan changes depending on heat conditions brought on by drive activity, cpu load and ambient temperature. In a quiet room, you'll hear it's little tiny fan come on. Once it comes on, it stays on - the only thing that changes after that is the speed. At slow speeds, it is in fact very quiet. When it has to kick the speed up, it's still pretty quiet. Now, if you've read to this point because you have some kind of fetish/hangup/paranoia about cooling fan noise, you need to get outside into some fresh air more often. Yes, the fan does get louder, but not "loud". If this fan was twice as loud as it is in "full blast mode", it would still be far quieter than my full-sized laptop's cooling fan which runs at three speeds - "noisy", "loud" and "earplugs". Don't worry about the U810's fan noise, it's just fine.

VISTA vs XP
Do NOT get sucked into that "Vista is bad XP is good" thing. Microsoft's been working on Vista since before XP came out in 2002, and they weren't sitting around doing nothing for 7 years. Vista is VASTLY superior to XP in the same way that Windows 95 was vastly superior to Windows 3.1 - but people HATED Windows 95. By the time Windows 98 came out -which was the same interface - everybody LOVED it and Windows 3.1 was nowhere to be found. The only problems you'll ever have with Vista is trying to run some old programs on it, which with some work, you usually find that you can still get them to run (unless they're 16-bit, which qualified them for replacement/upgrade over a decade ago). That's all I'll say on that, since the Vista vs XP debate is beyond the scope of this review. HOWEVER: the U810 solves the issue! How? In two ways: First, by including both WinXP Pro Tablet and Vista Business (complete with real MS WinXP downgrade license) in the box. Second, Windows Vista includes features that allow you to kick the interface down into a "Basic" mode (which resembles XP) and "Classic" mode (which restores the entire style and functionality of the 2000/XP Classic interface)! This is if you get the Vista Business version of the U810 (which I highly recommend). Better get it now, however, as Microsoft puss the plug on the aging security disaster known as Windows XP in only a few weeks and vendors will no longer be able to sell or include it.

WEBCAM/SPEAKER/MICROPHONE/HEADPHONES
I don't use this stuff much, but look forward to it becoming the norm someday. I was really pleasantly surprised when I fired up the cam and saw my face looking back at me on the screen. It performed great, I was impressed by not only the quality of the tiny little "pinhole" cam at the top of the screen (amazing), but also audio quality (with phones on) and mic quality. I keep expecting the U810 to let me down and it keeps pleasantly surprising me by failing to do so.

WHAT IT'S EXCELLENT FOR - AND WHAT IT'S NOT
The U810 is good for everything a laptop and tablet pc is good for on a general basis, provided you don't need a big screen for graphics work. It's also a good laptop that does all the usual laptop stuff - wireless, internet, apps, documents, watching movies, etc. It is not, however, good for lots of typing without the aid of a wireless keyboard or the available docking station. It also does not have a built-in CD/DVD drive, so you'll either need to get yourself an external USB CD drive, use Flash memory cards, wireless or CAT5 network to load/copy files around. Re-installing the OS will require an external USB DVD drive to be purchased. They keyboard is true, full, laptop quality, but some keys have up to 3 different functions and it causes you to type slowly no matter how proficient you become with it. I fully understand compromises like this simply must be made to produce a wicked little laptop like this, and that's fine with me, I can live with it - the benefits of this thing far outweigh the minor negatives.

POWER AND WIRELESS ON/OFF SWITCHES
Whoops - what happened here, Fuji? Ok, I found something I don't like. The slider-type power and wireless on/off buttons on each side of the unit are not only ugly, but they appear to be made out of really cheap plastic - the kind that gets brittle and eventually cracks and breaks as it gets old (I hope I'm wrong). Though they work fine, I'm worried about their durability. Luckily, the U810 has the Flip-Start feature, which power's on the unit when you open the U810 up. Also, you can shut the unit down from the screen or have it set for auto-sleep/hibernate when the U810 is closed. This will allow me to almost never have to touch that power switch. Then there's that wireless on/off switch, which appears to be identical to the power switch. I know I'm going to have to use that one a lot, so time will tell if it will hold up. Both switches look really cheesy, breakable and low-rent. Thankfully, they are very small and close to the same silvery color as the sides of the unit, so they blend in. Even better, the bump case goes a long way to hiding them. I'm now much happier about spending that additional $99 on that Extended Warranty from Fuji, which means I'm covered for 2 years.

USB PORT
On the right side, there is a USB port with a small, permanently attached rubber cap that opens and closes over it, much like what you see on cell phones for power and headphone jacks. I find the cover to be a bit tricky to open, I have to pick at it with a fingernail, as it's very flush with the surface of the unit and is a snug fit. It works great, but I have to wrestle with that cover to get it both on and off.

FIT AND FINISH
True high quality Fuji laptop fit and finish all around. Even down to the trademark Fuji "black velvet" fuzzy underside. Though cute and tiny, this thing looks very serious and looks a heck of a lot more expensive than it is.

WIRELESS
Wi-Fi: As expected - no better than a laptop, but no worse. It does the same Wi-Fi as my PDAs and laptops do. I've heard complaints that people are disappointed that the unit doesn't have built-in mobile broadband. If it did, it would take a serious toll on the battery and be a heck of a lot more expensive than it is. But I understand that Fuji has announced that it will eventually have that feature. To be honest, I scrambled to get my U810 before the next model comes out and the prices shoot up.
Bluetooth: There is in issue with Bluetooth that Vista users will have to deal with. Though the Bluetooth radio shows up in Device Manager, Vista makes Bluetooth functionality difficult and you have to call Fuji tech support at 1-800-8FUJITSU. Tech support will show you where the controls/software for Bluetooth is located so you can actually operate it with Bluetooth-enabled devices (thanks Armen!).

VIABILITY AS A GENUINE WORK PLATFORM
Definitely, assuming you accessorize and pack a wireless or USB mouse and keyboard along with you. You don't need them to use the U810, but you'll need them for rapid/volume productivity such as found in typical work environments.

VIABILITY AS A REPLACEMENT FOR YOUR PDA
This is what I was really wondering when I bought mine. The answer: absolutely not. It's a case of apples and oranges. The U810 is above all else a laptop with tablet functionality - it is not a PDA, nor does it really work like one. This is Windows Vista, not Windows Mobile. It will not fit in your pocket, is not featherweight, is not built to be dropped, and requires startup time before it can be used (if not in sleep mode). The U810 is best described as the most portable true laptop ever designed. Tiny as it is, it is 100% pure laptop, not a PDA.

TRUE UMPC
The U810 is a true UMPC (Ultra Mopbile PC). Matter of fact, it's possibly a little TOO true - the keyboard is both the biggest selling point and also the biggest cause of concern. In other words: an absolutely magnificent job by Fuji.

AND FINALLY - COOL FACTOR
Oh, Baby! King of the hill, period. Cool factor-wise, the "actual laptop" U810 has no rival. Ok, I correct myself - "actual palmtop" (huge grin). I could go on and on here about the cool factor, but it would probably come across as stupid like I'm getting paid to write this up. I'll just close with this: I wrote this insanely large review over a few days on the bus during my commute just to show off and make all the smartphone snobs feel like they're in the stone age. Whosyourdaddy.

5FF2CMI 5.6" Digital Photo Frame (White), Digital Media Display, Most Common Memory Cards, 640 x 480, 32MB Internal Memory, 120VAC

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show clock
+ Nice looking frame design
+ Adequate 32 MB internal memory
+ 640X480 display for nice sharpness
+ Price is right for an entry frame ($50 range)

Cons
- Pictures must be JPEG and work best when in native picture format
- Photos edited in certain software WILL NOT work, even when saved as JPEGs
- JPEG support limited to 16 megapixel and 10MBs files
- The white frame isn't as attractive as the black one on the 7 inch model
- No video playback
- Lacks MP3 music playback for slideshows
- No USB port for flash drives
- Competing alternatives from Sony natively support other image formats (RAW, TIFF, BMP)
- Phillips quality control has been declining; definitely test this within your return period
- Many newer alternatives coming to market which use less power than LCD

The frame comes with a quick reference manual and Windows and Mac software on the included CD. The CD also contains Windows compatible picture manager software. For a full PDF manual you will have to go to the website. There's some kind of menu driven help manual on the CD as well.

But the truth is you don't need a manual really. The built-in menu is really well designed. Not all the settings are on the first screen, but with some searching you can set up almost everything you need.
The frame is listed at a display ratio of 4:3. This means it's compatible with most standard camera formats, including my Nikon and almost all handheld Canon models. Those with wide-format digital cameras will want to look for one of the many widescreen frames to save the step of reformatting.

The optional clock display is another nice extra that makes this frame versatile. This somewhat makes up for the lack of MP3 playback.

The frame also has automatic orientation detection as an option, which rotates pictures from portrait to landscape. There are also collage and thumbnail view options.

This guy doesn't have the native image format support of some of the newer (and much more expensive) frames from Sony. And I'm very nervous about Phillips spotty quality record of late. So far so good. But definitely put this through the paces before your return period expires.

Overall this is a good product at the right price. Hopefully prices will come down over time.

This unit is worth a look.

Enjoy!

Fujitsu LifeBook U810 Notebook-Fujitsu LifeBook U810 Notebook

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show clock

+ Nice looking frame design

+ Adequate 32 MB internal memory

+ 640X480 display for nice sharpness

+ Price is right for an entry frame ($50 range)



Cons

- Pictures must be JPEG and work best when in native picture format

- Photos edited in certain software WILL NOT work, even when saved as JPEGs

- JPEG support limited to 16 megapixel and 10MBs files

- The white frame isn't as attractive as the black one on the 7 inch model

- No video playback

- Lacks MP3 music playback for slideshows

- No USB port for flash drives

- Competing alternatives from Sony natively support other image formats (RAW, TIFF, BMP)

- Phillips quality control has been declining; definitely test this within your return period

- Many newer alternatives coming to market which use less power than LCD



The frame comes with a quick reference manual and Windows and Mac software on the included CD. The CD also contains Windows compatible picture manager software. For a full PDF manual you will have to go to the website. There's some kind of menu driven help manual on the CD as well.



But the truth is you don't need a manual really. The built-in menu is really well designed. Not all the settings are on the first screen, but with some searching you can set up almost everything you need.

The frame is listed at a display ratio of 4:3. This means it's compatible with most standard camera formats, including my Nikon and almost all handheld Canon models. Those with wide-format digital cameras will want to look for one of the many widescreen frames to save the step of reformatting.



The optional clock display is another nice extra that makes this frame versatile. This somewhat makes up for the lack of MP3 playback.



The frame also has automatic orientation detection as an option, which rotates pictures from portrait to landscape. There are also collage and thumbnail view options.



This guy doesn't have the native image format support of some of the newer (and much more expensive) frames from Sony. And I'm very nervous about Phillips spotty quality record of late. So far so good. But definitely put this through the paces before your return period expires.



Overall this is a good product at the right price. Hopefully prices will come down over time.



This unit is worth a look.



Enjoy!

5FF2CMI 5.6" Digital Photo Frame (White), Digital Media Display, Most Common Memory Cards, 640 x 480, 32MB Internal Memory, 120VAC

...

show clock


+ Nice looking frame design


+ Adequate 32 MB internal memory


+ 640X480 display for nice sharpness


+ Price is right for an entry frame ($50 range)





Cons


- Pictures must be JPEG and work best when in native picture format


- Photos edited in certain software WILL NOT work, even when saved as JPEGs


- JPEG support limited to 16 megapixel and 10MBs files


- The white frame isn't as attractive as the black one on the 7 inch model


- No video playback


- Lacks MP3 music playback for slideshows


- No USB port for flash drives


- Competing alternatives from Sony natively support other image formats (RAW, TIFF, BMP)


- Phillips quality control has been declining; definitely test this within your return period


- Many newer alternatives coming to market which use less power than LCD





The frame comes with a quick reference manual and Windows and Mac software on the included CD. The CD also contains Windows compatible picture manager software. For a full PDF manual you will have to go to the website. There's some kind of menu driven help manual on the CD as well.





But the truth is you don't need a manual really. The built-in menu is really well designed. Not all the settings are on the first screen, but with some searching you can set up almost everything you need.


The frame is listed at a display ratio of 4:3. This means it's compatible with most standard camera formats, including my Nikon and almost all handheld Canon models. Those with wide-format digital cameras will want to look for one of the many widescreen frames to save the step of reformatting.





The optional clock display is another nice extra that makes this frame versatile. This somewhat makes up for the lack of MP3 playback.





The frame also has automatic orientation detection as an option, which rotates pictures from portrait to landscape. There are also collage and thumbnail view options.





This guy doesn't have the native image format support of some of the newer (and much more expensive) frames from Sony. And I'm very nervous about Phillips spotty quality record of late. So far so good. But definitely put this through the paces before your return period expires.





Overall this is a good product at the right price. Hopefully prices will come down over time.





This unit is worth a look.





Enjoy!

Fujitsu LifeBook U810 Notebook-Fujitsu LifeBook U810 Notebook

...

show clock



+ Nice looking frame design



+ Adequate 32 MB internal memory



+ 640X480 display for nice sharpness



+ Price is right for an entry frame ($50 range)







Cons



- Pictures must be JPEG and work best when in native picture format



- Photos edited in certain software WILL NOT work, even when saved as JPEGs



- JPEG support limited to 16 megapixel and 10MBs files



- The white frame isn't as attractive as the black one on the 7 inch model



- No video playback



- Lacks MP3 music playback for slideshows



- No USB port for flash drives



- Competing alternatives from Sony natively support other image formats (RAW, TIFF, BMP)



- Phillips quality control has been declining; definitely test this within your return period



- Many newer alternatives coming to market which use less power than LCD







The frame comes with a quick reference manual and Windows and Mac software on the included CD. The CD also contains Windows compatible picture manager software. For a full PDF manual you will have to go to the website. There's some kind of menu driven help manual on the CD as well.







But the truth is you don't need a manual really. The built-in menu is really well designed. Not all the settings are on the first screen, but with some searching you can set up almost everything you need.



The frame is listed at a display ratio of 4:3. This means it's compatible with most standard camera formats, including my Nikon and almost all handheld Canon models. Those with wide-format digital cameras will want to look for one of the many widescreen frames to save the step of reformatting.







The optional clock display is another nice extra that makes this frame versatile. This somewhat makes up for the lack of MP3 playback.







The frame also has automatic orientation detection as an option, which rotates pictures from portrait to landscape. There are also collage and thumbnail view options.







This guy doesn't have the native image format support of some of the newer (and much more expensive) frames from Sony. And I'm very nervous about Phillips spotty quality record of late. So far so good. But definitely put this through the paces before your return period expires.







Overall this is a good product at the right price. Hopefully prices will come down over time.







This unit is worth a look.







Enjoy!

5FF2CMI 5.6" Digital Photo Frame (White), Digital Media Display, Most Common Memory Cards, 640 x 480, 32MB Internal Memory, 120VAC

...

show clock




+ Nice looking frame design




+ Adequate 32 MB internal memory




+ 640X480 display for nice sharpness




+ Price is right for an entry frame ($50 range)









Cons




- Pictures must be JPEG and work best when in native picture format




- Photos edited in certain software WILL NOT work, even when saved as JPEGs




- JPEG support limited to 16 megapixel and 10MBs files




- The white frame isn't as attractive as the black one on the 7 inch model




- No video playback




- Lacks MP3 music playback for slideshows




- No USB port for flash drives




- Competing alternatives from Sony natively support other image formats (RAW, TIFF, BMP)




- Phillips quality control has been declining; definitely test this within your return period




- Many newer alternatives coming to market which use less power than LCD









The frame comes with a quick reference manual and Windows and Mac software on the included CD. The CD also contains Windows compatible picture manager software. For a full PDF manual you will have to go to the website. There's some kind of menu driven help manual on the CD as well.









But the truth is you don't need a manual really. The built-in menu is really well designed. Not all the settings are on the first screen, but with some searching you can set up almost everything you need.




The frame is listed at a display ratio of 4:3. This means it's compatible with most standard camera formats, including my Nikon and almost all handheld Canon models. Those with wide-format digital cameras will want to look for one of the many widescreen frames to save the step of reformatting.









The optional clock display is another nice extra that makes this frame versatile. This somewhat makes up for the lack of MP3 playback.









The frame also has automatic orientation detection as an option, which rotates pictures from portrait to landscape. There are also collage and thumbnail view options.









This guy doesn't have the native image format support of some of the newer (and much more expensive) frames from Sony. And I'm very nervous about Phillips spotty quality record of late. So far so good. But definitely put this through the paces before your return period expires.









Overall this is a good product at the right price. Hopefully prices will come down over time.









This unit is worth a look.









Enjoy!

5FF2CMI 5.6" Digital Photo Frame (White), Digital Media Display, Most Common Memory Cards, 640 x 480, 32MB Internal Memory, 120VAC

...

picture frame passed the biggest test I was really concerned with.

Below are the technical specs:

Display size: 112.9 mm x 84.67 mm (4.44 x 3.33 inch)
Total pixels: 640 x 480
Density: 140 pixels per inch

Power consumption: 4.3W


Power adapter (2-prong) is small and can support 100 - 220 V and hence can be used in many countries. To me, that is a plus.

Frame comes with a quick reference manual, but the full manual is on the supplied CD. CD also contains Windows compatible picture manager software. Unfortunately, the frame manual is in Flash Paper format and a Macro Media Flash application menu displays one page a time. You can print individual pages, but you can't print all the pages at once. I wish they also supplied a PDF manual. They supplied a PDF manual for picture manager software, though.

Every time I turned the frame on, it went straight to the menu. I wish it went to a slideshow by default. There may be a way to accomplish that, but I couldn't figure out in the few minutes I got to work with it. I also have yet to figure out how to make my slideshow default, not the one Philips has supplied.

You can display a small digital clock during the slideshow. I like that feature.

The frame can detect pictures with portrait orientation (vertical). In that case, you can show other pictures in the black vertical bars on the sides of the main picture in a collage form. Very nice.

Pictures must be JPEG.
No videos.
No music.
There is USB port for connecting to computer (to manage the 32MB internal memory), but there is no USB port for flash drives.
Too much packing material.

A USB cable is supplied.

An elaborate menu system is available. So, it looks like you can adjust every little aspect of your frame and your slideshow. But, obviously, you don't necessarily have to deal with it as I was able to display my slideshow without much hassle. In short, user friendly, but has vast functionaly for configuration.

Random transition between the slideshow pictures showed a variety of interesting transitions.

Overall quality exceeded my expectations and I highly recommend the product.

Update:
I found the frame manual on the Internet. Look at the first comment for the URL.

Coby DP-557 5.6-Inch Digital Photo Frame with MP3 Player (Silver Metal)

...

picture frame passed the biggest test I was really concerned with.



Below are the technical specs:



Display size: 112.9 mm x 84.67 mm (4.44 x 3.33 inch)

Total pixels: 640 x 480

Density: 140 pixels per inch



Power consumption: 4.3W





Power adapter (2-prong) is small and can support 100 - 220 V and hence can be used in many countries. To me, that is a plus.



Frame comes with a quick reference manual, but the full manual is on the supplied CD. CD also contains Windows compatible picture manager software. Unfortunately, the frame manual is in Flash Paper format and a Macro Media Flash application menu displays one page a time. You can print individual pages, but you can't print all the pages at once. I wish they also supplied a PDF manual. They supplied a PDF manual for picture manager software, though.



Every time I turned the frame on, it went straight to the menu. I wish it went to a slideshow by default. There may be a way to accomplish that, but I couldn't figure out in the few minutes I got to work with it. I also have yet to figure out how to make my slideshow default, not the one Philips has supplied.



You can display a small digital clock during the slideshow. I like that feature.



The frame can detect pictures with portrait orientation (vertical). In that case, you can show other pictures in the black vertical bars on the sides of the main picture in a collage form. Very nice.



Pictures must be JPEG.

No videos.

No music.

There is USB port for connecting to computer (to manage the 32MB internal memory), but there is no USB port for flash drives.

Too much packing material.



A USB cable is supplied.



An elaborate menu system is available. So, it looks like you can adjust every little aspect of your frame and your slideshow. But, obviously, you don't necessarily have to deal with it as I was able to display my slideshow without much hassle. In short, user friendly, but has vast functionaly for configuration.



Random transition between the slideshow pictures showed a variety of interesting transitions.



Overall quality exceeded my expectations and I highly recommend the product.



Update:

I found the frame manual on the Internet. Look at the first comment for the URL.

Coby DP-559 5.6-Inch Digital Photo Frame with MP3 Player

...

mode

Lifebook U810 Notebook A110 800MHz, 512KBL2, 400MHz, 1GB, 40GB, NIC, abg, BT, 5.6"WSVGA, VB

...

typing like the Psion, though I found it easier to use than the Psion's. A hint for aging road warrior typists - while typing documents increase the font size to at least 18 and then you will be easily able to read your writing. Decrease the font at final formatting.

Still on the road, I was able to type a 14-page trip report on the U810, and I used the built-in SD card slot to download photo images frm my camera, edit the images using Photoshop, and incorporate them into the trip report. I inserted an 8-GB CF card into the CF card slot for precious file storage. The battery, as advertised lasted longer than 5 hours with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi running.

Once I reached home, the U810 slid easily into its docking station which was attached to a 19-inch Samsung MCD monitor, and a wireless Adesso keyboard with trackball. All worked well instantly, as did the immediate connection to my home wireless network. The U810 is now my primary email-answering and web-surfing computer.

So, I recommend the Fujitsu U810, especially if you are a Psion user and used to small keyboards. I can pack the U819, its VGA/ethernet dongle, AC adapter, and an extra battery and the whole set still weighs less than 3 pounds and fits in the same space that my Thinkpad used to take up. I only gave it 4 stars because it is not pocketable like the Psion.

Lifebook U810 Notebook A110 800MHz, 512KBL2, 400MHz, 1GB, 40GB, NIC, abg, BT, 5.6"WSVGA, VB

...

keep it mind that it does have limitations. You should expect to multitask with more than 4 applications or use 3D programs on this. But, if you are looking for a device to handle web surfing, productivity apps, email, IM/Communication apps, then this device is great!

Wireless performace is great. During my initial setup, I was downloading some programs from the internet and also my home network. I downloaded a large program from the web at a steady 700+ Kbps. I also was able to copy over about 3GB of data in about 6 minutes on my home network. I was also streaming videos off the internet with it without any choppiness.

SD/CF performance is not that great, so it should only be expected to copy smaller files to and from the card.

The screen resolution and clarity is amazing. Everything shows up very clear on it and is easy (albeit small) to read.

The keyboard is also very nice. It is tough to touch type on it after being accustomed to a normal sized keyboard. But, it would definately be possible with some practice. I find it easier to thumb type. The mouse stick is also very nice and easy to use. I toned down the sensitivty two notches and find it very easy to use and accurate.

What I have done is used the included VGA adapter and a USB hub to plug in a monitor and KB/Mouse and now I use it as my primary home email/websurfing PC that I can take with me anywhere. The performance is adequate for what I use it for and it is such an amazing device. Very recommended for people who travel or people who just like high tech gadgets!

Portable USA 5.6 Digital Picture Frame

...

keep it mind that it does have limitations. You should expect to multitask with more than 4 applications or use 3D programs on this. But, if you are looking for a device to handle web surfing, productivity apps, email, IM/Communication apps, then this device is great!



Wireless performace is great. During my initial setup, I was downloading some programs from the internet and also my home network. I downloaded a large program from the web at a steady 700+ Kbps. I also was able to copy over about 3GB of data in about 6 minutes on my home network. I was also streaming videos off the internet with it without any choppiness.



SD/CF performance is not that great, so it should only be expected to copy smaller files to and from the card.



The screen resolution and clarity is amazing. Everything shows up very clear on it and is easy (albeit small) to read.



The keyboard is also very nice. It is tough to touch type on it after being accustomed to a normal sized keyboard. But, it would definately be possible with some practice. I find it easier to thumb type. The mouse stick is also very nice and easy to use. I toned down the sensitivty two notches and find it very easy to use and accurate.



What I have done is used the included VGA adapter and a USB hub to plug in a monitor and KB/Mouse and now I use it as my primary home email/websurfing PC that I can take with me anywhere. The performance is adequate for what I use it for and it is such an amazing device. Very recommended for people who travel or people who just like high tech gadgets!

Lifebook U810 Notebook A110 800MHz, 512KBL2, 400MHz, 1GB, 40GB, NIC, abg, BT, 5.6"WSVGA, VB

...

have to change the way you think and use computers. But the changes are worth it.

The package itself is small. You can put it in a large jacket pocket. The 5.6" screen is wonderful, tack sharp. To deal with the high resolution, I had to default to a Windows theme with extra-large icons and use the Windows Accessibility options to set the default screen font and icon size larger. Once I did that, my aging eyes had no problem with the screen. In web browsers, like Firefox and Internet Explorer, you will find yourself using the Zoom option frequently especially with poorly designed pages that have abnormally small fonts to begin with.

This is a full bore Windows machine. This model is shipped with Windows Vista Business and includes a Windows XP "downgrade" disc. With only 1GB of RAM and a relatively slow CPU, I "downgraded" to Windows XP within a couple of days. Vista is simply too bloated and slow and user unfriendly for the U810.

On the other hand, Windows XP Pro SP2 runs beautifully. I typically have a half-dozen applications open and processing speed is more than adequate.

My first thought was that the 40GB hard drive would be insufficient. However, throw a 16GB Compact Flash in and you have plenty of storage for music and movies. You can also us SC cards up to 2GB. Be aware that the U810 may not support some SDHC cards.

I do wish there was more than the one USB port.

WiFi reception is excellent. I've tried it up to 50 feet from my access point with no problems. Bluetooth is also excellent. No problems pairing so far with any of the devices I have tried.

Bluetooth is unusually important with the U810. The U810 keyboard is definitely not amenable to touch-typing. I've adopted a two-finger style and can crank out maybe 15 - 20 words a minute tops with a fair number of typos. You can thumb type, but it is a little too large for convenience and accuracy.

Add a USB or Bluetooth mouse and a Bluetooth keyboard like the iGo Stowaway, however, and you have a set-up that will work well for just about any ordinary productivity task available in Microsoft Office in a package that weighs less than two pounds. I haven't had any need to travel since I acquired the U810, but I can tell you right now that this device is my new travel computer. Goodbye to carrying a heavy laptop and assorted paraphenalia. The U810 with a mouse and Bluetooth keyboard, an extra battery or two and a cellphone that I can tether to is all I'll need as my basic travel kit.

The U810 is definitely not perfection. The keyboard is the biggest disappointment. It is just too small to be practicable for touch typing and too large to be convenient for thumb typing. Another half-inch to an inch in width would have made it well suited to touch typing. The touchscreen which does not have an active digitizer is difficult to use for inking. If you rest your hand on the screen while inking, you get vectors all over the place which prevent handwriting recognition. Keeping your hand off the screen forces you to hold the pen awkwardly which leads to rapid fatigue. The provision of two LED "headlights" to illuminate the keyboard is, unfortunately, merely a marketing gimmick. They don't work well at all. A backlit keyboard would have been extremely useful.

Fujitsu does not include the Microsoft Touch Experience pack which would have allowed the user to make the QuickLaunch, TaskBar and scroll bars larger. This is a big mistake. The Touch pack features are required here.

Finally the stylus provided with the U810 is way too small to be useful. You are much better off getting a hefty third-party stylus.

Even with these defects and shortcomings, however, the Fujitsu U810 is the realizati