Pandigital has left a bad taste in my mouth over the past few years. I bought a first generation frame from them about 2 years ago, just as these "photo" frames were starting to become mainstream. I particularly like the pandigital models because the frames have glass covers, making them look a lot more like a "real" picture frame, as opposed to some of the uglier models out there.
Anyway, 2 years ago, I had nothing but problems with the pandigital frames. My computer would not recognize the frame when I synced it via usb. This was quite a common problem for many users if you check past reviews. Pandigital did nothing to resolve the issue other than tell people to exchange the frame. Well, unfortunately the frame was never actually defective - it just had poorly coded software that was inherently incompatible with specific builds of Windows XP. On top of that, no matter how much memory you loaded up in the frame, it would only recognize 2000 pictures; however, it took me a few hours of experimentation before I figured out that was the problem, given NOWHERE in the documentation was there a point about a limitation on the "number" of photos you could use. Anyway.. I digress..
So just the other day, I saw that Pandigital has a new model frame, the Pantouch. It looked almost identical to their last generation of models, which was fine with me. Also, I saw on the box that it could hold up to 6,400 photos. I saw that clearly they had fixed that previous 2000-photo limit, so I decided with much hesitation to purchase this new model.
On the plus side, the frame synched up with my PC just fine, and sure enough I was able to load up my 3,000 pictures onto the frame just fine. But then that's when the problems begun. The frame would start to lock up in mid slide-show. I started taking off photos and found that to keep the frame from locking up, I could only have around 1,000 pictures. I even tried to downsize the file size of the pictures, so that my 3,000 pictures only took up 400MB of space, and put them directly ON the memory of the device (which has 512MB). Still, the stupid thing wouldn't run the slideshow without locking up.
After about 5 hours of trying different types of memory cards, quantities of pictures, and changing file types, I found out the problem: You cannot run a slideshow on more than 1,000 photos in RANDOM-MODE. Yes, if you are having problems with the slideshow locking up, it's because you need to switch OFF the random mode. Apparently the frame has a very slow processor and when it tries to search all of the internal memory for a "random" photo, the process takes too long and the frame just locks up. For some reason I haven't been able to figure out this issue has never been explored... I guess maybe no one has more than 3,000 photos?
Anyway, after fixing that issue, my frame is fully operational. The actual user interface is pretty good compared to other frames. The "pantouch" technology is a complete gimmick. It works, but I found myself just using the remote and on-device buttons to navigate. Also, I really want to know what type of genius product manager decided it would be "appleish" and "trendy" to use a touch-interface on a glass picture frame! It's one thing to have a touch-screen phone, because finger prints aren't much of an issue, but common, who wants finger prints on their glass picture frame?
So in conclusion, I give this frame 3 stars. It loses 1 star because of the shoddy memory and hardware, and the fact that the frame gets cranky once you have over 1,000 photos on it. It loses another star for Pandigital's abysmal customer service, because if this thing dies on you, you won't get getting much help from them!
Anyway, 2 years ago, I had nothing but problems with the pandigital frames. My computer would not recognize the frame when I synced it via usb. This was quite a common problem for many users if you check past reviews. Pandigital did nothing to resolve the issue other than tell people to exchange the frame. Well, unfortunately the frame was never actually defective - it just had poorly coded software that was inherently incompatible with specific builds of Windows XP. On top of that, no matter how much memory you loaded up in the frame, it would only recognize 2000 pictures; however, it took me a few hours of experimentation before I figured out that was the problem, given NOWHERE in the documentation was there a point about a limitation on the "number" of photos you could use. Anyway.. I digress..
So just the other day, I saw that Pandigital has a new model frame, the Pantouch. It looked almost identical to their last generation of models, which was fine with me. Also, I saw on the box that it could hold up to 6,400 photos. I saw that clearly they had fixed that previous 2000-photo limit, so I decided with much hesitation to purchase this new model.
On the plus side, the frame synched up with my PC just fine, and sure enough I was able to load up my 3,000 pictures onto the frame just fine. But then that's when the problems begun. The frame would start to lock up in mid slide-show. I started taking off photos and found that to keep the frame from locking up, I could only have around 1,000 pictures. I even tried to downsize the file size of the pictures, so that my 3,000 pictures only took up 400MB of space, and put them directly ON the memory of the device (which has 512MB). Still, the stupid thing wouldn't run the slideshow without locking up.
After about 5 hours of trying different types of memory cards, quantities of pictures, and changing file types, I found out the problem: You cannot run a slideshow on more than 1,000 photos in RANDOM-MODE. Yes, if you are having problems with the slideshow locking up, it's because you need to switch OFF the random mode. Apparently the frame has a very slow processor and when it tries to search all of the internal memory for a "random" photo, the process takes too long and the frame just locks up. For some reason I haven't been able to figure out this issue has never been explored... I guess maybe no one has more than 3,000 photos?
Anyway, after fixing that issue, my frame is fully operational. The actual user interface is pretty good compared to other frames. The "pantouch" technology is a complete gimmick. It works, but I found myself just using the remote and on-device buttons to navigate. Also, I really want to know what type of genius product manager decided it would be "appleish" and "trendy" to use a touch-interface on a glass picture frame! It's one thing to have a touch-screen phone, because finger prints aren't much of an issue, but common, who wants finger prints on their glass picture frame?
So in conclusion, I give this frame 3 stars. It loses 1 star because of the shoddy memory and hardware, and the fact that the frame gets cranky once you have over 1,000 photos on it. It loses another star for Pandigital's abysmal customer service, because if this thing dies on you, you won't get getting much help from them!