The Polaroid Digital photo frame XSU-00850B was supposed to go to someone else, however it didn't. It now lives on my desk with me so that every day I can look at photos of myself. I already own a digital frame, but unfortunately for it, the XSU is a much better option. Like my frame, the XSU can display photos and videos from memory cards and USB. However the XSU can also play MP3 files, has a small internal memory, an alarm clock, 4X zoom facility and a remote control. I'm thinking it may be time for me to upgrade.

I was thrilled when digital frames first started hitting the stores. Despite having hundreds of photos on my hard drive, I don't own a single photo album, nor have I found the time to print any of my pictures. Even my mum has stopped sending me hard copies and now emails family photos to me instead. Digital frames seemed the ideal way to see my photos without needing to fuss around with nails or glue.

So I bought my first frame, set it up, popped in a USB… and was bored within several weeks. The act of having to remove the USB and upload new photos everytime I wanted a change of scenery became annoying. Plus my frame wasn't compatible with some of my friends memory cards. The XSU interested me as it has its own internal memory. Not huge amounts, but enough so that I could plug it straight into my PC and transfer photos across (128Mb). Plus as its compatible with most memory cards I could easily borrow my friends photos when I get bored of my own. It even has the capacity to transfer photos straight from a digital camera to the frame without needing a PC. Once the photos are up, I can then zoom in, rotate, or edit the brightness or contrast of my pictures.

The main difference between my frame and the XSU is the calendar and alarm clock function, and the amazing photo resolution. I can now display the time and month on my frame, as well as having a slide show of my photos on the same screen. I can also set an alarm to remind me of upcoming events or deadlines. The Photos themselves are wonderfully clear, particularly the higher resolution images.

My only criticism of the frame so far is that the instructions for some of its functions are not easy to follow. I've had to ask colleagues of mine for assistance more than once which can be frustrating. Other than that I can say this is a very good product and I may need a XSU of my own at home very soon.

See the Polaroid Website for all the details.