Checking Our List #8: Epson PictureMate Show Digital Frame/Compact Photo Printer Review & Giveaway

I have become quite the photo enthusiast since having my kids. No matter where we're at, I almost always have my camera with me. It's one of those must-have items that I don't want to be without, as you just never know when there's a going to be a memory to capture. I thoroughly enjoy displaying the pictures I take of my kids around our home, sharing them with family and friends, and putting together photo albums, baby books, etc. so we have them to cherish always. I never used to be very good about getting pictures printed off (they would often just sit on my computer), however, I've gotten a lot better about it, and thanks to Epson, I can do so even easier!

Epson America Inc. is a leading provider of digital imaging products and known for their high quality, functional, compact and energy efficient range of products. Whether you're looking for printers, scanners, or 3LCD projecters....they have it all.

For those who visit here often you may remember my review of the Epson Artisan 810 All-in-One Printer. It's one we have used more times than I can count since receiving it, and have found the printing quality to be outstanding each and every time. We are huge fans of the Epson brand, which is why I couldn't have been happier when I learned we were going to have the opportunity to review the Epson PictureMate Show.
The PictureMate Show combines innovation and style and is a breakthrough in the compact photo printer market. It is a convenient solution for displaying, sharing and printing high quality pictures right from the comfort of your own home. Its 2-in-1 design enables you to print 'better than lab-quality' photos, and also display your favorite images on a high-resolution, 7", widescreen digital photo frame. All of this is done without a PC!

Features/Benefits:

• Compact and convenient size
  
• 7" widescreen photo frame with a 16:9 tilt digital photo display
• Remote control
• 12 unique slideshow formats
• Great print resolution and durable, smudge, scratch and water resistant photos
  
• Large 270 MB internal memory to store hundreds of photos
• Prints from memory cards, USB thumb drives, PictBridge devices and PDAs or digital cameras without the need for using a computer.
• Prints custom sizes from 0.3" x 0.3" to 4" x 6"
• Auto Photo Correction for highest quality prints - 'better than lab quality"
  
• Fast Print Speed
  
• ENERGY STAR® qualified

When the PictureMate Show arrived, I was impressed with how much was included in the box. Other than the PictureMate Show Digital Frame/Compact Photo Printer, there was also a Remote control, paper tray, power cord, paper and starter photo cartridge, quick start guide and CD.


I was also amazed with the compact size of the PictureMate unit. I knew it was going to be on the smaller side, but had no idea it would be this compact. I LOVE it!

It not only takes up very little space, but has a convenient handle on the top which makes it easy to take along to family gatherings, scrapbooking parties...anywhere you may find a need to display your pictures and/or print them off.

To get it set up, you simply push down on the top of the display so it can move up. You then gently pull up at the bottom of the display to tilt it to a position where you can easily see the screen.


Of course, after checking out all that was included...I couldn't wait to get it set up and test it out. I thought about having my hubby help me get it set up, but I was too excited to try it out and didn't want to wait for him to get home from work. So, I decided to follow the very user-friendly instructions and found the steps to be quite simple.

After plugging it in and turning it on, I was ready to install the initial photo cartridge that came in the box. Along the back side there's a cartridge door where the cartridge slides right in.


I then set the date and time with the remote control and inserted the memory card from my digital camera into the memory card slot on the side of the PictureMate.

Once in, the memory card light flashes and the display tells you how many photos are on your card. At this point I browsed around to see all the PictureMate Show has to offer. The main screen makes it easy to navigate to the page you need. You can choose from Print Photos, Layout, Slide Show and Photo Storage.

I was very curious to see the quality of the printed photos, so I decided to try that out first. It shows you all your pictures and by using the remote you can scroll through them to find the one(s) you want to print.

Once you click on a picture you can crop it and edit it before printing.

The following is an example of one of them I did. The top picture is the original and the bottom picture is cropped. This picture does not do them justice...they came out amazingly clear and professional!

I am still amazed that so much editing can be done to a photo without the use of a computer. How convenient! That means I can take this with me anywhere, whether I have a computer available or not! By simply using the remote, I was able to crop the picture and could even choose to change it to Black & White or Sepia if I wanted. The following pictures are ones that I put a border on.


The remote control is very easy to use, however, I often find myself touching the screen out of habit since that's what our Artisan 810 Printer has. I don't mind the remote control, but think having a touch screen would make it even more user-friendly.

Since the remote control is so small, I was happy to see that there is a spot to store it right on top of the PictureMate unit when not in use. This ensures that we do not misplace it and always know where it's at when we need it.

Having printed lots of pictures since receiving the PictureMate, I can tell you that I'm continually impressed with the picture quality. They are just as nice (if not nicer) than those that I order and have printed in the store. The ink is completely dry once it prints which means I don't have to worry about smudging them or scratching them.

The pictures also print very quickly. There have been many times already that I've been working on the kids' baby books, or needing a picture for one of our frames and I just go to the PictureMate Show and print them off. It's that simple!

Other than the fact that the PictureMate is a compact photo printer, I also appreciate that it has a large 270 MB internal memory, making it possible to store hundreds of photos. If I don't have time to print a bunch off, I can simply store them and go through them at a later time.

I also LOVE that it's also a Digital Photo Frame. The slideshow option is probably one of my favorite features. There are 12 unique slideshow formats, including one that's a book flipping through pages with your pictures on them, a calendar and more! They're so fun to watch!

Overall, I have been very happy with the PictureMate Show from Epson! It's extremely easy to use, innovative and convenient for people like me who enjoy being able to easily display and print pictures to share with others. It's an everyday photo sharing solution the whole family can enjoy. It would make the perfect gift for anyone on your Christmas list this year (or any other time throughout the year)!

Buy It: You can purchase the PictureMate Show for $299.99.

Win It: Epson has generously offered one very lucky reader a PictureMate Show Digital Frame/Compact Photo Printer of their own!

Mandatory Entry - Visit Epson and leave a comment letting me know the name of another product they offer.

Extra Entries: (Only valid after the mandatory entry has been completed. Leave 1 comment for each extra entry)

1. 1 extra entry- Enter the Epson PictureMate Show Giveaway at Thanks, Mail Carrier

2. 1 extra entry- 'Like' Epson America on Facebook

3. 1 extra entry- Follow Epson America on Twitter

4. 3 extra entries- Grab our Checking Our List Holiday Gift Guide Button and leave a comment with the URL where it can be found.

5. 3 extra entries- Blog about this giveaway (linking to this post and Epson) and leave THREE comments with the URL to that post.

6. 1 extra entry- Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (You can tweet once a day for one extra entry every day)! You can copy and paste:

WIN a PictureMate Show Digital Frame/Compact Photo Printer from @EpsonAmerica ARV $300! #momsbalancingact http://tinyurl.com/33uukp6

7. 3 extra entries- Post my blog button or blog URL to your blog and leave a comment with the URL to your blog. (If it already is, leave me a comment letting me know)

8. 2 extra entries- subscribe to A Mom's Balancing Act via e-mail (found along the side column) and leave TWO comments letting me know.

9. 2 extra entries- 'Like' A Mom's Balancing Act on Facebook

10. 2 extra entries- Follow my blog publicly on Google Friend Connect

11. Enter any of my other Holiday Gift Guide giveaways running now. Leave me a comment on which one(s)....ONE entry for EACH giveaway you enter!!

Leave one comment for each entry you complete. Be sure to leave your email address with your comments or make sure it's visible in your profile so that I have a way to contact you if you win!

This giveaway will end December 3rd and is open to the US Only!

**The products for this review and giveaway were provided for free by Epson. All opinions found here are my own and were not influenced in any way. The opinions of others may differ from my own**