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GPX PF-7708
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Initially, I was very disappointed by the sloppiness of the frame construction of the GPX PF-7708. The wood-grain plastic, made to look distressed, is poorly put together especially at the seams. The upper left corner seam on the traditional frame is particularly unacceptable.
Equally disconcerting was the glob of hardened glue that had been left to dry on the plastic frame on the digital frame side!
More seriously unacceptable is the fact that the digital frame case itself is not secured very well to the plastic frame. It will not exactly fall out but I was able to easily insert a finger from the front to the back of the frame!
There are 6 buttons on the top of the GPX PF-7708 digital frame case (left, right, menu/alarm off, enter/mode, and 2 volume buttons. There is a long button in the center which acts as the power on/off button and the snooze button for the alarm. Speakers are built in. A headphone jack is also included (headphones not included).
Memory card slots are included, as well as a USB host for thumb drives.
DISPLAY OPTIONS
The GPX PF-7708 digital frame is meant for flat surface display and is not wall-mountable.
Stand:
The easel stand is a little peculiar. It can easily be moved into quite a few positions. However, if the 2 frames are positioned in a v-shape as displayed on the box, the stand cannot reach the surface the unit is placed on. To make the stand reach the surface, the unit would have to be positioned in a straight line with the 2 frames side-by-side--a very unattractive look!
The easel is not even needed if the frames are placed slightly open in a v-shape as pictured on the box. It is my opinion that the v-shape is the most expected position for this type of unit. It was one of the reasons why I was first attracted to the GPX PF-7708.
The instructions suggest that the easel can be used to put the entire unit into a portrait position.
I questioned a support person about this because it would mean that the regular frame would sit atop the digital frame in quite a precarious position! The traditional frame would also have to be changed each time. I certainly wouldn’t want to view pictures with the unit in that position!
Also, when the images rotated from landscape to portrait, the result was totally unacceptable, with wide black borders framing a very small picture. However, all the photos from my digital camera filled the entire screen when it was returned to landscape mode.
IMAGE DISPLAY QUALITY on the GPX PF-7708
When in landscape mode, the photos displayed very well.Screen Resolution:
The Resolution of 480 x 234 is adequate. The actual viewing area of the digital frame side is 3 3/8 x 6 1/8. The traditional frame has a black mat with a 3 5/8 x 5 5/8 viewing area.
Aspect Ratio:
The preferred ratio is 16:9 (widescreen, landscape). As mentioned above, when the frames are placed into portrait view, the display is unacceptable.
Brightness and Contrast:
Brightness, contrast and color cannot be adjusted but are acceptable as they are.
Viewing Angle:
The viewing angle is reasonably good if the angle is not too wide.
Screen Backlighting Display:
The display is a TFT LCD. I did notice a bit of backlight bleed around the edges but it did not really detract from the picture display.
Screen Surface
Only the traditional frame has a glass surface.
METHODS OF CONNECTIVITY for TRANSFERRING IMAGES for the GPX PF-7708:
The unit has a built-in memory card expansion slot and a USB Host for connecting external USB thumb drives. There is no internal memory.
SUPPORTED FILE TYPES
Memory Card Formats:
SD (Secure Digital), MMC (Multi-Media Card), MS (Memory Stick) and xD Picture Card.
Picture Formats:
JPEG
Audio Files:
MP3. The sound was better than I had expected.
Video Files:
None.
Text & Messaging Files:
None.
Wireless:
No.
PICTURE FUNCTIONS and ADVANCED FEATURES of the GPX PF-7708:
Auto-Slideshow
The available intervals between pictures are 3, 5, 10 and 30-seconds. Pictures cannot be modified on the frame.
Zoom
I could not find the zoom feature. It is mentioned on the manufacturer's website but not in the manual provided with the unit.
Clock and Calendar
The frame has a built-in clock as well as a calendar. The inclusion of these features in a digital frame can expand its functionality.
If the clock display is selected, a digital clock appears with the option of either 12 or 24 hour time modes available. If calendar is selected, both a calendar and a digital clock are displayed.
Both the clock and the calendar displays allow for setting an alarm. A snooze feature is available which will delay the alarm for 6 minutes.
I found that setting the clock and the calendar with the remote was frustrating. When setting from the buttons on the frame, the job was easy.
The frame remembers the time and date even after it is turned off.
Switching from calendar and clock to clock only was easy.
A very nice added feature of the GPX PF-7708 is that the brightness of the clock and calendar can be adjusted by selecting either Day Mode or Night Mode and setting the specific time of day for either mode.
Power On-Off
The GPX PF-7708 digital frame can be turned on and off from the frame itself or by the remote but it cannot be programmed to turn the power on and off automatically.
Remote
The remote was responsive, had a good range and was intuitive after a short learning curve.
The required learning curve was necessitated by the fact that the buttons are not clearly marked. In general, remote control buttons usually have their functions written below or pictured on the buttons themselves. On this remote, the functions are written above buttons that are either blank or don’t state what they do on the button itself.
There is no place to insert the remote on either of the GPX PF-7708 frames.
ACCESSORIES INCLUDED:
Remote with battery included, USB cable, Power Adapter.
COMPATIBIIITY:
Windows Operating System only.
WARRANTY:
90 Days.
KUDOS for the GPX PF-7708:
The concept of a digital frame combined with a classic photo frame can produce a pleasing display.
A digital clock with an alarm and a calendar give the digital photo frame a useful function even if photos are not displaying. (Personally, I found the clock and calendar included with this frame to be a little too modern for my taste). The ability to adjust the brightness of the clock display to day or night mode is a useful feature.
A photo slideshow with music included (if desired) again adds to the overall functionality of the product. The sound was not as tinny as one would expect from a little 7” frame. The volume is adjustable to a nice range. A slot on the frame is provided for headphones.
CAVEATS for the GPX PF-7708:
The overall construction of the frame is not of high quality. The digital frame case is not secured well to the frame.
No internal memory to store pictures.
Not able to adjust brightness, contrast or color of photos from frame or remote.
Not able to modify or delete pictures on the frame.
Though it is stated on the website that there is a zoom function, it does not exist and is not mentioned in the manual.
No automatic repeat for music. If repeating a track s desired, the repeat button on the remote must be used each time.
Orientation from landscape to portrait and back is automatic but the results are unacceptable in portrait mode.
No place to insert remote.
No programmable on/off.
I found the GPX PF-7708 frame to be quite noisy when on.
CONCLUSION:
I cannot give the GPX PF-7708 digital frame high marks and I did end up returning it. The overall low quality of its physical construction made me feel uncomfortable gifting this product.
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