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

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, peg42!}

Sometimes I wonder if the days before digital cameras are just a figment of my imagination. Did I really have to buy and load film into my camera? And then have to be stingy about what pictures I took because I was limited to the 24 on there? Or, better yet, that I'd take the photos and then have to wait with baited breath to see if they turned out okay?

Times have definitely changed for the better when it comes to taking pictures. Now I happily click away when I want to capture my kids' childhood and never have to worry about their eyes being closed or if one of them has turned away at the last minute.

However, for me the thing that I still need help with is sharing and printing the photographs that I take. I transfer them off of my camera onto my computer... and that's where they stay. I guess the positive thing about developing film from back in the day was that at least I would put pictures into albums and then they could be seen once in a while.

Well, Epson has found a way to change all that. Taking the modern display of a digital picture frame and combining it with the ultra convenience of a photo printer, the Epson PictureMate Show Digital Frame/Compact Photo Printer makes it possible to print and share all of my favorite pictures at the touch of a button.

Is it weird to call a photo printer cute? Because this one is.

Arriving in its own manageable little box, I unpacked the PictureMate Show and was right away amazed at how portable this really is. The combination of the handle right on top and the light weight means this isn't a clunky printer that you're not going to want to move around or use, rather it's one that you can easily transport and set up anywhere.

With hardly any set up required (no computer necessary!), I simply plugged the PictureMate Show in and pressed the power button. Right away the instructions for installing the ink cartridge showed up on the screen and I had no problem inserting it into the back and letting it charge for a minute or two.

And then? Well then you're ready to go, it's as easy as that. I popped my camera's memory card right into the side (you can also connect your PC or camera with a USB cord) and a green light appeared to let me know that my photographs were being uploaded.
Seconds later, my pictures appeared and I was faced with the hard part of deciding which of the large number of options I wanted to choose first. Using the remote control (don't lose it! You'll need the remote to use this machine!), I opted to start with the 12 Slide Show possibilities to customize how I wanted the PictureMate Show to display my photographs.

As a high-resolution, 7", widescreen digital photo frame, this machine does much more than just flip from one photo to the next. From traditional ways of moving between pictures such as Spin, Cross Fade, Zoom In and Fade In, to elaborate and unique transitions, viewing photos on the PictureMate Show can turn into much more than just seeing the next smiling face.

In fact, many of the Slide Show options were entertaining to watch all by themselves, let alone with any pictures involved. In the Book style, an actual closed book appears on the screen that slowly opens to reveal your photograph. Flipping through more pages, it's almost as if you are looking through a photo book right on the screen. After the last picture, the book closes and fades away for a few seconds and then the entire thing starts again.

Or, in Museum, you feel as if you're in a video game walking through a lit hallway. Every few feet you turn to see the art on the walls, which are framed in antique gold, and discover that each one is another of your photos. Or for an extra sassy touch, the Fashion Show style has each picture walking down the runway (yes, they each have legs) and unrolling at the end. I'm not sure how Epson came up with some of these, but they sure are entertaining!

As well as the various display options, I also appreciated the three clock settings and the calendar setting, which do a great job showing my photographs but have the practical applications right alongside them.

Moving on to the photo printer side of the Epson PictureMate Show, I was impressed with all of the abilities that the Layout section provides. As well as printing a standard 4" x 6" photo, you can select your own custom size (from as small as 0.3" x 0.3" up to 4" x 6") and print pictures for your wallet. I liked that I could set a page to print four smaller pictures and have them be four of the same or four different ones depending on what I wanted.

Having the ability to enhance and fix your photos right on the screen was also incredibly convenient - everything from black & white or sepia tones to cropping, zooming and moving the image around to make it completely custom. When you've got it just how you want it, just press OK once or twice more on the remote per its instructions and printing begins.

Or, if you aren't looking to change the layout or pictures, the Print Photos tab can have your pictures from the screen onto the paper in less than a minute. Simply insert the paper into the holder on the top, choose to print specific photos or all and you're almost done.

As one last added feature, you can include a border and/or date stamp on your photo before pressing print and watching this small machine give big results.

In as fast as 37 seconds, the PictureMate Show prints 4" x 6" photos that have amazing quality, detail and true-to-life tones. I especially liked that the picture was dry to the touch as soon as it was done, meaning no waving it around in the air or being afraid to pick it up due to smudging. Instead, your perfect photo is vibrant and bright and ready to be enjoyed!

With its innovative 2-in-1 design, the Epson PictureMate Show changes the way that you print and share photographs in a clear, easy to use, portable package. You can edit and print high quality photos all without a PC as well as display your favorites on the 7" screen in a wide variety of creative ways. The screen even moves up and down with the touch of the top and can be angled for easier viewing from any room in the house.

With 270 MB of internal memory, you're able to store as many pictures as you need and then, whenever the mood strikes you, print them off almost immediately. The PictureMate Show comes with a starter cartridge and 20 sheets of paper to get you started, so by purchasing something like the PictureMate 200 Series Print Pack, you'll be set for an extended period of time with 150 more pictures!

The Epson PictureMate Show truly is the gift for just about anyone on your list this season. There is no computer or technology experience needed, so everyone from photography enthusiasts who want a quick way to display and print their art to retirees who would like to have an easy way to see their favorite photos of their grandkids can use and enjoy this for years to come.

And, thanks to the generosity of Epson, one such person will have the opportunity to put this convenient machine under their tree, because...

One lucky person will win an Epson PictureMate Show! ARV $299.99!

To enter to win: Visit Epson and tell me another of their high quality products that you would like to own.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you head over to A Mom's Balancing Act and enter to win an amazing Epson PictureMate Show over there, too!
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Epson on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave the following message on their wall: The Epson PictureMate Show does it all! I entered to win this innovative Digital Frame/Photo Printer at Thanks, Mail Carrier: http://bit.ly/dgIz1i
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the Holiday Gift Guide giveaways (Checking Our List giveaways ONLY) running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Checking Our List 8: WIN an Epson PictureMate Show ($300) digital frame/photo printer! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/dgIz1i #win #giveaway

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Giveaway will end on December 3rd at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to Epson for providing a PictureMate Show and PictureMate 200 Series Print Pack for me to review as well as a PictureMate Show for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.