Digital picture frames: Why all the hype?

[SpaceCase]

I take it digital picture frames are usually around 7 to 12 inches, at a price of around $200? Yuck. No thanks. I'll take a pass on them if they're that small at that price.

A very quick but not so thorugh check shows that you can get a 20 inch LCD monitor for around $155, and probrably less. Why not just buy the bigger LCD monitor, mount it to your wall and run a slide show of your pictures through monitor #1 as you surf the Internet with monitor #2?

I was real excited when I saw the digital picture frame for the first time. And then I found out you could run 3 monitors off of the same computer. It was then that my excitement died and died fast.

I have a question for everyone:

What's the point of having an expensive, little digital picture frame when you can show your pictures to friends and family using a larger LCD monitor? When it comes to digital picture frames I'm curious as to what the hype is all about. 

[MB_722]

people will buy anything thats why

[onlyme]

Probably because a 20" monitor will look stupid on your shelf, desk, dresser, fireplace mantel, kitchen, and everywhere else at the same time.  Sure the 20" monitor is great when you are in your office and someone is there.

[Eyeball Chambers]

I saw one on the counter at a car dealership with multiple alternating photos.  Seemed about the only good application for one in my opinion.

[Ursus]

200dollars is cheap.

my sisters and i clubbed together our money at xmas for dad and one we got cost 200pounds. its great though more a novelty. then again my dad loves it and has a digital camera and loves taking fotos so hes happy

[CQ]

A monitor will work yes, but then it looks like you did, in fact, slap up a monitor.

The whole picture frame thing is far cuter IMO, I have one in my living room and I like the way it looks.

[webcake]

I got one. Was an ok price, yet took ages to set up. More of a novelty than anything.