Ceiva 3 Digital Photo Receiver

We read all of the bad reviews other people wrote about Ceiva but went ahead and purchased it anyway. The fact is that there is nothing else out there so perfectly suited to non-computer people. Because they live in a rural area, the dial up solution is excellant for them. Wireless is just not an option.

My folks didn't think they would like it (because they didn't understand it) but now that they have had the unit for a few weeks - they are are really excited. I set up their account for them and took care of inviting all of my siblings, children, neices and nephews to send pictures and the participation has been great. We had no difficulty setting the unit up and no problems with the connection.

We got this for an elderly grandmother and it has been a really big hit from her perspective. The Web site allows the main account to invite several "buddies" to upload pictures for free. This is a great means of getting Grandma photos from out of town family members - the day after they are uploaded. We've also scanned old family photos from the 1950's and subscribed to Ceiva's "channels" for calendar and daily weather forecast.

Positives:
+Multiple families can send photos with 1 paid subscription.
+A really good concept for a non-technical user.
+You can add text to images after uploading (i.e. 'Mimi, Christmas 1968').
+Supports pulse dialing (for Grandma's 'old school' phone).

Negatives:
-Weak support of VOIP/Vonage (for my 'new school' phone).
-Contrast and resolution could be described as 'mediocre' at best. (Fortunately Grandma is not that discriminating.)
-Web site is a little confusing at first.

Conclusion:
If you are looking at this for specs or technology, look elsewhere. If you take the time to keep it updated, your grandmother will thank you.

With eStarling on the market, what's the point here? A flickr enabled wireless broadband enabled frame free from monthly fees against this product? C'mon, there is no comparison.

I would give this FIVE stars, but ONLY FOR CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

Don't buy it for your own home! It is PERFECT if you have a lonely, elderly relative who shies away from computers & email but likes to see photos of her grandchildren. That's where it shines. This enhances your contact with a loved one if you can't be there daily. Otherwise, FORGET IT. Great for a senior care or hospital patient (unless they have an incompatible phone system.)

Recognize that you'll be paying $10 per month "forever" or else you lose the ability to change the 30 photos. You'll have to take digital photos and upload fresh ones frequently--or else this will be pointless.

They break, so you'll need an extended warrantee. Mine lasted just over a year, and the replacement seems to have a slight contrast problem on the left side--frustrating but not quite bad enough to return again.

I do believe the other reviewers who had problems, but my experience has been very positive. They've treated me very well in 2006, and the product did exactly what was needed. A bit of a 'crap shoot.'

I recommend setting the interval between photos to the maximum, 2 hours. I'd set it to 48 hours if I could. Set it too fast, and after half a day they will think, "I've already seen that slide show. I'm done with this contraption." You want them to think of it like a static photo on the wall that is changed daily--then its a miracle.

For most people, DON'T buy this. But for that lonely, isolated, elderly person of suitable temperment, it might be a "gift from heaven."

First of all you can't simply put in a memory card or stick. You have to connect this thing to a phone line. Yeah that'll look nice on mom's wall.

Then, you have to subscribe to a pay service to use the product. Stop paying and you can't use it any more. Buying this product is really more like renting it. If you give it to someone either they have to pay that rent or you do.

I understand that Ceiva is dreaming of a continuous revenue stream, but I can't think of a single reason to buy this over the many digital frames that do not require a monthly fee.