It amazes me how much attention my digital photo frame gets from guests in my home. Unassuming and single-purposed, it definitely turns heads like no other device I own. Guests seem to head straight for the side table where it sits to watch a seemingly endless slideshow of family photos. I even catch myself standing there watching, especially after I load new pictures of the kids. It is my favorite way to enjoy my digital photos.

Once a novelty, digital frames are quickly replacing traditional picture frames on bookshelves and end tables across America. If you're about to go digital, or are just looking for a great gift for someone, here are five quick guidelines for selecting the right one.

Image Quality

Digital frames are little more than miniature LCD monitors, similar to those built into your laptop or family room TV. As with all video screens, resolution and image quality can vary significantly from model to model. It's unreliable to shop by specs alone, so demo a few side by side to compare image quality. Look for sharp, bright images that look good both straight on and from an angle.

Appearance

Just like with traditional photo frames, size and style matter. Frames come in sizes from about 2" diagonal up to almost 20". The most common size is between 7" and 10" (roughly the size of a 4x6 or 5x7 print). Digital frames come in many colors and styles, from traditional wood grain or painted finish to sleek, shiny and chic. For maximum flexibility, consider a frame with interchangeable face plates.

Memory

Another important feature to consider is how many images you can store on the frame. Most have slots for loading pictures directly from a camera's memory card. Make sure it accepts the same type or types of cards that your camera(s) do, as this will make transferring images to the frame significantly simpler. Also, look for a frame with a large internal (built-in) memory if you plan on loading lots of images for slideshows, videos and so forth.

Connectivity

With all the attention your digital frame will get from friends, family and members of your own household, you'll want to keep it updated with your most recent photos. Having multiple connectivity options can make this task a lot simpler. Most frames can connect to your PC using a ubiquitous USB cable, while Bluetooth and WiFi-enabled frames let you sync wirelessly from laptops, cameraphones and cameras that are WiFi enabled. Many WiFi-enabled frames can automatically sync images from PCs on your home network or from photo sharing sites on the Internet, making it simple to keep updated.

Power

With traditional frames you never had to consider placement based on available electrical outlets, but with a digital frame you will. Most offer AC adapters, although some offer built-in rechargeable battery packs too. To enjoy energy savings and extended battery life, consider a model with a built-in auto on/off feature. With this feature you can program your frame to turn itself off during the day or overnight when there's nobody there to see it, and on in the mornings or evenings when you are home.

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So there are five quick DigitalTips for selecting a digital photo frame. To recap, look for a décor-friendly frame with great image quality, built-in memory, compatible memory card slots and multiple power options.

Be sure to check out more DigitalTips on digital cameras, digital camcorders and digital imaging accessories.

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Browse Retrevo’s Real Time Catalog to compare digital photo frames and browse by picture quality, resolution and storage. Also check out top-rated point-and-shoot cameras.