I have a spare 19" monitor that is not used for anything at present. I would like to use it as a large 'Photo frame' without using a computer. Is there any gadget that I could connect to it that would accept (for example) a USB memory stick loaded with some of my pics, that would display them all in a slide show. If there is such a gadget, what is it called and where would I get it?

I've never heard of such a thing (which doesn't mean it doesn't exist!) but the monitor would have to be driven by a graphics card and that probably means using a computer.

Same reply as Mike.
Sorry

A notebook computer might do the job for you. You will need to make sure it has dual monitor functionality.

Thanks for the interest but I think I may have the answer myself. Cannot use the Monitor as it does not have the right connections, but my wife searched and found the following item that will allow you to plug in a 'card reader' that reads SD cards and is connected to the TV via the video/audio sockets at rear. Have not got it yet but will test it out at Xmas. It would normally be about £40-£50 but is £17-99 at PLAY.COM. Sounds just the job
PANASONIC - DMW- SDP1EB

Thanks for the warning, but have got an acknowledgement from PLAY.COM confirming the price stated. Awaiting delivery - so far so good

I've used Play.com for several years now and find them to be very reliable and very quick with delivery too!

Perhaps there had been some errors on site recently Phil or the confirmation emails were messing up for those customers

I'm sure they wouldn't start underhanded tricks like that now after building such a reputable name for themsleves ... but of course you did right to say keep an eye on things !


@ Pastel,

lets know how you get on with your new purchase

I could have posted a link to the topic in question, but thought the warning of watching the pricing would suffice, especially as "Trading Standards" are also involved and the company I believe did send a apology.
(although that did not stop it happening again the following day with different products).

I got my Christmas present and opened it and connected it to the TV (not the spare monitor) and the good news is that it worked very well, using a SD card directly from the camera. The bad news was that it would not play an SD card that had been loaded with images (jpegs) from the computer.
The connection is made via a triple cable (red, green and blue) to the appropriate RGB sockets in the back of the TV (explains why I could not use the monitor).

Fortunately. I only paid the £18 to PLAY.COM and not £50 to the other companies..!!

Thanks for your comments.

Hi Mike

In my ignorance, all I did was to copy images (jpegs) directly from 'My Pictures' onto the SD card and then plug the card into the gadget and obviously it did not work. How would I find out what the Folder Structure is? and how would I maintain it for the purpose of transfer? If it is possible to do this, it would be great. I await your advice...........

One of the easiest ways would be to use the camera software to select and transfer some pictures from the camera to the PC.

Once is has copied the pictures to the folder you select you will the see that it has also created at least one sub folder.

I think mine creates a sub folder for each time the camera is used.
(I'm not too sure because I don't use it very often)

edit.
This is the folders when I view my camera from the PC, the last folder "100DSCIM" contains the pictures.
"I don't know why it shows the number 100, as this is not the number of pictures in the folder (11 actually)

So on your card you could try as Mike suggests creating 2 folders, one called DCIM with a sub folder called DSCIM and put your pictures in the sub folder.

J:\DCIM\100DSCIM

Connect your camera, switch it on and Windows should see it as if it was an external drive connected.

From My Computer, explore the camera 'drive' and you will soon see the folder structure, and where photos are stored.