honestech FOTOBOX Plus - Windows

this is an extraordinary product. I have made dvd's with music,theirs an mine, added text to pictures and had beautiful memories that I cannot replace. I had to test a few to get the full advantage. I would recomend a little more detail for performance. a step by step would have been more helpful. It tells you what you can do, but showing you was a little vgue. I love the fotobox but wish it would have come with more instructions.shutterbug

It works as advertized and is sooo simple to use. I would recommend this product, I wish that I had had it when my daughter was in high school.

OK I admit it: I'm not a technical whizz, so please excuse the fact that this review won't contain tons of jargon. But if you're also a beginner who wants to know the basic what's and how, read on...Ok; first things first. This product was designed with netbook users in mind (no disc drive for software), but this product is fine for use with a laptop (The family uses both, so I tried them for comparison. There was no difference in how it worked). It just means that users already familiar with various photography software might find the features on the FOTOBOX PLUS a little basic.I took the memory card from my camera, inserted it into the FOTOBOX's SDHC/SD/MMC slot, then insert the device into your netbook/laptop's USB port. Then the only blip happened: The instructions tell you that the programme will just run automatically, however, the first time you use it, it won't.I had to go to the netbook's Computer panel. Once I opened that, I saw there was a new F drive listed: FOTOBOX. Click launcher, let it load, then you will be ready to go.Easy mode or advanced mode? I naturally went with easy, and quickly picked up where everything was and how to use the features to create slideshows with my photos.Now, advanced mode is really where it's at. There's no increase in difficulty, so I'm not really sure why there is a option of 'easy' or 'advanced' to be honest, it has all of the same 'easy mode' options. The difference between the two levels is the choice to edit photos before making your slideshow; crop, adjusting colour, removing red eye etc. Windows Photo Gallery has these options anyway, it's not hard to do.OK: You're now happy with your finished slideshow; now how best to show it to family and friends? How about uploading it to your mobile, Ipod or PSP? I have family and friends who live abroad, so eyeballing my Ipod over coffee isn't an option. Luckily FOTOBOX has thought of that and allows you to easily upload your finished masterpiece to YouTube and Facebook.All in all, I'm pleased with the options available here and the ease in which I could use it.However, I've removed a star for the hiccup I had the first time I used it. The basic instructions don't tell you about this and it took me a little while before it occurred to me to check the reviews here and learn what to do. Thanks Mr T Anderson xx

I had purchased this device to make photo DVD's from my digital photos on an SD card. First of all the instructional sheet that comes with the Fotobox is next to worthless. I decided to make a DVD using only the basic function, which appeared easy enough to do. After a time consuming download of my photos I was advised that there was not enough space on a blank DVD to fit them. Only after fiddling with the various on screen buttons was I able to realize that the slide show viewing time could be shortened from the preset 7 seconds per photo to 4 seconds. Now there was enough room on the DVD to fit all the photos on my SD card. Everytime I attempted to burn a DVD the program would freeze up...always at a different stage of the burn. After wasting hours trying to make a simple DVD I gave up and I am returning the Fotobox. My advice is ...don't waste your time with this product. Use the DVD burner that comes with Windows, it's easier and less time consuming.