The overall Photomax experience is enjoyable and effortless. With tons of unique features and clear instructions from cute canine mascot Max, Photomax is one of the best photo sites available for personal use. Photomax offers all of its functions for free, which makes storing on this site a good choice. They also offer products and services that cannot be found elsewhere (see below).
If you are a digital imaging rookie, you may want to check out the glossary for descriptions of general
features found on photo and video sites, and for some insight into basic industry terms.
[#Unique#]
Maxcast: You can add videos of any length, depending only on your storage capacity. You pay for viewing minutes.
Video Saver and Photo Saver: convert outdated media forms of prints and video tapes to digital format.
Digital Developer: a device that reads memory cards and transfers photos directly to your Photomax account.
Picture Perfect Magazine: a monthly subscription that offers heaps of useful information and tips on photography. The cost is $49.99 a year, more than many industry magazines, but the information is useful and written for the average user.
Movie Magic DVD Maker application: for creating home movies from still photos. DVDs start at $19.95, making it one of the least expensive services of its kind. Add effects, music and captions.
Max show: Slideshow (coming 2007)
[#Membership#]
Free membership provides five (5) GB storage and all services, including sharing, photo editing tools, fast uploading, and easy organization.
Basic membership is only $9.95 and allows 10GB of storage and 100 free prints a month.
New in 12/06, Premium membership is 24.95 and allows 25GB of storage and 250 free prints a month. Both packages will offer exclusive deals for paying members only.
Add 5GB of storage to any account for $5.00 a month.
[#Drawbacks#]
Limited features for bloggers
No hosting or HTML code provided
Site does not have public galleries
Personal URL is not provided and there are no album display options. **Update 12/06: Photomax will be adding customizable slideshows in January 2007 to enhance album display.
[#Uploading#]
Upload Speed*
Very
Fast
Fast
Average
Slow
*Under
upload speed, modem is a T1 modem.
[#Storage#]
5 GB of storage is free and organization is user-friendly. Upgrade to Basic and Premium accounts or add more storage in $5 increments.
Video storage is through Maxcast.
[#Products#]
While most sites just offer gifts that you’ve probably seen a thousand times, photos on shirts, photo mugs, mouse pads, etc., Photomax has more unique items, like bakery items, chocolates, oil paintings, leather handbags and jewelry. The gift center is organized and easy to use so even those who hate shopping will use it. In just a couple quick steps, you can buy all of your gifts for any occasion and any age. Jewelry is crafted with 14 karat gold. You can ship the items directly to the recipient. They have gifts for parties and for any age group and occasion
[#Prints#]
Prints are on Fuji Crystal archive-grade photo paper and arrive with a photo index. Print quality is excellent.
[#Sharing#]
Sharing is easy and secure. Photomax does not offer a personal homepage for each member, so the only people you invite to see your photos will be allowed. You can choose to share individual pictures or an entire album. Guests then have the option to order prints and gifts with the shared photos for themselves. It’s a simple process, so you can
even share with the most inexperienced users. All the recipient must do is click on the link that shows up in their email. They do not have to have an account or even know how to use the internet. Step by step instructions lead them through everything.must do is click on the link that shows up in their email. They do not have to have an account or even know how to use the internet. Step by step instructions lead them through everything.
[#Privacy#]
Privacy is guaranteed by Photomax. Sites with public galleries and member homepages can be a little scary for someone who wants to upload private pictures. Photomax does not have either of these, so you can rest easy knowing that no one can see your pictures unless you invite them. One thing to remember though: as with any and all photo sites, the company’s web administrator has access to everything.
[#SiteNavigation#]
Site navigation does not get much easier than on Photomax. All menus are easy to access from anywhere on the site and help is available from Max, the site’s mascot, on any feature.
