Have a gazillion photos? Me too. Got ’em all backed up? Me neither! Well, we BOTH need a Picture Keeper in our lives, then. Built for the low-to-no-tech audience, the Picture Keeper is a USB device that plugs into your computer, searches out all of your photos, and backs them up. No software to install, no expensive drives to buy, just one little USB to make sure that your pics are wiped out forever in the case of a bad system crash.
Disclosure: samples provided for review purposes only. My opinions are honest and my own, and based on first-hand experience with the product. Some links contained in the post are affiliate links.
What you get in the package is deceptively small- a USB drive the size of your pinky finger, a thin instruction pamphlet, and a coupon for prints. However, the Picture Keeper package assured me it was easy, so I just dug right in!
Just to mention my backstory, I have a 6-year-old iMac that has my daughter’s baby pictures on it, and it’s been wonky for a few years now. I was very anxious to rescue those photos and get them securely on to a drive.
So I started by plugging the Picture Keeper into the iMac, and proceeded to launch the program. Except it wouldn’t launch. So I called customer service and got Matt…who happens to be the developer of the PK. (I mean, how often does THAT happen?) After checking out my system specs together over the phone, we determined that the PK doesn’t support that operating system. (I.E, older than dirt, at least in computer years.) I was disappointed, but impressed that the customer support at Picture Keepers was so available (there was only a moment’s wait) and so quick to diagnose my issue.
I moved on to my “work” (Windows-based) laptop. As you can imagine, for a crafter and product reviewer and a mom on top of all that, I have a gazillion photos on my laptop. And they’re everywhere, too….as downloads, in my photo gallery, and on my desktop. Still skeptical at how this was going to work, I plugged in the PK into my USB port.
The next set of screen shots show you how the PK sets up.
So it was clicking along, showing each picture as it was being process. By the way, did you see the number of photos??? 3900+???? Are you kidding me?
As a result, the back up took a while. I was able to check my email and use my computer for other things. About 20 minutes later, it was done!
So now here we are…with 3900 of my favorite photos stored on a USB port for a “just in case” moment. I was curious, so I went into my computer and selected “view photos.” Amazingly, the way the Picture Keeper stores it’s files is exactly the same way they are stored on your computer. I have a strong visual memory, so this is great for me. And the next time I’ll go to backup (there’s a handy-dandy reminder service), it’ll be even easier- the Picture Keeper will only back up my NEW photos. How much do I love THAT? No duplicates!
Do you have a large number of photos that aren’t backed up? Then the PK might be just the ticket for you too!
Here are some handy-dandy stats from the website:
With a PK-16, it’s a snap to save up to 16,000* pictures! And because there’s no software to install, it’s that much easier.
Just insert the Picture Keeper drive into any USB port on your PC, click “Start Backup” and Picture Keeper automatically finds and saves all your pictures. That’s it! They all fit right there on the Picture Keeper drive. What’s more, subsequent backups are fast because Picture Keeper will only copy the newest images when you use it again to save your recently added or changed pictures.
And because Picture Keeper’s software runs right from the USB drive, you’ll be able to easily save pictures on multiple PCs (Windows AND Mac OS) up to the drive’s capacity).
Users can also choose the more “advanced” options which allow you to select additional types of files or directories you want saved.
They’ve got 3 sizes:
- PK4 (holds approx. 4,000 photos) and retails for $29.99
- PK8 (holds approx. 8,00o photos) and retails for $59.99 (note: it’s $49.95 with this affiliate link!)
- PK16 (holds approx 16,000 photos) and retails for $99.99 (note: it’s $69.99 with this affiliate link!)
- UPDATED: PK 36 holds 36,000 photos and retails for $99.00 with this affiliate link!
For those prices, they would make great gifts!
Pros:
- No complex directions
- Easy to use
- Small & portable
- You can use it on multiple computers
Cons:
- Small enough to get misplaced
- Could use a keyring (really, I’m scared I’m gonna lose it!)
- Obviously some computers’ OS are just too old. But maybe if I beg, they’ll come up with one to rescue my daughter’s photos!
So there it is. I’m grabbing an extra this holiday season to give to my Mother in Law- I know she’ll appreciate it!
How do you store your digital media? I’d love to hear from you!
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Cath says
No clue how many photos, but it feel like I could fill the PK 16.
Cath says
I became a friend of Picture Keeper on their FB page.
Cath says
I became of friend of CTD on FB.
Kelly Massman says
I probably have 20,000–we have a large HD!
Scrapycandy says
I have to have one! We probably create 500 photos a year. And I would guess we have 10 years worth digital…so 5000 I think!
Casey says
I’m a friend of CraftTest Dummies on facebook 🙂
Casey says
and since Laila’s birth a mere 11 weeks ago, I probably have close to 1,000 pics on my computer and another 3,000 that are from before she was born!!!! aaaggghhh
Laura says
I probably have close to 2000 pictures that could really use a back-up! Plus, I already like CraftTest Dummies AND PicutreKeeper on FB!
jengd says
More than I realized. I’ve got over 6k on my laptop (WOW… though some could definitely go) and I’m guessing at least another 2k on our desktop.
jengd says
I have your button on my blog: http://jensunchartedterritory.blogspot.com/
jengd says
I’m a FB friend of yours
Shoni says
I would love to win this!! I have thousands of photos … with two nephews and a niece, Auntie has a *ton* o’ photos!
I also have vacation photos. I live in permanent fear of something crashing my computer!
Thank you for the opportunity!
Shoni
Kim Kiehl says
I have 5 kids & I’m the offical photographer for everything, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, school field trips, cheerleading, sports teams. I took 400 pictures on our one week vacation to Virginia Beach this year. I can’t imagine how many pictures I have.
I have tried to back up to CD’s, so I have CD’s all over the place & I know I don’t have all my pictures backed up.
If I don’t win, I will buy one of these as a Christmas gift to myself!
Kim Kiehl says
I became a friend of the Picture Keeper FB page.
Kim Kiehl says
I’m already your friend on FB & I left a comment on your page about this.
Kaitlin says
I’d love to win one of these, how handy!
Linh C says
I think I have 2000+ pictures. I don’t really know because I have them all spread out among three computers and two external backup disks. I really need to consolidate and weed out duplicates and useless ones.
Linh C says
I like Picture Keeper on facebook.
Linh C says
I like Craft Test Dummies on facebook.
Shoni says
I like Picture Keeper on Facebook!
Thanks for the opportunity!
Shoni says
Phew! I figured out how to add your button to my blog …
http://shobelle.blogspot.com
(be nice … I’m new to the blogosphere and am working on more posts now …)
Thanks for the opportunity!
Shoni says
I also like you on Facebook!
Thank you for the opportunity!!
🙂
Alesha says
Wow, I probably have a couple thousand just randomly on my laptop. It has been acting up so I should definitely back things up! Thanks for the chance!
m says
i have like 1000 photos
Alesha says
I am a fan of Picture Keeper on facebook. Thanks so much!
Alesha says
I am a Craft Test Dummies fan on Facebook
Fran says
Not sure how many pictures I have, probably around a thousand. But I also have lots of graphics that could be save also. Than is a huge number, more than the pictures.
Vicki O'Dell says
I have exactly eleventyjillion photos. On TWO hard drives. 🙂
Vicki O'Dell says
I already am a friend of PictureKeepers on Facebook because I’m cool like that. 🙂
Vicki O'Dell says
I’m already a fan of CraftTestDummies because YOU’RE cool like that. 🙂
Vicki O'Dell says
I have a button on my blog as well as having you listed on my blog roll. I can’t believe I’m ahead of the game FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE!! 🙂
Janna says
I am a photographer and I know I’ve taken over 8,000 with my camera so it has to be close to that on my computer!
Janna
http:://shoplilacpop.com
BK says
Cmon guys! This is a ripoff! Just buy a 16GB flash drive for $10 and copy the pictures yourselves!