Stephen Beesley
02-02-2005, 06:00 PM
<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/SB_Nushield_Frontpage.main.jpg" /> <br /><br /><b>Product Category:</b> Screen Protector<br /><b>Manufacturer:</b> <a href="http://www.nushield.com"> NuShield Inc </a><br /><b>Where to Buy:</b> Can be bought online at<a href="http://www.nushield.com"> NuShield Inc </a> and also at <a href="http://www.thepocketsolution.com"> The Pocket Solution </a><br /><b>Price:</b> USD $11.99 (for a pack of 3)<br /><br /><b>Pros:</b><ul><li>Durable - each protector lasts up to 4 months;<br /><li>minimal impact on screen readability;<br /><li>no air bubbles;<br /><li>no adhesive left on screen.</ul><b>Cons:</b><ul><li>Can take a bit of practise installing;<br /><li>Needed some modification to work on my Toshiba e755 (see text of review).</ul><b>Summary:</b><br />One of the first accessories that many people buy after purchasing a new PDA is some form of screen protector, but with such a bewildering array of different types it is hard to know where to start. In general, screen protectors seem to break down into two main types: those that use adhesive to stay in place and need replacing on a regular basis; and those that rely on electrostatic adhesion, are washable and claimed to last up to a year. But, there is a third way! Sometime around 1998 Mark Ross (developer of the NuShield) became frustrated with the screen protectors available for his Apple Newton and decided he could do better. Sure, we have all had thoughts like this from time to time but often nothing seems to come of it. Well in this case Mark Ross, a polymer chemist by training, was just the man for the job! The result was the NuShield. <br /><br />The NuShield is claimed to last for up to 4 months, can be washed and reused and is held in place by "flaps" that extend into the gap between the screen and the case. So, how does the NuShield stack up with the competition? <br /><br />Read on for the full review!<!><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>About NuShield</b></span><br />NuShields come in a pack of three, the packaging is pretty minimalist as you would expect from a screen protector.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/SB_Nov04 NuShield2.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 1: Minimalist packaging.</i><br /> <br />The Blurb on the packaging boasts of the following features:<br /><ul><li>Tough, durable, transparent writing surface protects against dust, scratches and gouges on your screen;<br /><li>No adhesive used to hold in place - will not cause air bubbles or leave sticky residue on screen;<br /><li>Installs easily in seconds, can be removed to be cleaned and reinstalled. <br /> Each NuShield film provides long lasting protection;<br /><li>Abrasion and chemical resistant for long life;<br /><li>Pleasant feel with a super thin film surface; and<br /><li>Patent-pending technology not available on other screen protectors, to maximize clarity of color screens.</ul><span><b>Installation</b></span><br />When you take the NuShield out of the small plastic sachet it comes in, you will find that it is slightly "cupped" in the middle. The side that is cupped (or facing inward) is the writing surface and has a thin protective film which must be removed before you can install the protector. It is recommended that you thoroughly clean both sides of the film and the device screen before installing. While a clean damp cloth will do the trick, I used some good quality camera lens cleaner and a lens cleaning cloth. Nushield also sells their own brand two step wet and dry cleaning two step products (Kleer Screen and Kleer Kloth).<br /><br />Unlike many other screen protectors, the NuShield does not rely on adhesive to stick to your screen. Instead of being a perfect rectangle the same size and shape as the screen it is designed to protect, the NuShield is slightly bowed on each of the longer sides. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/SB_Nov 04 NuShield3.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 2: Slightly bowed sides.</i> [Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/"> Judie Hughes </a>]<br /><br />The NuShield protector is held in place by sliding these bowed edges under the casing bordering the screen. The actual installation process involves sliding one edge of the protector into the gap between the screen and PDA case and then "bowing" the protector to allow you to do the same with the other edge. It should be noted that the instructions that come with the NuShield states that <br /><br />"...at the point where the tip of the NuShield meets the edge of the case you may need to apply some downward pressure on the NuShield with your finger or thumb (be gentle but firm!) to expand the gap between the screen and the case."<br /><br />Now on my Jornada 568 this was never an issue - there was always plenty of "wriggle room" between the screen and casing. My Toshiba e755, however, has proven to be a different story. Despite applying first gentle but firm pressure and then gentle but considerable (!) pressure I could not slide enough of the protector between the case and screen to allow me to start fitting the oppositie edge. In the end I resorted to cutting about 2mm of the top edge of the protector - a hack which enabled me to fit the protector without any problem. <br /><br />I have subsequently checked with the supplier and confirmed that I had the correct part number so I can only put this down to the fact that my Toshiba was brand new when I tried to fit the NuShield or maybe the protectors I got were from a slightly off sized batch (it happens even to the best of them!). <br /><br />Despite this small problem the Nushield has now been doing its thing quite happily for about three months now. So just how well has it performed you ask...<br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Performance</b></span><br />With any screen protector that I have used in the past there are generally three areas it will need to preform well in to keep me satisfied: clarity, no dust, and feel as a writing surface. <br /><br /><b><i>(i) Clarity</i></b><br />Some of the other reviews of the NuShield that I have read have mentioned a "slight loss of clarity" or an "increase in glare" with the NuShield installed, but I have to say that when I first installed the NuShield I would have been very hard pressed to find much difference at all between the screen with and without. Over time, the NuShield's clarity has noticably lessened. After one month I removed the NuShield and cleaned it and the screen. When I replaced the Shield it was, once again, pretty much the same as without the screen protector. After the second month and a further wash and reinstall I did feel that there was some extra "cloudyness" but not so much that I really noticed. Now, after three months the NuShields' clarity has, however, definately deterioated to the point that I will be replacing it.<br /><br />Three months from the one protector is pretty good in my books.<br /><br /><b><i>(ii) Dust</i></b><br />Quite simply this just has not been an issue with the NuShield on my Toshiba. The fit seems to be snug enough not to let any dust get between the screen and the protector. Of course, it is important to make sure therre is no dust there in the first place!<br /><br /><b><i>(iii) Feel</i></b><br />Now this is a particularly important issue for me. My main input method is Calligrapher and I tend to write on my PPC quite a lot. I have always found the surface of most PPC screens to be a bit too slick for my liking and that is something that I look to a screen protector to remedy as well as just protecting the screen.<br /><br />This was the one area that I felt the NuShield could have been better. Although better than the unprotected screen it was not quite as "paper like" as I like. Still this is a pretty subjective area. I know a lot of users prefer a slick glass like feel, while for others the whole issue may not be important at all. <br /><br /><span><b>Conclusions</b></span><br />Overall, I have to say that in all of the three areas of performance that would guide my decision whether to use a particular screen protector, the NuShield performed more than well enough to be a "keeper".<br /><br />Yes the fitting is a bit more fiddly than some others, but it does have the advantage (at least in my experience) of not suffering from "bubbling" like adhesive based protectors seem to. Against that, o