Pocket PC Techs WriteSHIELD™ AG Premium Screen Protectors

[Jason Dunn]

<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ws_dp_72_220.jpg" /><br /><br />I have a confession to make: <i>I'm a screen protector hypocrite</i>. See, I always recommend screen protectors to others, but I very rarely use them myself. I understand the value of using them, but the couple of times I've tried to install them onto Pocket PCs that I've owned, I found the process insanely frustrating. I could never get them lined up properly, I'd get dust under the protector, and they'd end up dulling the screen. Also, because I tend to swap devices every 4-6 months, my screens never get beat up from use, so I didn't think much of it. However, recently a consulting client of mine got a Jasjar, and her previous first-gen XDA had a very battered screen protector, so I knew she needed one on the Jasjar. I had a <a href="http://www.pocketpctechs.com/main~unit~iMATE_JASJAR-496~area~accessories-WriteSHIELD%99+AG~item~WSPDA011-2S.htm">JASJAR WriteSHIELD AG 2-Pak Kit</a> from Pocket PC Techs, so I took a deep breath and gave it a try. <br /><br />Either I'm getting more patient as I get older, or the Pocket PC Techs kit made it really easy to do. Or maybe it's both.<!> I was very pleased with the results - I first used the included Klear Screen wipe to clean off the screen, then I used the Microfiber cloth (also included) to dry and buff the screen. I used the horse-hair brush to get rid of any final particles before I gently applied the AG screen protector. My first try was a bit off in terms of alignment, so I used one of the plastic picks to lift the screen protector and try again. It came off easily with no residue. I aligned it again, and the second time was a perfect fit. I used a credit card to push out a couple of small air bubbles, and that was that. The AG screen protector looked great, and didn't dull the brightness of the screen - though it did remove the glare, giving it a matte look. If you want to keep a high-gloss finish on the screen, you can use the C2 line of protectors.<br /><br />All in all, it was an easy experience and I certainly won't hesitate to use <a href="http://www.pocketpctechs.com">Pocket PC Techs</a> screen protectors again.<br /><br /><i>Jason Dunn owns and operates <a href="http://www.thoughtsmedia.com">Thoughts Media Inc.</a>, a company dedicated to creating the best in online communities. He enjoys mobile devices, digital media content creation/editing, and pretty much all technology. He lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with his lovely wife, and his sometimes obedient dog.</i>

[DaleReeck]

Unfortunately, the fact that you need a cleanroom and surgeon's hands to install these things straight without getting all kinds of dust and crap under the screen is a necessary evil. Especially if you plan on eBaying your old units when you get a new one like I often do.

[applejosh]

I usually let the shower run in the bathroom for a while so the steam / water vapor get the dust out the air (but without it being too steamy lest I get condensation on my PPC). Worked the past few times I've had to install a screen protector.

[capo]

My AG was looking pretty scuffed up but I decided to try cleaning it before laying out the scratch for a new one. (they're not cheap) Happily, they clean up very nicely using the Klear Screen wipe and polishing cloth. Mine's a year old and now looks almost as good as new.

[Janak Parekh]

Unfortunately, the fact that you need a cleanroom and surgeon's hands to install these things straight without getting all kinds of dust and crap under the screen is a necessary evil.
You'd be surprised. When I applied the WriteSHIELD on my 700w, it had been sitting in a drawer for a few days in a dry office. I just brushed it off, and as I peeled the WriteSHIELD from the backing, I immediately applied it, and I don't see any dust. The matte surface may be obscuring it, but these certainly aren't dependent on having zero dust. I was quite surprised. It's not at all like the glue-based screen protectors, which are quite a bit more annoying.

Now, if I were to REMOVE the WriteSHIELD to clean it, I'd have to be careful -- the bottom surface would presumably be very prone to attracting dust, as it uses electrostatic forces to hold to the screen. This is why PPC Techs advises you to set up a sticky-tape backing that you then peel off of. In any case, I left that exposed only for a very short while while applying it to the screen.

--janak

[paschott]

I actually bought a pack of the AG shields for my 2200 (I guess they came in 3's then). I never had a need to change it over the 2+ years I used the device and it cleaned really well. I found them the other day and trimmed one down to put on my 8125. That worked, but not as well as one that would be designed for the device so I'll probably end up shelling out for a set for my device.

Great shields and I highly recommend them, especially if you fall in the set of people who can't quite manage to change out their PDA every couple of months. :)

-Pete

[CorporateJay]

I am a PDA user since 2000 and I never used a screen protector - I always purchased my PDAs from CompUSA with a replacement plan (just case). I remembered trying a screen protector with the glue backing a long time ago and I immediately threw it away.

I recently purchased a Qtek S200 (aka JAMin) from eBay - no replacement plan included, of course. I decided to try PPCTechs screen protector and it was very simple to install. I installed it in a dusty car on a hot day. Following the instructions, with a little bit of tape, I was able to remove the dust with no problems.

How good is the anti-glare feature of the AG version? I purchased the C2 version.

[Gerard]

One of the more frustrating aspects of adding or swapping screen protectors can be dust trapped under the edges of the screen surround. A protector may be almost in place... when static will cause a bunch of stuff to come jumping in from under that edge, ruining the view and even mimicking stylus input if the dust is big enough. So I'm very thorough about cleaning under that edge with a thin card and puffs of air before the final cleaning and protector install. Washing the sticky side of a protector is very un-fun.

I've been using the overlays from screenpatronus.com lately. Very thin, surprisingly durable, and zero effect on screen quality or input sensitivity. I liked WriteShields, used a few of them over the years, but these are better IMO. Cheaper, too.

[Jason Dunn]

How good is the anti-glare feature of the AG version? I purchased the C2 version.

I don't have another screen protector to compare it with, but I'd say it's excellent - it gives the screen almost a matte finish.

[Darius Wey]

How good is the anti-glare feature of the AG version? I purchased the C2 version.

I'm with Jason on this one - I think the AGs are excellent. I currently have an AG on my X50v and a C2 on my M600. Colour reproduction of the C2s is great, and if you like a glossy finish, then they're definitely the ones to go for. The AGs, on the other hand, have a nice matte finish, cut out a significant amount of glare, and improve the writing surface. If I had to pick between the two, I'd go for the AG - primarily because I like the matte finish more than the glossy finish, but YMMV.

Below is a comparison shot between the AG and C2. It's not the best of all comparisons though, since both devices have different screen sizes and screen technologies, but you may still find it useful.

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/AGC2-Small.jpg (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/AGC2-Big.jpg)

Click the image above for a larger version; C2 at the top, AG at the bottom.

[JPD6825]

JD,
Congratulations on graduating from Newbie-dom! This was probably your last rite of passage out of that domain. :wink:

All in all, I've used 3 types of screen protectors - a very mediocre product from Fellowes on my first Handspring... then on my Axim X5 I used the protectors that Dell sold - those just a bit better than mediocre... and finally when I got my X50v I went for the PPCTechs C2. I love the C2 - though maybe they are not perfect - I've never seen the AG in use. I put a C2 on my wife's X50v when I bought one for her. JD - feel free to send me an AG if you have any spares hanging around.

The dust particle issue is not as bad as you might think. It does require a fair amount of patience. As I recall I felt the PPCTechs instructions for dealing with this issue were pretty good -- they deal with it by using a piece of Scotch tape to 'pick off' the particles, and only peel back the minimum area of the protector to get to the offending particles. After doing 1, the second time around is not a big ordeal.

If you work in the pharmaceutical or semiconductor business and do have access to a cleanroom - that would be way-cool. Though I bet even there it is probably easy to get 1 stinking little particle under the protector if you're even a bit sloppy about what you're doing.

Ok, who's got access to a cleanroom?

[DaleReeck]

Unfortunately, the fact that you need a cleanroom and surgeon's hands to install these things straight without getting all kinds of dust and crap under the screen is a necessary evil.
You'd be surprised. When I applied the WriteSHIELD on my 700w, it had been sitting in a drawer for a few days in a dry office. I just brushed it off, and as I peeled the WriteSHIELD from the backing, I immediately applied it, and I don't see any dust. The matte surface may be obscuring it, but these certainly aren't dependent on having zero dust. I was quite surprised. It's not at all like the glue-based screen protectors, which are quite a bit more annoying.

Now, if I were to REMOVE the WriteSHIELD to clean it, I'd have to be careful -- the bottom surface would presumably be very prone to attracting dust, as it uses electrostatic forces to hold to the screen. This is why PPC Techs advises you to set up a sticky-tape backing that you then peel off of. In any case, I left that exposed only for a very short while while applying it to the screen.

--janak

True, if you have a brand new PocketPC and, if you apply the screen protector to the PPC immediately out of the box and do it quickly, you can sometimes get lucky with an easy application.

I also use a camera blower (a squeeze thingy to blow the dust off of camera lenses) to blast the dust off. If a piece of dust does get stuck to the screen protector, scotch tape can lift off any truant particles. I prefer the Brando bubbleless ones and tape works well with it to clean it off.

[ctmagnus]

I always use screen protectors. However, I'm such a klutz that every application has taken literally dozens of retries. The last time I put one on, I did it in the bathroom with lots of steam in the air and there's no visible dust under the protector. The protector's off-centre by a mm (providing a nice gutter along the right edge to scroll with), but there's no dust under it. ;)

[drummrsanonymous]

I've been a huge fan of PPCTech's Write Shield ever since I got one for my 2215 iPaq. (I think someone on this site recommended them actually.) The application went really smoth on it and I found that I actually prefered the feel of the screen with their protectors. It's a more solid and a little more textured feel. I recently bought a Cingular 8125, but I was waiting for my WriteShields to come in before I bought it.

Jason, perhaps you are more patient, but the PPCTech guys do make it really easy. One thing I'd recommend to anyone though is using the scotch tape method to lift or remove a protector. I was applying a Write Shield on an x51 for my Mom and had to remove it. I tried using the picks and had a horrible scare that I had damaged the screen. (The protectors fit so well there's almost no gap to get under them.)

Once I had removed it though, the scotch tape cleaning/stoage method they describe really keeps the protector like new. It seems like they have an answer for everything.

[CorporateJay]

Below is a comparison shot between the AG and C2.

I am buying the AG version. The lights in my office are very bright. Looking at my PPC is like staring at the ceiling. Thanks for the pics.

[Jason Lee]

I ordered the AG friday. I have the same issue with the lights in my office. :) plus I am currently using the cheepy screen protectors from my sx66 just cut down. hehehe

[Darius Wey]

I forgot to mention - fingerprints show up on the C2 very easily, so if you're not a fan of them, then it's another reason to go for the AG. :)

[KH]

I have been using Writeshields for years and there is no better product IMHO (I have tried 4 or 5 other 'sticky', 'stickless' and in-between products). I use the C2 on my 4705 and the AG on my other models. I have always been hard on my screens in the sense that I take massive amounts of notes using Calligrapher. Even with this 'abuse' the PPC Techs products have lasted for months, and I wouldn't touch a stylus to any screen without the protector.

Even with years of experience I'm not perfect at applying the shields. Oh well. I do it at my desk and usually have to lift a corner and filch out a peice of lint or two. The process isn't terribly difficult - the relative stiffness of the protector helps - and I've only had to do the full tape job once. I do recommend cleaning the sides and also setting the cleaning cloth down to protect the screen while fiddling with the protector.

[phmurphy]

I have tried Fellowes WriteRight, Belkin whatever, BoxWave ClearTouch, PPC WriteShield, and finally Nushield. I have come to the conclusion that the dance you have to perform to get the perfect fit and the bubbles out is not usually very successful. Even after a good installation, over time bubbles/air gaps start to form under the outer edges. Once I pushed so hard to get the bubbles out and the edges sealed that my stylus tapping was somehow messed up even after a realignment. When I removed the protector, the problems went away.

I do field work in dusty, windy, rainy environments and the Nushield has held up the best. It has no stickum on the back and is held in place by a tight fit. The fit is key and the only difficulty is the cleaning and installation, but it is far far easier than with the stickum types. Bubbles are non-existent and dust is important to get out but not hard. The screen is tough, slick and clear. I highly recommend it. I have had one issue with some screens that were too loose but when I contacted NuShield they got me a slightly larger size that worked well.

Patrick

[Underwater Mike]

I've had my Axim X5 since they were first released (3+ years?) and the first thing I did when I opened the box was put a WriteShield on the screen. I use the thing continuously, almost every day, but the same protector is still on the screen! I can't even remember where the other two protectors from the three-pack are stashed.

WriteShields are tough as nails, and worth every penny. In fact, I just ordered some this week for my new 8125, and didn't even buy the phone until the WriteShields were in-house. 8)

[Jason Lee]

I got my AGs from ppc techs on monday. I am very happy with them. the look and feel is great and the install was easier than any sticky protector i've ever used. no bubbles at all. I don't see how you could really get bubbles anyway as the protector is stiff plastic.

I am very pleased.

[fivepetpalace]

How good is the anti-glare feature of the AG version? I purchased the C2 version.

I've used both, The AG obviously doesn't have the glare of the naked screen or the C2. The AG also doesn't show finger prints, dirt etc, like the C2 does. I like writing on the AG much better than the C2.

The AG does make small text etc. a bit fuzy, and video is not quite as clear. However, with that being said, I like the AG much better, both on my previous PPC's hp4155, x50v, and now on my i730.

It is really a personal pref thing, that's why they have both :)

Michael