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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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)
Thumbs up for PPCTechs Write Shields
plus I am currently using the cheepy screen protectors from my sx66 just cut down. hehehe
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