02-23-2004, 06:30 PM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 222
|
|
Martin Fields Overlay Plus Screen Protector Review
The jury may still be out on screen protectors for our gadgets, but I, for one, am glad that I have a Martin Fields Overlay Plus Screen Protector on my PDA. To find out more, read my review and see why you should consider Martin Fields for your device.
Martin Fields Overlay Plus Screen Protectors keep your screen looking and feeling like new.
Overview
Martin Fields is a newcomer in the screen protector arena. We've all heard of Wrightright, WriteSHIELD, EXiM, BoxWave, Brando, G2, and other similar products. But, how many of us actually use them? I've had an on-again, off-again relationship with screen protectors myself.
Back in my Palm days, I tried some Wrightright protectors from Concept Kitchen. (On a side note, I found one laying around the other day. I couldn't believe how thick it was!) I never really liked the feel of them though so I gave up using them. When I switched to my iPAQ 3765, I quickly got a G2 screen protector. But not before I put a deep 1/4 inch scratch into it. Not that noticeable but it really bugged me. The G2s were nice but were very difficult to install until you got the hang of them.
When I purchased a new iPAQ 1945, I figured it was time to try out a new type of screen protector. The Martin Fields Overlay Plus Screen Protectors claim to be thin, clear, easy to apply, and washable. How could I go wrong?
Packaging
Martin Fields Overlay Plus Screen Protectors arrive in full retail packaging. That means a sturdy plastic case with an insert housing your protector. This keeps the protector safe until you are ready to install it.
Figure 1: The packaging is sturdy and secure.
The installation instructions are basic but enough to get you started. I found that reading other reviews and FAQs about screen protectors helped me install my Martin Fields Protector.
Installation
There's not much to installing these screen protectors. The back side has a light adhesive so it sticks to your PDA. All you have to do is peel off the back and apply it to your screen.
Before installing my screen protector, I thoroughly cleaned the screen of my iPAQ with a little glass cleaner on a paper towel. I was very careful not to get the screen wet. I then used a chamois cloth to get every last bit of dust off of my screen. When I was done, it looked great. Maybe even better than when I bought it.
Figure 2: My freshly cleaned screen. A little dust was left but that blew off easily.
Then I got careless. I should have carefully removed a small portion of the backing and then stuck the screen protector to my iPAQ immediately. Instead, I peeled off half of the backing and held it up to my desk lamp to admire it. What was I thinking? Not surprisingly, a swirl of dust settled on the adhesive of the screen protector. Great, now what?
Cleaning
Now, one of the great things about these screen protectors is that they are washable. Intrigued? So was I. I rinsed my screen protector, held it up to a light and saw that there was still dust on it. Darn. I hopped on the Internet to see what others recommended. Someone recommended using a little soap to wash off my protector. It worked like a charm. The dust disappeared, and the soap did not seem to affect the adhesive.
Now my protector was clean and dust free again. How do I dry it? Back to the Internet for advice. I tried compressed air, but water still collected on the edge of the protector. Once I even put the protector on my iPAQ with a drop of water left in the middle. What a mess! I saw a recommendation to dry it on a piece of printer paper with the adhesive side down. This was the best suggestion yet. The paper dried the protector without adding dirt or dust to it. Plus, while it was drying, I was able to clean the smooth side of the protector.
Installation: Round Two
Now that my protector was clean and dry, I applied it to my screen. It lined up perfectly and smoothed down easily. I did remove it a couple of times to give the protector a workout. Each time, it went back down flawlessly. I used a credit card to smooth it out and get rid of the air bubbles. This really helped and I was able to get the protector down with a minimal amount of bubbles.
Figure 3a: My screen with the protector. Note the small bubbles on the bottom right.
Figure 3b: The same screen with the backlight on. The bubbles disappear.
PDA users often complain about bubbles under their screen protectors. I've found that they really don't make a difference when your PDA is on. If you have the backlight on, they disappear. This can really help you if you don't take the time to smooth out every bubble.
Unique Features
There are a few things that make this protector stand out in a crowded field. The first is that it is completely clear. Many protectors offer glare reduction. This is not one of those protectors. You get the same glare that you do off of a bare screen. You'll also see dust and fingerprints quite easily.
Secondly, these protectors are smooth as glass. My iPAQ screen itself has a tiny bit of resistance when dragging the stylus. You can also feel the stylus press ever so slightly into the screen. This protector gives a smoother feel to the screen. Just barely though. If you didn't know there was a screen protector, I doubt you'd be able to figure it out.
Thirdly, this is an adhesive protector. The adhesive is not gummy and does not leave a residue on your screen. Not too sticky, just enough to hold it to the screen well. The edges curl up very slightly the first day or so but then I didn't notice it again. There is a slight 2-3 pixel width border around the protector that masks this minor gripe.
Figure 4: My iPAQ with the protector. The directions are on the back of the packaging.
Another complaint that people have about screen protectors is that they dampen the sensitivity of their PDA screens. This protector does do this but it is very slight. It took about 15 minutes for me to get used to it. After a day or so, I completely forgot I had a screen protector in place. This protector is wafer-thin (like in Monty Python's The Meaning of Life  ).
Lasting Appeal
I've now had my Martin Fields Overlay Plus Screen Protector on my iPAQ for about two weeks, and I'm very pleased with it. It's still holding strong and looks great. Plus, it gives me a feeling of confidence. I have no fears about scratching my screen. I just do what I need with my stylus.
OK, time for the big question... Are screen protectors necessary? The simple answer is, no. I have had a few different PDAs over the years and have only put minor scratches on them. The digitizers all continued to work flawlessly. The real question should be: will I feel better with a screen protector? My answer is yes. I'm paranoid about scratching my new screen. To keep it pristine, I'm willing to spend the time and the money to install a protector. With one, I just feel more comfortable dragging my stylus around me screen.
Gotchas- Doesn't prevent glare;
- Like all adhesive protectors, a bit tricky to install.
Where to Buy
Martin Fields Overlay Plus Screen Protectors are available for a variety of PDAs, phones, and gadgets at overlayplus.com (managed by DOML). Single screen protectors cost $12.99 and a two pack costs $24.99 for most devices (some phone protectors cost less).
Conclusions
The Martin Fields Overlay Plus Screen Protectors are a good choice as a screen protector if you are looking for a new screen on your PDA or gadget. They are clear, smooth, cleanable, and will keep your screen in like-new condition.
|
| |
|
|
|
02-23-2004, 07:04 PM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 91
|
|
Since I am one of those who are firmly in the screen protectors camp and after having tried several different screen protectors (including Martin Fields), I have now completely steered away from the sticky adhesive types. My screen protector of choice is the ScreenGuardz brand. These are a fairly unknown brand according to all the pda sites, however, once people in our local User's Group tried them, the vote was pretty unanimous!
ScreenGuardz do not have the sticky back and are ultra-thin. Plus, the price is waaaaay better than the super high-priced Martin Fields! You get 12 screens for only $8.99!
Give these a shot and you won't use anything else!
|
| |
|
|
|
02-23-2004, 07:34 PM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 149
|
|
I cant comment on ScreenGuardz, but I have the Martin Fields protector on my 2210 and I am very satisfied with it. I am very critical of degration in screen crispness and brightness or the so called "glare reduciton", so my main goal was to have a screen protector that you know is there but you cant see it. This one does just that.
|
| |
|
|
|
02-23-2004, 07:37 PM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 117
|
|
I have one of these and applying it was the most frustrating experience I've ever had with a Pocket PC. You only get one in the package and it takes weeks to arrive from wherever in Southeast Asia it comes from, so it's important to put it on correctly. I failed miserably. There wasn't anything I could do to avoid getting dust trapped below the protector. I cleaned the thing a number of times trying to remove all the dust and ended up removing the adhesive from the edges. It's still on there now, with one chunk of dust trapped right in the middle and tons of particles under the now non-adhesive edges.
If there were an easy way to get it on without dust, I'd recommend them to anyone. They're completely clear, made of durable plastic, and very slippery to write on. I carry my iPAQ 1945 naked in my pocket and I haven't had any trouble at all with scratches. Maybe I'll contact some of the lab techs I know and get under a hood if I ever get a new one.
|
| |
|
|
|
02-23-2004, 07:38 PM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 16
|
|
My biggest complaint about the whole screen protector scene is the price of them. $13 for one piece of plastic seems a bit pricey to me. I remember using Scotch Magic tape on my Palm Pro writing area, hehe. Then again...I'm cheap
Anyone have any experience with the ScreenGuardz? No offense to Stone, but there are only three mentions of them in the forums, and all three are from Stone who has ads for them on both of the sites in his links. Would like to hear some impressions from users on them.
|
| |
|
|
|
02-23-2004, 08:36 PM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 149
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Jeff
I have one of these and applying it was the most frustrating experience I've ever had with a Pocket PC....
|
I have to agree with you on that one. It is EXTREMELY difficult to get it on without any dust. I also ended up with the sides of the protectory not sticking anymore, about 1 mm though. When the screen is on, you cant see these spots no matter how hard you look, so I dont care.
|
| |
|
|
|
02-23-2004, 09:13 PM
|
|
Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 451
|
|
Yea man, it's just a piece of plastic. What license are you talking about/
The Martin Fields are a bit different from the Securer types; they're clearer, thinner, and a good bit more expensive. I haven't tried applying them, but for the hard plastic types, you'll need to be in the process of removing the protective cover and applying the screen protector at the same time. Especially so in areas with low humidty; the act of removal of the backing can build up a wee bit of static that's VERY GOOD at attracting dust.
|
| |
|
|
|
02-23-2004, 09:29 PM
|
|
Mystic
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,768
|
|
I love the WriteShield. I bought one of those retail screen protectors with the sticky back. It was hard to apply, the surface was spongey, seemed to do nothing for glare, and I eventually took it off. I thought all screen protectors were the same. While getting an LCD fix and memory upgrade at PPCTechs, I decided to go ahead and try their screen protector (after many people I trust suggested it) and I have to say.... WOW! They really are worth it.
__________________
Jonathan (JonnoB)
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." -Edmund Burke
|
| |
|
|
|
02-23-2004, 10:07 PM
|
|
Thinker
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 426
|
|
Great review! You did a fantastic job letting everyone know the pros and cons and hope you do more reviews in the future! Screen protectors are one of those things where one brand will NEVER suit everyones needs and I'm glad more companies are getting in on it.
I personally like Boxwave's protector and need one that prevents glare. But this one looks like it would be great for those who don't want glare reduction, just scratch protection.
|
| |
|
|
|
02-24-2004, 12:30 AM
|
|
5000+ Posts? I Should OWN This Site!
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,616
|
|
I recently ordered a three-pack of Boxwave protectors. I thought "Wow, this is easy! And they have a three pack too! The last time I looked, they only had single and double packs." Turns out the last time I looked, it was the Overlay Plus site I was looking at.  ops: But the Overlay Plus site still makes it extremely difficult for Canadians to order.
__________________
iPhone 4! ☠☠☠ Mid-2010 15" MacBook Pro! ☠☠☠ Gateway LT2102h! ☠☠☠ Dell XPS M1210!
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
