Am I the only one who can't stand screen protectors?

[Candygogo]

Yea, I know that I may be courting danger not using one on my pda screen. I've tried using it and although the thick plastic doesn't take away TOO much from view, I alway wind up peeling it off. I've been like that with any type of thing that had a lcd-type screen. A cell phone, portable dvd player, any kind of portable thing with a screen.

Of course I obsessively check these things for dust creeping in the corners now...

[Robb Bates]

I'm glad there is someone else out there that feels the same way. I HATE every screen protector I've come across. They all make the screen look funny. And why would I want that "natural paper" feel when using my stylus.

I too, obsessively clean my screen, but I also regularly apply RainX to it. It helps keep it clean, resists fingerprints and gives my screen a nice slick feel to it. Much easier to write Graffiti, uh I mean, Block Recognizer characters. If you want to do the same, make sure you put the RainX on a paper towel and then rub it on the screen instead of putting a few drops on the screen directly. They will undoubtable run towards the side of the screen and get into the electronics which does indeed cause the screen to malfunction until the stuff dries up. (voice of experience).

I would be more than happy to use a screen protector if it didn't change the way the screen appears, is easy to apply, easy to remove, causes no bubbles during application and doesn't cost $25 per sheet.

Robb

[Kevin Remhof]

I've used them off and on. I'm waiting right now for a set of screen protectors to be delivered for my new iPaq. I scratched the screen on my old iPaq a week after buying it. It was only after that that I finally put on a screen protector. That lasted for a week and I went back to no protection. So, I'm torn about the whole screen protector idea.

The thing that "gets me" though is that the manufacturers of PDAs (HP, Toshiba, Dell, Palm, etc.) don't provide or recommend screen protectors. That just baffles me! A thin piece of plastic can save a screen. I'd love to see a manufacturer provide one with their devices. They don't need to reinvent the wheel though. They could just partner with a company that already makes them. Just my 2 cents.

[Kati Compton]

I know Janak doesn't use them, but I do. The more expensive kind like WriteShields feels MUCH better to use than the cheapies like Fellowes.

[Janak Parekh]

I know Janak doesn't use them
Hah - Kati knows all my PDA habits now. :razzing:

I've never used screen protectors because about the only device I really scratched badly over many years was my ancient Palm III -- and I was mashing the screen there to get the Graffiti to be accurate. I find that a light touch, coupled with frequent (daily) wipings of the screen, result in very few, if any, scratches. My coworker was amazed that my i700's screen looks more-or-less pristine.

--janak

[famousdavis]

I find that a light touch, coupled with frequent (daily) wipings of the screen, result in very few, if any, scratches. My coworker was amazed that my i700's screen looks more-or-less pristine.

--janak

Janak, how do you transport your device? I use a 1910 and transport it unsheathed in my pants pocket, usually. I have a Fellowes protector on it which has been there for nearly 9 months now -- I don't notice it and it doesn't bother me. In my first month of 1910 ownership, though, I shred the screen protector and learned my PDA and car keys are a poor mix in my pants pocket. :oops: Thankfully, the shredded screen protector kept the actual 1910 display unmarred, so I'm a believer.

[Jason Dunn]

I tend not to like screen protectors all that much, although the WriteShields that PPC Techs sells are quite good if you really want to use them.

[buckyg]

I don't use screen protectors either. It does help that my iPAQ is in a Whitney CF case with the flip cover. I do try to keep the screen clean and be nice to it. So far, so good.

Protectors seem like a good idea, but my limited experience with them left a bad taste in my mouth: Harder than heck to apply without bubbles, the screen wasn't as clear, etc. Granted, I was using the Fellowes protectors I picked up at a local store. I also see that there are much better protectors out there, based on folks' opinions here. (Which I do value).

Just my 2 cents...

[Jeff Rutledge]

I don't use them either. I used them on my 3870 and found them unnecessary.

I use FITALY now (I used Calligrapher then). I find this decreases the impact to the screen -- the fact that I'm tapping instead of dragging.

I'm not using one on my 2215 and no problems so far...

[Janak Parekh]

Janak, how do you transport your device? I use a 1910 and transport it unsheathed in my pants pocket, usually.
Never without some kind of case. My i700 sits in a Compaq slipcase, and the e805 sits in a Compaq expandable case -- I'll eventually get real cases for them. I work with computers too much, which makes me crawl, bend over, etc. not to have a stiff cover for the LCD. My Pocket PCs would crack even with a screen protector. The only PDA that I didn't have a case for was the Palm III, as it used very tough, scratch-resistant plastic and had a screen cover built-in.

In addition, I keep my keys in a keycase. This way, I not only avoid scratching any electronic devices, but I also avoid creating a hole in my jeans pockets, which inevitably happened for many pairs until I wisened up. ;)

--janak

[Pat Logsdon]

I LOVE WriteShields. I can definitely sympathize with the naysayers, though - the usefulness of a screen protector is directly related to the quality of the installation.

And they ARE hard to get on correctly. Either they're crooked, bubbly or linty. After about 2 years of using screen protectors, I just got a perfect application of a protector LAST WEEK. Perfectly aligned, no bubbles, no lint. 8)

One thing I really like about the WriteShields is the anti-glare texture. I watch a lot of movies, and it's VERY annoying to see the reflections on an unprotected screen.

[szamot]

I too am nay on the screen protector and cases for that matter. I almost never have the protector on my 5450 and it still looks amazing. I usually throw it in my pocket, but I always make sure I don't have anything else in my pocket. The only more scratches on my PDA that I have are from the HP case on the back of the unit. The screen is perfect.

[JustinGTP]

I have some Fellowes ones that I havent put on yet, I dont really like the idea of screen protection - not the fact that it wont protect my screen but the fact of how bubbly and uncomfy it will feel and look :|

-Justin.

[dh]

I agree with Mr. Snack. I prefer the feel of my WriteShield to that of the naked screen and I also appreciate the lack of glare.

When installing a new one (a very rare event since they seem to last for ever) I find it best to get everything spotlessly clean and use lots of patience - not easy for me, but really worth it.

[Candygogo]

I LOVE WriteShields. I can definitely sympathize with the naysayers, though - the usefulness of a screen protector is directly related to the quality of the installation.

And they ARE hard to get on correctly. Either they're crooked, bubbly or linty. After about 2 years of using screen protectors, I just got a perfect application of a protector LAST WEEK. Perfectly aligned, no bubbles, no lint. 8)

THAT'S what I hate about the screen protectors, the bubbling up. I can take my time, use a credit card to help smooth it down and it still looks like a gorilla just slapped it on :( Not to mention the curling up at the corners--after about a week I just yank it off and trash it.

[Steven Cedrone]

When I used my 548, I started out with screen protectors (both the HP versions and home made), but quickly grew tired of them. I assumed anything I bought would be as bad, so I stopped using them. When I opened the box to my 2215, I vowed I would try them again. I chose WriteShields, and I will never go without them again...

I definitely feel your experience will vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer (and from low end of the price scale to the higher end :wink: )

Steve

[Kati Compton]

THAT'S what I hate about the screen protectors, the bubbling up. I can take my time, use a credit card to help smooth it down and it still looks like a gorilla just slapped it on :( Not to mention the curling up at the corners--after about a week I just yank it off and trash it.
Ah, but the WriteShields are much stiffer - they don't curl up, and the bubbles are fewer and easier to get rid of.

[bazza]

I also hate screen protectors. If you extrapolate the concept - perhaps the best screen protector is to leave your PDA in its original box and not use it ever! It is like buying a Ferrari and leaving it in the garage so that it doesn't get stone chips or become dirty. There has been alot of discussion about screens and the need to improve them - what is the point of covering them up? Give me a PDA with worn buttons, scratches on the screen and general "wear and tear" - at least I will know that the owner has used it to its full potential!! :wink:

What next - someone will be advocating that we wear tracksuits to the beach? :?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Only a brave person is willing to honestly admit, and fearlessly to face, what a sincere and logical mind discovers."
-Rodan of Alexandria

:werenotworthy:

[famousdavis]

Interestingly, on the few Fellowes-brand screen protectors I've applied to my 1910, in both cases I had small bubbles trapped under the shield, despite my arduous attempt at smoothing the shield during the application.

HOWEVER, after a few days or so, the bubbles just sort of disappeared! I don't know how or why, but I'm guessing that the screen protector itself is at least semi-porous, and the trapped air eventually seeped through the shield and allowed the adhesive to stick completely to the display.

Weird, but true -- not once, but twice!

[famousdavis]

I also hate screen protectors. If you extrapolate the concept - perhaps the best screen protector is to leave your PDA in its original box and not use it ever! It is like buying a Ferrari and leaving it in the garage so that it doesn't get stone chips or become dirty. There has been alot of discussion about screens and the need to improve them - what is the point of covering them up? Give me a PDA with worn buttons, scratches on the screen and general "wear and tear" - at least I will know that the owner has used it to its full potential!! :wink:


Ummmm, I'm guessing you've never waxed your Ferrari before, huh? :roll:

[csterns]

Well I love WriteShields and have been using them for a year now. In fact I purchased them for my Tablet PC (Ugh! $100 for 2) but I feel the investments is worth. Talk about putting a screen protector on. Think it is difficult with a PPC? Try a Tablet. Actually it is much easier with a Tablet and the technique carries over to the PPC. I find if you use a credit card size stiff card and slowly follow the sheet down to the bottom with the card following you get a good even distribution. Before giving it the final press down I look for lint and if I find any I lift it back up, grab some Scotch Tape and pick off the lint. After that it's to the final press to work out any bubbles.

All in all it's not hard. You just to have to be patient. And I love the feel of the surface plus the comfort of knowing I don't have to worry about the screen.

WriteShields to me are the best and worth the money. I just got a MDA II Pocket PC Phone that was quite expensive. I tried using the piece of crap that came with it and immediately tore it off and put on a WriteShield. Never again will I stray.

[PetiteFlower]

I would never use the POS Fellowes protectors, they DO have all the disadvantages that people complain about screen protectors having.

But I love my Write Shields. I think that the benefits I get from using them--no scratches from writing or carrying in my purse, no glare, no fingerprints, better writing texture--far outweigh the drawbacks--(very) slightly less bright screen, cost, and time to apply.

I also don't think they're hard to put on. The hardest part is getting them straight. The first time I applied one I was impatient and didn't want to wait for a steamy bathroom and I ended up with lint. 4 or 5 months later when it was time to replace it I used the steamy bathroom and now no lint. It also took far fewer tries to get it straight the second time. Because it's a stiff "card" with a silicone rather then adhesive backing, there's no curling, no peeling up, no loss of stick(you can even take them off and wash them and put them on again!), and no bubbles. Well ok bubbles are possible but again because the surface of the writeshield is stiff, it's easy to push them out with a credit card, with nary a trace they were ever there.

But it's all about acceptable risk. I write with a very heavy hand, so it gives me peace of mind to know I can write fast and hard and I won't scratch it. But I carry it in my back pocket without a case and never worry about cracking it. Everyone has different fears I guess :)

[ale2999]

I could never go without screen protectors. not because I think I would scratch it, but because when I give it to my friends to have a game at jawbreaker or ghost n ghouls they dont really pay attention, and might scratch it...... the viewsonic that I won here was given to my best friend, who scratched it on like day 2! I use cheap home made screen protector, but I have no bubbles, nor there is dust collecting on the sides and it doesnt peel.

SCREEN PROTECTOR 4EVA! 0X

[tvos]

What should I use to clean the PPC screen properly?

Pls advise..

I was thinking of picking up a PPC screen shield but decided not to because it didn't look like a good thing and plus of the comotion in this topic....

Tvos

[PPCMD]

I use the screen protector to keep it from getting trashed but I wish they could make a screen that didn't need one at all. I would pay a bit more for that.

[Paula]

I find if you use a credit card size stiff card and slowly follow the sheet down to the bottom with the card following you get a good even distribution. Before giving it the final press down I look for lint and if I find any I lift it back up, grab some Scotch Tape and pick off the lint. After that it's to the final press to work out any bubbles.

WriteShields to me are the best and worth the money.

csterns,
I used the exact same method that you used (along with a can of compressed air) even down to the scotch tape and got it right the first time. No, bubbles, lint or finger prints. The only difference is that I use a BoxWave ClearTouch screen protector. They are anti-glare and have a beautiful feel when writing on it.

After seeing what could happen to a screen after just a couple of weeks worth of a few different people test driving a device, I decided that I would never be without a screen protector.
The first thing I did when I removed my 2215 from the box was to apply the screen protector. Only after the screen protector was safely on the 2215 did I put the battery in and charge it up.

I silently thank Boxwave everyday for making such a great product. This happens especially after some ham-fisted hack grabs my PPC and decides to pound on the screen with the stylus.

Paula

[mrkablooey]

I know Janak doesn't use them, but I do. The more expensive kind like WriteShields feels MUCH better to use than the cheapies like Fellowes.

I agree. Fellowes WriteRights are garbage, but they're readily available so people buy them. Spending the extra on a GOOD screen protector like WriteShield and you'll never even notice it until you see a scratch and realize you can just peel it off. ;)

[mrkablooey]

I could never go without screen protectors. not because I think I would scratch it, but because when I give it to my friends to have a game at jawbreaker or ghost n ghouls they dont really pay attention, and might scratch it...... the viewsonic that I won here was given to my best friend, who scratched it on like day 2! I use cheap home made screen protector, but I have no bubbles, nor there is dust collecting on the sides and it doesnt peel.

I have a friend that I won't even let use my PDAs or a nice pen. He pushes way too hard. He thinks you have to mash down on everything, I'm just waiting for him to pierce the screen with the stylus. :evil:

[Aerestis]

I had a nice play with a palm which had a screen protector, and I really noticed that the screen protector was there. It might have even been effecting the quality of the display. But when I played with an iPaq, there was no protector, and it was much better. So I don't know, until I use a good screen protector, I am pretty anti-screen protector.

[Ed Hansberry]

Personally, one of the first things I do to a new PPC is install WriteShields. In fact, I've been meaning to write a review on them. :oops:

[sublime]

My Writeshield is great. I bought it back in like October or so and haven't changed it yet, and it's still perfect.

[shawnc]

I'm right there with you. If my 300-400+ PPC can't stand up to normal stylus taps, then I made a baaaad decision.

[Sven Johannsen]

Haven't used a screen protector since I used the ones that HP sold for the original Jornadas. I actually didn't mind those. Never seemed to notice any ill effects on any of my PPCs, but I am pretty gentle with them.

My 4155 was off at PPCTechs getting a memory upgrade and they e-mailed they noticed a couple of small scratches (uh-huh), and would I like to get some of the Writeshields, and they'd put the first one on. I figured, what the heck. Everyone I know and value that actually uses screen protection swears by these. Guess I'll see how I like the look and feel, later this week.

[ale2999]

I could never go without screen protectors. not because I think I would scratch it, but because when I give it to my friends to have a game at jawbreaker or ghost n ghouls they dont really pay attention, and might scratch it...... the viewsonic that I won here was given to my best friend, who scratched it on like day 2! I use cheap home made screen protector, but I have no bubbles, nor there is dust collecting on the sides and it doesnt peel.

I have a friend that I won't even let use my PDAs or a nice pen. He pushes way too hard. He thinks you have to mash down on everything, I'm just waiting for him to pierce the screen with the stylus. :evil:

hah I feel what you are saying. I should see how those writeshield work om comparison to the ones I make

[mrkablooey]

I had a nice play with a palm which had a screen protector, and I really noticed that the screen protector was there. It might have even been effecting the quality of the display. But when I played with an iPaq, there was no protector, and it was much better. So I don't know, until I use a good screen protector, I am pretty anti-screen protector.

The sheer amount of WriteRights out there (Fellowes) means you probably were trying a Palm with one of those on there. They're CRAP. WriteShields are great, and you really don't know they're there. At least I don't, it's a nice accessory to have. :)

[Aerestis]

oh ok then. I don't really understand why that product would sell, then. I was so amazed and excited by how neat the device was, but putting a bad protector on it is like buying glasses and sticking... vision obstructing things on them. Well, it's similar... I guess. There is no way I would put one of those protectors on mine though, it made the device look so much less sleek. Especially with those bubbles in there.

[Thinkingmandavid]

I personally do not like screen protectors, but I do recommend them to other people who are new to pda's.
I used the fellowes and did not like the way they looked or felt. The screen does not look as nice or clear in my opinion, it gave my pda more of a dull look.
I have not tried any of the more expensive ones and I actually do not want to spend the money for them just to find out they will be of no use to me.
My first pda which was a Palm V I used them for a bit and then stopped, then my screen scratched on the upper right hand corner. It sucked because in some documents or software I was using, I could not read what was in that corner.

[allenalb]

i have a hard time seeing how people even get scratches on the screen.

i have a new ipaq 5555, a year and 7 month old 3975 and a 7+ year old compaq hpc, and none have scratches on the screens. i'm not particularly careful with them, and i frequently lend the 3975 to people at work to play games on (gotta a pocket pc evangelist :wink: )

funny thing is that the bodies of the pdas have scratches all over them :)

[Aerestis]

the idea of scratching a multi-hundred dollar device makes me queezy