Screen protectors?

[B2Ben]

Anybody know any good deals on screen protectors? I understand their purpose and plan on getting one, just a little upset that one sheet of plastic costs $10...

Any thoughts?

[Aces]

You may have heard this before.  But a very inexpensive solution is to buy a roll of Scotch #811 removable tape.  It's too opaque to cover to viewable area of you screen.  But it's great to cover the graffitti area.  Since that's where most of your sliding occurs with the stylus, it handles most of the reasons people want a protector for.  I've have used this tape as my only screen protector for all my PDA's over the 3 years I've been ujsing them.  I replace my tape about every 2-3 months because I start to miss the slightly frictiony feel of the tape when I graffitti.  Here's an interesting link to other info on screen protectors:

http://modena.intergate.ca/personal/wired/Pilot/screen_save.html

[crh3f]

The screen protectors that cost $10 (for instance, the one I use and like, by Brando) last months...I'm on month 3 and not going to replace it anytime soon.

[bgreschke]

Just today I got a ClearTouch protector from BoxWave. $16.45 delivered. It looks like it is going to work OK. Up 'till now I've aggravated myself to pieces trying to put on $2 screen protectors. After today I don't think I'll do that anymore. It looks good and feels good.

Bob

[nznznz]

http://www.onlinestorehk.com/shop/category.php?c=8+9+15+

[hherbzilla]

There are a LOT of threads on this topic. The consensus is generally that the $10 you spend is definitely worth it. Get a Brando or Boxwave and it'll last for many, many months.

[Antipod]

I've never used them, and have no plans to start. IMHO it's a waste of money and just an unnecessary hassle. My previous PDA lasted 2.5 years without screen protectors and a single noticeable scratch. My new SJ30 is almost 4 months and still looks almost perfect. I think clear screen is worth a couple of hairline scratches over the lifetime of a handheld.

[hherbzilla]

I'd prefer not to take the chance. I don't want ANY scratches. Also, protectors like Boxwave and G2 are very clear. I guess I'm more risk averse. :)

[crh3f]

wow...every PDA I've owned has eventually dulled where the graffiti area is. Now that I've got an NR w/ VG, I really don't want that happening to the screen. Screen protector for me, baby.

[hherbzilla]

Originally posted by crh3f
wow...every PDA I've owned has eventually dulled where the graffiti area is. Now that I've got an NR w/ VG, I really don't want that happening to the screen. Screen protector for me, baby. Yeah, I had that big time on my previous one. I'm afraid to think about how the screen would have looked if I didn't have the screen protector on it.

[Antipod]

Originally posted by crh3f
wow...every PDA I've owned has eventually dulled where the graffiti area is. Now that I've got an NR w/ VG, I really don't want that happening to the screen. Screen protector for me, baby.

"Eventually" means how long? How long before you replaced it?

[davidtm]

I'll second the protector recommendations. I had a IIIc for a couple of years without a protector, and I got some scratches (but not too bad). However, the Clie digitizer seems more fragile. Also, I've dropped it a couple of times and the flip cover popped off. I scratched the protector big time replacing the cover, and feel that Boxwave earned their keep in that one split second.

[crh3f]

"Eventually" meaning over the course of a couple of years; I had my original Clie S300 for about 2 years, and there was definitely a dull spot we're I'd written. Since then, I've upgraded too quickly to notice.

Part of it is a placebo effect for me...I'm less nervous about the screen when there's a piece of plastic covering it. They're also easier to clean.

[Lil Viper]

I paid about $20CDN for a pack of 12 Belkin screen overlays...worth every penny in my opinion. These ones are crystal clear, easy to install, and very clean when you take them off <no sticky residue>. I change mine about once a month or so...

[kevm]

ok well I will add my 2 cents. The cleartouch protectors are rated very high. they fit perfectly and can be removed and rinsed off under water and reused. Boxwave says that one protector could last the life of the pda. there is a special on the boxwave site. I ordered 3 for about 30.00 including shipping. That sounds like a lot I agree, but you need to consider how you use the clie. The cover Sony puts on the thing is useless at least the one on the SJ22, which means you need a case. My case fits tightly around the unit, and the lining touches the screen, so there is a possibility of fine scratches from that. Also, I carry business cards on the side of the case that touches the screen. I think the GOOD protectors are worthwhile additions.

[legohead]

I wonder... I bought a BoxWave about a month ago and it seems that the screen protector is getting scratched up from writing in the Graffiti area. I've hardly even been using my Clie recently. Is there a possibility that the stylus- the original included Clie stylus-is not as smooth as it should be (i can't really tell by feeling it)? I definitely am not pushing too hard- i write quite softly.

As a side point, I am almost positive that the screen protector has taken away some Graffiti accuracy. B4 using it, recognition accuracy must've been around 98%! It was very reliable. Now, I find myself constantly having to correct little things. And the papery feel makes it feel like I'm scratching the thing with every stroke.

Everyone seems to love the BoxWave. Should I request a replacement from BoxWave, ask for a different stylus, anything?

Suggestions? thanks.

[bgreschke]

Could be the Clie stylus. I don't use it. I've got a leftover Pilot Pentopia. Every few days I think the graffiti area is getting scratched. Then I rub the area with my finger and it cleans off whatever is on there that looks like scratches, and it looks as good as new. If it is scratching for no good reason I'd at least write to BoxWave and see what they say.

[legohead]

Yeah. i'm really thinking it's the stylus. It seems to write more smoothly if i write with less of a tilt. Anyways, that should not occur. Maybe I'll get a new stylus or call sony and complain. however, i doubt they'll care.

[kevm]

You know, I hate being critical because the Clie is generally a great unit and the SJ22 is a great value. But when I got mine I found that it didnt even include any sync software for outlook (most others at least include the lite version).
I feel the same about the stylus. Useless. way too light and the tip, well forget it.
I use the floating point stylus from Landware that I got for my IIIXE. This is a great stylus with a pressure sensitive tip. A little pricey, and they dont make one for my Sony, but I made sure that I got a case for the Clie that you can store an extra stylus in. My case is a PEGA-CA30. However, again. I would never pay 40 bucks for it on the sony web site. Got it for 20 so it was a decent buy. The floating point stylus has a lifetime warranty. I have broken 2 of them in the past 2 years by dropping them on a hard floor. Landware has happily replaced both of them for me no questions asked. Last time they even sent me two of them.
What I'm saying is that stock styli are just stock styli. Try something decent and please post your results.
Take care.

[Berto2112]

In reference to the "scratching" effect of the Boxwave, I noticed the same thing when I had my SJ-20 and a Boxwave screen protector. What was happening on mine was that it wasn't scratching, but the screen protector was being pressed against the screen when I wrote and it was adhering better in that particular point, therefore leaving little "tracks" where the stylus had been. I've since installed another Boxwave on my SJ-30 and haven't noticed that same issue. You might want to try taking off your Boxwave, washing and drying it, and then reapplying it. Make sure you press out bubbles with a credit card as the instructions say to guarantee that it's adhering better. Let me know if that helps.

Berto

[Gazpacho]

After having used the Brando for a few months, I have the G2 screenprotector applied right now on my SJ30. I think it's a way step up from the Brando. It's a tradeoff though: the Brando is anti-glare, but when you hold the Clie under a lamp you see a white blurr. Instead, with the G2 you see the lamp. But in both cases, you cannot read the screen.

But I hapilly trade in a little more glare than having a milky screen.

I was actually thinking of trying the Boxwaves. As I have read on this form, I gather that the boxwave is more clear than the Brando but not as clear as the G2?

[Unregistered]

G2 here too, same verdict above, super-clear (someone wondered if there was any protector at all), it does get scratched but when the backlight is on all you see is a clear screen.

[blinks]

has anyone tryed the glow-in-the-dark one i herd about a wile ago? the people that tryed it liked it from what i read. i forget the name thou

[rwl]

Originally posted by legohead
I wonder... I bought a BoxWave about a month ago and it seems that the screen protector is getting scratched up from writing in the Graffiti area. I've hardly even been using my Clie recently. Is there a possibility that the stylus- the original included Clie stylus-is not as smooth as it should be (i can't really tell by feeling it)? I definitely am not pushing too hard- i write quite softly.

As a side point, I am almost positive that the screen protector has taken away some Graffiti accuracy. B4 using it, recognition accuracy must've been around 98%! It was very reliable. Now, I find myself constantly having to correct little things. And the papery feel makes it feel like I'm scratching the thing with every stroke.

Everyone seems to love the BoxWave. Should I request a replacement from BoxWave, ask for a different stylus, anything?

Suggestions? thanks.

I've had a similar problem with BoxWave, although I suspect part of it had to do with the crappy stylus I picked up at Staples (for $20 no less).

I'm ordering a couple of 1-way stylii from StylusPlus (http://www.stylusplus.com) (I've been happy with this product except for the fact that they have a life time of < 3 months before the nib breaks) and I'm planning on finding a less particular screen protector.

I never cared that much for the BoxWave "paper-like" feel and anti-glare is less of a concern than anti-scratch.

[DanT]

I just get one of those transparency sheet for overhead projector presentation, cut it to the right size (it can make 9 screen protector/sheet). Check this CS post (http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13921) for more detail.

[unghole]

Originally posted by hherbzilla
I'd prefer not to take the chance. I don't want ANY scratches. Also, protectors like Boxwave and G2 are very clear. I guess I'm more risk averse. :)

I agree. I am using the G2s on mine and they're the best at preserving original clarity. Big drawback to these are that they are very difficult to install and are a HUGE collector of dust. The writing surface is smooth and slick in comparison to the ClearTouch which has more of a matte, paper-like feel. The ClearTouch's are by no means milky, but they do cloud the screen slightly when compared to the G2s. Personally, I like both and plan to alternate between the two as my mood deems necessary, but just to plug PDAscreenprotectors.com, the G2s customer service offers an excellent product and strongly stands by their satisfaction guarantee. John, the founder of the company, offers excellent service.