Screen Protectors

[Mjolinor]

Having used PDAs from the Palm Pilot through to the 6000 and bought them all off Ebay they normally come with a screen protector installed.

I find them awful to use and always bin them as soon as I get one. I have only once had a problem in that I scratched one area of an Ipaq screen playing space invaders. Other than that out of the 15 or so models I have had none have suffered any ill effects from not having a screen protector.

I personally find them difficult to be accurate with, serious degredation in picture quality and brightness and the pressure you have to use to register a click is both unpredicatable and high.

Just wondered what sort of ratio there was in users / non-users and would like some input on people's reasons.

[DrWowe]

I use BoxWave screen protectors.  They are more expensive than the cheapo ones but I haven't had any of the negative effects you mention either.  Screen still looks great and feels fine to my stylus.

Also, using them increases resale value because most buyers like an unscratched screen.  I know I would be more likely to buy from a seller who advertises "screen protector since day 1"

[kahm]

I hate screen protectors on the Z - the 640x480 screen suffers too much with the protector. (And I was using the official Japanese $10 protectors...)

[GadgetGuy]

I hate screen protectors on the Z - the 640x480 screen suffers too much with the protector. (And I was using the official Japanese $10 protectors...)
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My experience is quite different.

There are several types of screen protectors: some make the screen fuzzy and scratch easily, some are difficult to remove as they leave a residue etc. -> these are about 95% of the screenprotectors sold ( based on ads etc.)
These are the ones I used in the past on my Palm, Psion etc. ( I have sold several PDA's in the past: all got a good price, since their screen was 100% scratch free)

However, I have bought recently a Sony PSP - and for the PSP a Hori protector.

The Hori protector was nothing like what I have had before. It is a totally different material, it requires a different approach to put it on, but when its on, it is virtually invisible. I have shown it to several people - about half have not realized that a protector was on at all, the other half agreed, that is is invisible ( you can see the edge, that is the only way to see).

As LCD screens do scratch (especially if it is a touch-screen), and the scratches are very difficult to remove (and during the removal process one can damage the screen) I tried to find a screen protector for the C3100 - similar to the PSP one.

And I have found it: Ultra Clear Screen Protector for Sharp Zaurus SL-C3100/C3000/C1000 - US$12 shipped from pdair.com

After application it is invisible, the screen quality is exactly the same what is was before - and it is protected from scratches. It is not easy to put on ( as the bottom surface attracts dust etc. ) but after about 45 minutes it was done.

It has been on now for a couple of months, and I have no scratches, I am not scared to wipe off the screen ( which could scratch it w/o a protector) and I have a screen which looks the same as w/o a protector... (Some people prefer to write on the screen protector vs. the unprotected screen. I feel no difference...)

Conclusion: always use a screen protector to protect your expensive electronics screens....

[periodontist]

Ever since I had my first Sony CLIE and noticed a regular matrix of "rough spots" on the screen that happened to correspond exactly to the screen matrix of a game I was addicted to at the time (required a lot of stylus poking) I have been using screen protectors.

I buy them from this site: http://pdascreenprotectors.com/

I see almost no degredation in screen clarity (maybe a little at certain angles in outside lighting) and likewise almost no degredation in stylus accuracy/pressure.

Installation is not easy as the screen protector fits with no adhesives and holds itself in place by being slightly larger than the screen size (i.e. it tucks under the edges of the screen); however, I now live without fear of damaging the favorite part of my Zaurus.

[BarryW]

I could never find one that fit locally, so I cheeped out and cut up an overhead transparency sheet.  Swap them out about every 2 or 3 months.  Really can't tell that it's there.  Having had to replace 2 screens, though one was from dropping, at $350 a piece, I baby them now.

[undrwater]

I'll second the boxwave.

Similar experience as others with previous devices showing scratches where the most frequent apps had the interface.

I carry my 6000 in my pocket without a case, so I needed something to protect from dust as well as scratches.  The adhesive SP does this.

[chal]

Tried some on my two sl5500s and didn't like them. They reduced the brightness too much (it felt like I was viewing through a dusty window) and I never could get them on without having at least a few bubbles. In almost two years, I haven't done any damage and I have dropped both of them more than a few times (I have arthritis and sometimes my grip is not too strong).

[GadgetGuy]

Tried some on my two sl5500s and didn't like them. They reduced the brightness too much [div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=108962\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Have you tried an ultraclear screenprotector? It does not impact brightness at all.. (and according to some, it increases color saturation...)

[chal]

Tried some on my two sl5500s and didn't like them. They reduced the brightness too much [div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=108962\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Have you tried an ultraclear screenprotector? It does not impact brightness at all.. (and according to some, it increases color saturation...)
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Thanks, I just checked them out (they look nice), but will have to see if they will ship to the Netherlands next time I have a few bucks.