Review: WriteSHIELD crystal-CLEAR Screen Protector
Posted by warthog on 05/13/08 in Devices, Game Systems, Mobilitysite Reviews, Music Players, Music phones, Pocket PC Phones, PocketPC, Smart Phones
Reviewer: Andy Mason (Warthog)
Product: WriteSHIELD Crystal-CLEAR Screen Protector
Manufacturer: PPCTechs
Price: MSRP – crystal-CLEAR 2-Pak kit, $29.00; Deluxe 2-Pak kit, $36.99
I am very meticulous about all my tech toys and, for the longest time, did not see the need for screen protectors. After using my Dell Axim x50v for about a year, I began to notice very faint scratches on the screen from text entry and repeated stylus taps. That’s when I decided that maybe screen protectors were not such a bad idea. When I purchased my Axim x51v, the screen protector went on before the unit was ever powered up! However, when I switched to the HTC Mogul several months ago, I decided that I could live without a screen protector. “After all it’s a touch screen, and it has a jog wheel and a dozen buttons for navigation so the screen won’t be subjected to constant stylus abuse like the Axim,” I reasoned. Well, unlike the Axim, the Mogul is a phone and gets smudged from coming into contact with my face and from using my fingers on the touch screen. Additionally, I have found that I use the stylus more than I anticipated. The need for a screen protector soon became evident. I have a WriteSHIELD installed on my x51v and have encountered no problems with it whatsoever. I contacted PPCTechs to see if they had a protector customized for the Mogul. They did and they were willing to send me a crystal-CLEAR Deluxe 2-Pak kit for review that I present for your consideration.
What’s In the Box:
- 2 WriteSHIELD crystal-CLEAR screen protectors
- 1 soft-bristle brush
- 2 pre-moistened KlearScreen cleaning wipes
- 2 lint-free polishing cloths
- 1 bottle of KlearScreen cleaning solution for LCD screens
- 1 package of three plastic corner-lifting tools
- 1 page of step-by-step application/cleaning instructions
Preparation Is Key To Success!
If my HTC Mogul was brand new, I would have skipped a few steps in the instructions and applied the protector to a virgin screen. Since my HTC Mogul is several months old and its screen has been exposed to all the normal elements like facial oils, dust, and fingerprints a bit of preparation was necessary prior to the protector application. The instructions suggest washing your hands with soap and water to reduce the risk of the oils from your hands transferring to the screen protector as you handle it.
A dust-free environment is critical for successfully applying a screen protector to your device. I have 4 teenagers, 2 cats, and a dog roaming throughout our home. Lacking a certified “clean-room”, I find that I can generate an acceptable alternative by setting up a temporary workspace on the bathroom counter and running a hot shower for a couple of minutes to generate enough steam to suppress most of potential dust-squatters that would otherwise attempt to take up residence on your screen as you apply the protector. Believe me, trapping one tiny dust particle underneath your screen protector will make you grimace (and could damage your screen unless removed).
The first step in preparation involves cleaning the screen. I used the micro fiber cloth to clean most of the screen. The included soft-bristle brush was used to gently coax any dust particles out from the corners of my Mogul. I tried getting at those little screen-bunnies with the cloth, but they were nestled nice and cozy in the corners. The included brush was the only way I could successfully remove them.
Evicting stubborn screen-bunnies from the corners
Once all the dust particles had been dispatched, I used one of the pre-moistened KlearScreen wipes to clean my screen of any facial oils, fingerprints and other smudges.
KlearScreen moist wipes to clean screen in preparation for protector
Now it was time to dry/buff the screen with the included micro fiber polishing cloths. The Mogul was finally ready for the WriteSHIELD protector to be installed.
Buffing the screen to a mirror-like finish
Installation Is As Easy as “1, 2, 3…”
The screen protector is sandwiched in between two plastic layers. Step one is simply peeling off the top plastic piece exposing the side of the screen protector that will be face-up on the Mogul. Step two is to start at one corner and partially peel back the plastic from the face-down side of the protector (this is the side that will adhere to your screen). Once you have the one end of the protector exposed, you can begin to line it up with your screen. Extra care is need at this point to ensure that you don’t touch the bottom of the screen protector with your fingers as, again, this will ruin your day and will necessitate further steps to ensure a clean install.
I began my application by lining up the top edge of the protector with the top edge and corners of my Mogul’s screen and then slowly peeled the remainder of the plastic from the bottom as I gently pressed the protector down with a credit card. Using a credit card provides even pressure across the entire protector and reduces the appearance of any air bubbles under the protector.
A successful application of a crystal-CLEAR protector means that you should have to look closely to tell that there is anything on the screen. If, after your application, you have any air pockets or dust particles that are ruining an otherwise perfect application, simply use one of the plastic corner lifters and lift the protector enough to allow any air bubbles to escape. You can also use a credit card to work any bubbles to the side of the screen where they can escape. If you find any dust particles beneath your screen protector, simply lift the protector to expose the dust particle and gently press a piece of transparent tape to snare the little trespasser and then reapply the protector.
As stated earlier, if done correctly the entire procedure shouldn’t take more than 10-15 minutes and will result in a screen that hasn’t lost any clarity or functionality, but now sports an “invisible” barrier from the natural elements it will be exposed to as well as the repeated stylus taps and strokes that can scratch your screen.
Screen Cleaning
In addition to the screen protectors, the Deluxe package the PPCTechs sent me also included a two-ounce bottle of KlearScreen for use with laptop, PDA, Smartphone and other LCD screens. We all know you can’t use window cleaners on your LCD screens and even a cloth dampened with water may leave hard water deposits on your screen over time. The best solution is a gentle cleaner that is made especially for the delicate coatings applied to most LCD screens.
I had the perfect testbed for this product in my own home. One of my pet-peeves is people touching my computer screens and smudging my screen with fingerprints that mar my view. My 19-year-old daughter, however, apparently did not inherit her father’s clean-screen-gene. With my daughter’s permission, I proceeded to test the KLEARScreen product on the dirtiest LCD screen in our home – her laptop! It’s tough to get a good picture of an LCD screen (because of the flash) but I think you can see enough of the smudges and smears that were driving me nuts! I don’t know how she could see what she was doing – Yuk!!
(I didn’t know whether to clean it or “shave” it!)
A couple of sprits of the product on the screen and wiping dry with the lint-free cloth, then buffing the screen with a dry side of the cloth produced a brilliantly-clear screen that was a pleasure to behold!
I used KLEARScreen on my Samsung 37” HDTV and it produced equally satisfying results.
Conclusion:
Although I am very meticulous about taking care of my devices, life happens. No amount of precaution can avoid damage to an unprotected screen due to the normal wear and tear of daily use. WriteSHIELD provides a nearly invisible layer of protection for your device without compromising the look or feel of your screen. There are cheaper alternatives available on the market but WriteSHIELD provides a quality product that performs as advertised. I recommend you consider WriteSHIELD for your screen protector needs.
Pros:
- Device-specific, customized fit
- Available in crystal-CLEAR or anti-GLARE
- Easy to install
- Nearly invisible protection
- No sticky adhesive
- Durable – After a couple of months of constant usage, the protector still looks as good as new
- Easy to clean and reapply
Cons:
- Price – a bit high compared to similar products
Written by warthog · Filed Under Devices, Game Systems, Mobilitysite Reviews, Music Players, Music phones, Pocket PC Phones, PocketPC, Smart Phones
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