Screen protectors for PDAs

[Luciana]

I own an HP Jornada PDA. I've bought it last year and it has served me (reasonably) well, and despite its flaws, I want to keep it for the next few years. I've been using PDAs since 1996 and at this point I can't live without them.

So, I thought, if I'm going to keep it for a while, I might look at ways of protecting it. I saw in a shop a package with screen protectors and, well, although my screen looks perfect after one year, maybe it could benefit with the protection from long-term usage?

My first disappointment is that all of the screen protector, which came in a sealed HP package, were already scratched. It follows that the moment I put one on, the screen became blurry in some points. Worse, why it's not supposed to interfere with the click and point of the stylus, it does, particularly in the edged. I have to make more of an effort in order to click with precision.

Then, in less than 2 weeks, I found out that my screen protector was seriously scratched! I could make out entire words that I had scribbled while in a hurry. Heavy hand here. With all those scratches, now reading on that screen was nearly impossible.

I took out another and surprise! The screen protector is blurred in some points again. :rolleyes:

So my question is... do these screen protectors have any usefulness??? If in one year my PDA screen is okay, why would I expect it to change? Did I just throw away my money or should I give screen protectors another chance? Is there any indication that they can have long-term beneficial effects?

[JesFine]

I wondered this too. I bought an IPAQ about 3 years ago, and have since noticed two worn spots on the screen in the upper left hand corner. In a striking coincidence, that is where the deck and the drawn cards in solitaire are located. Strange...

Anyway, when I noticed the scratches, I thought "Oh man! I should've gotten one of those screen protectors!" Figuring the damage was done, I decided not to buy any, but have always wondered if they would have prevented the scratches.

[specious_reasons]

I was considering buying one of those screen protectors for my Handspring. Unfortunately, before I got the chance, I accidently tried to use a mechanical pencil as a stylus.

I put a significant scratch in the screen, so I went with the ultimate high-tech consumer solution: A clear piece of scotch tape over the graffiti area. Worked like a charm.

[Luciana]

Maybe, Jesfine, that's what the screen protectors are for - to protect a user from his own stup, waith, willingness to use something else than a Stylus? :)

I'm guilty of using anything I can find around me if the stylus is nowhere nearby (but I've never really lost it!). Never scratched the screen. But also, I had never had a screen blurred because of a previously-scratched screen protector. :eek:

The fact is, I'm not a heavy user of the stylus - I read in it a lot, and use mostly the action button. So, now I've learnt my lesson - screen protectors, never more!

[CFLarsen]

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
I own an HP Jornada PDA.

You spawn of the Devil!! :eek: ;)

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
I've bought it last year and it has served me (reasonably) well, and despite its flaws, I want to keep it for the next few years. I've been using PDAs since 1996 and at this point I can't live without them.

Hey, mine functions as my brain.... :)

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
So, I thought, if I'm going to keep it for a while, I might look at ways of protecting it. I saw in a shop a package with screen protectors and, well, although my screen looks perfect after one year, maybe it could benefit with the protection from long-term usage?

Put a lid on it. Really! I use the flap-down on my Palm and no scratches at all. Of course, I also have a leather case with a zipper... ;)

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
So my question is... do these screen protectors have any usefulness??? If in one year my PDA screen is okay, why would I expect it to change? Did I just throw away my money or should I give screen protectors another chance? Is there any indication that they can have long-term beneficial effects?

It's a bit of a sales gimmick, if you ask me. Use the stylus with care, and you'll do fine.

[wayrad]

Screen protectors of various makes vary significantly. Sounds like you might have tried something like a Write-Right, which is fairly short-lived. You might want to check out the review index over at www.the-gadgeteer.com. I'm partial to the Brando myself - hard to apply, but good for months of use.

You might also want to explore the history of the Warman patent (plenty of stuff on Usenet and PDA-related fora) before purchasing anything made under license from them.

[JesFine]

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
Maybe, Jesfine, that's what the screen protectors are for - to protect a user from his own stup, waith, willingness to use something else than a Stylus? :)

I'm guilty of using anything I can find around me if the stylus is nowhere nearby (but I've never really lost it!). Never scratched the screen. But also, I had never had a screen blurred because of a previously-scratched screen protector. :eek:

The fact is, I'm not a heavy user of the stylus - I read in it a lot, and use mostly the action button. So, now I've learnt my lesson - screen protectors, never more!

Believe it or not -- I have never used anything but the stylus. Well, a couple of times I used my finger when I didn't feel like popping the stylus out, but my finger is much softer and less pointy. I think the makers just never imagined anyone would ever play as much solitaire on their PDA as I did. :D

[Luciana]

Man, did you buy your PDA to play sollitaire? :rolleyes:

At least install other games! :D There are excellent freewares out there. :)

[EdipisReks]

i have an iPaq 3955, and i don't use screen protectors. i haven't been able to find any that feel "right" when i'm using it, and they all have a tendancy to collect dust. i've had the device for a few months and i use it heavily, but i haven't noticed any scratches.

[JesFine]

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
Man, did you buy your PDA to play sollitaire? :rolleyes:

At least install other games! :D There are excellent freewares out there. :)
Of course I didn't buy it to play solitaire. Absolutely not. No way. That would be silly. I bought it to use GolfWits (http://www.golfwits.com).

Actually, originally I bought it to organize my life, whatever that means. Then, after I realized my life was irreversibly disorganized, I began using it more and more to download news in the AM and read on my daily commute. Of course, once I was done reading, I had to do something with it right? Answer: Solitaire.

[peptoabysmal]

I write programs for these things, so I have a variety of them. The Jornada is a good machine. Just use the proper stylus and by the time your screen is worn out, your PDA is hoplessly outdated and needs to be replaced anyway. Don't use a dried up ball point pen as a stylus, that will etch your screen to an early death.

When not programming I mostly use mine with MS Reader to read books. It's nice to have something you can take with you on an airplane etc. to read that has it's own light source.