Touchscreen Protector Film

Okay; here's my problem.

When I got my Mk3, the screen was horribly scuffed... it turned out that it was only a well-used screen protector; but in finding that out, I peeled the yucky one off.
The screen underneath is pristine; no damage from the silicone underside of the protector, not even the tiniest scratch. Of course I was delighted to find this; but to KEEP that pristine surface, I decided to put the protector right back on.

This is where it gets sticky; I tried several times to get it back on, but always got bubbles & a few random bits of dust making bubbles. I decided not to worry about it as I intended to put a new film on it when I got a chance; but I'm using it more & more as I get things the way I like them & now the bubbles bug me.

I just spent 2 hours with a squeegee trying to work out the bubbles; every time I get one or three or a bit of dust that just will not work out. After trying so hard for so long, I'm beginning to wonder just how in frell I'm gonna do this even with a new one; what is the trick?

I'm tempted to just take it off & leave it off; I have many touchscreen devices & all of them work fine with no screen protector; I just don't know if the Toughbook Touchscreen is as durable as those devices. The screen is so much clearer & brighter without... I AM tempted.

So please... those of you with more experience with these touchscreens - how durable are they? Am I just being too cautious? Will they hold up under use with a stylus without the protector film?

mnem
To err is human; to really muck things up requires a computer.

 

It's just like tinting car windows. It's hard.

I've never put one on, but I took a damaged one off once, and I can see how it would be tricky.

 

It's a pain even if you've done it dozens of times. The dust is the hardest part to get out. It pretty much requires half a can of air and a lot of patience. Once you get it on the sticky part though, it's almost impossible to get off and not worth the trouble because more dust will settle on it while you're trying to get off the one piece. The bubbles aren't too tough to manage if you're careful. Generally, I find the biggest bubble and use it to gobble up the other bubbles before getting rid of it. I end up pushing it everywhere. Once I'm happy with it, I either push it to the edge or slowly shrink it. The films themselves are not solid plastic. They're kind of like those air hockey tables where it's mostly solid with tiny holes. The film has those holes and if you're patient enough, you can get the air to go out them. Usually I get impatient and push it off the edge.

 

I hate putting protective screens on stuff luckily last year I made a friend at school and his dad has a paint shop for cars or whatever. The greatest thing ever they have a clean room so when they spray paint no dust sticks to it. I now use it as a clean room to put protective covers on everything I own.

I know this really has nothing to do with any of these questions but I am bored so I put my protective covering story down.

 

Mnem... Everyone is right... Personally... I find the cleanest, most dust free room in the house. Then I clean the screen with a lint-free microfiber towel. Then I peel off the backing on the protector. This creates static that grabs any dust in the room. So I rinse it off under my bar sink. (Tall faucet) Then I have a spray bottle with a few drops of dish soap in it. I'll start to apply it and use a credit card to try to lay it down and squeegee out he bubbles as I go. If I spot a piece of dust I will pull the corner back up and use the spray bottle to blast it away. (Good thing the screen is water-tight, eh?) This usually gets the job done. Zero is right (of course) when he says that the rest of the bubbles usually migrate through the protector or otherwise work their way out. This can take 1-2 weeks but any extra bubbles will go away eventually.

The BEST protectors I have found yet (And I have tried like 10 different types) are sold by Screen Patronus on ebay. They are pricey but worth EVERY penny. Plus they are reusable and washable.

Hope this helps!

 

Ummm... So I take it by this that we DO NOT consider using the touchscreen WITHOUT the protective film a reasonable option then?

mnem
*What the frell is an aluminum falcon?!?*

 

I do... but only on the one I'm gonna keep. It's hard the resale if it's scratched up.

Otherwise though, I think the touchscreen is more responsive without the protector, and if you're careful enough you won't damage it too badly. Trim your nails before use too, or use the proper stylus.

 

And watch what you use to clean it with since some chemicals remove the UV layer.

 

Well... i dont have still mine but i have put a lot of stickers on glass and the best way to do it is with water, i dont know if it is an option there but i think it could work. You spray a little water and then you aply the sticker from one side to another at the same time you take the water out with a plastic "espatula" (i dont know the word in English) and it should be fine.
Let us know how you do it
Good luck!

 

Is Windex safe? I've always used it (and a clean all-cotton t-shirt or synthetic chamois) to clean my LCDs and CRTs; even those older CRTs that had the UV coating. I just don't want to find out the hard way that these screens have something special on 'em...

mnem
*Hmmm-ily*

 

It's ok as long as you don't scrub hard. In my experience, over a long time it'll take off that blueing but only if you use force.

 

Hmmmmm... Generally how durable are the touchscreens themselves? I'm kindof torn... I REALLY like how much better the contrast on the unit is without the protector, but... I'm a bit afraid to let a stranger sign on it, even with a good stylus.

mnem
*Things-that-make-you-go-Hmmmm-ily*

 

Windex will take off the reflective coating after repeated wipes... Ask me how I know... <hear someone ask> Okay... I used to take off the anti-reflective coating with that and rubbing alcohol. When I get one in that has it partially rubbed off... I take it all the way off. I have also used headlight restorer (Takes the yellowing of of headlights) to "polish" the screen. Unfortunately... This leaves the screen a little shiny. So then I need to put a screen protector back on it.

Screen Patronus is the way to go...

 

I have a particular stylus I like to use because it doesn't scratch at all. It has a soft rubber tip instead of the solid plastic. I've never had it scratch and can take some good force. I have no idea where to get one but it's an idea if you can find it.

 

I just ordered a CF-30 handle to go on my CF-29 so I can tuch the stylus in the handle. I'd love to be able to make a kit to allow anyone to be able to stick it on their handle of their CF-27, 28 or 29... Now THAT would be cool. But probably not cost effective.

**Handle is backordered**

 

If the signature is all you need; why not have them sign on the mouse pad?

 

Have you ever actually seen a signature captured from a touchpad? Ummm... illegible is a NICE word for it, the touchpad is just too small to properly read it, I guess. The GEM sig pad is about 1 1/2" by 4"; this appears to be the minimum required for passable results.

mnem
Just sign here! And here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...and here...

 

That reminds me of the last time I was at Sears with my brother where they have a digital signature collector.

He just drew circles for two minutes while they guy was busy looking something up.

By the time he was done and his signature printed out, it looked more like a 6 year old had at a wall with a box of crayons.

 

I've run my CF-29 w/o the protector for almost 2 years and the screen is the same as the day I took the protector off. I'm careful with it though.

 

Just a word to you guys who just bough the CF-29. Both of mine need changing but one especially. I was afraid to pull it of because I have done that before to a 28 that had the protector installed when new and it peeled off half the anti reflective coating! Well... The 29 that I use mainly now was the one that was really bad. I figured I would chance it. It took a while to get the corner up but when I did... I peeled it off VERY slowly and, VOILA... No fuss, no muss and the touchscreen looks BRAND NEW! I ordered several touchscreen protectors from Screen Patronus on ebay. (They have the best... Just like factory) So I will be installing those next week when they arrive. Until then I will be VERY careful not to scratch the screen! I can't believe what a difference it makes though... I was looking through a lot of finger-point scratched spots that was making typing a little difficult because I couldn't see the cursors all the time. (Yes... It was scratched that bad!)

It was like a face lift for the entire laptop! It looks literally brand new now!

 

You see? This is BIZZACKLY what I was talking about with my Mk3... I am SO tempted to leave it off. How much clarity do you lose with a new screen protector as compared to riding bareback?

mnem
I can see clearly now, the Touchscreen condom is gone...

 

Mnem... It wasn't that at all... It was the fact that apparently there was some sort of anti-reflective coating on it... Half of that was worn off... Plus there were a lot of deep scratches in it that were throwing off the colors and letters. (They were THAT bad!)

A new protector from the guys I ordered from will be crystal clear and then I won't whince every time I jab the screen a little too hard. Plus... If I scratch the protector... I can always peel it off at sale time and advertise it as a virgin screen!

<In his best Bevis voice... "Heh heh... He said Virgin!">

 

Okay, Okay - I'm sold. I'm going to order one as soon as I can get some money into my PayPal account...

mnem
<Heh heh... YOU'RE a virgin... Heh Heh...>
<Heh...WHAT? SO'RE YOU!>
<AM NOT!><ARE TOO!><AM NOT!><ARE NOT!><AM TOO!... oh crap...>