How-To: Protective Film Application on the Z11

I've been getting tons of requests to show how I protected the palm rest (bezel) on the new VGNZ11 series. Here it is.

I've been putting protective film coverings on my gizmos for years. iPODs, phones, laptops and even on my BMW M3. The film acts as a barrier to wear marks and scratches/scuffs.

I originally planned to cover the following in the protective film:

1. Top of the LCD
2. Battery
3. Palm rest and touchpad
4. Touchpad buttons
5. Bottom part of the chassis

For this thread, I'll be talking about numbers two and three.

Let's get started.

You will need:

• DYI kit from BestSkinsEver.com. I purchased 5 12"x14" sheets
• Microfiber towel and Windex
• Sharp, preferably new, razor blades. I used standard blades and an Exacto knife for tight spots
• Squeegee. I used an applicator from one of the Zagg kits I purchased for my Blackberry Bold 2. I also used a credit card, which is my preferred tool.
• Pan or plate
• Water
• Dishwashing soap, one drop
• Scissors or a paper trimmer (http://www.xacto.com/Product/26232)
• Nail clippers
• Screw driver set
• Patience and caution

The kit:


The material I used in this project works best using a wet application method. This is very dangerous and could cause hardware failures if any of the electrical bits get soaked.

For this reason, I recommend removing the palm rest before applying. It's too risky with the way it is attached to the keyboard.

I've shown how to disassemble the Z1 in my unboxing thread, but I shot a video this round. It is pretty boring, but it illustrates the importance of printing a photograph of the bottom and placing the screws in the right place as you remove them.

Z1 Disassembly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClLINvVXsg4

Now, on to the palm rest. This is more difficult. You will need to exercise extreme caution or you can snap-off some of the plastic fasteners. Thankfully, I haven't broken anything the two times I've done this.

I took a video of this process as well. I got stumped late in the first video (when I go uhhhh) but got it removed it in the second. Once again, keep track of the screw placements. They will be under the fuzzy tape.

Removing the palm rest, episode 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IewT5WPKNfo

Removing the palm rest, episode 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_nHGZIL860

Removal pics:






The bezel removed:


As I mentioned before, I've removed the palm rest twice. My first attempt was decent, but the corners were all frayed and it was bunching up where the bezel meets the aluminum housing. This irritates me to no end.

Before pics:


The nice thing about the film is that it can be removed cleanly. It won't leave any residual adhesive and the adhesive it does have won't damage the paint on the palm rest or dork up the touch pad. If you need to remove it, just go VERY SLOWLY.

Partially removed protective film:


Nice and clean bezel after I removed the film:


Now, on to application. The film is best applied wet so you will need to get a tray, plate or some other container for the water. Before you fill the container, put one drop of dish soap in. This assists with lubrication. You only need one drop, any more and you might get some cloudiness after you apply the film.

There are two schools on how to cut the blank film sheets.

1. Measure the part you want to cover and attempt to cut it for an exact fit. This is rather difficult, but it is doable.
2. Cut the sheet larger than the part, apply the film and wait for it to dry. Cut it to fit with a very sharp razor blade. Sharper the better and the film will rear the blades down very quickly.

For the palm rest, I'm using method two.

Let's do this....

Steps:

1. Cut the film sheets to size with VERY sharp scissors or with a paper trimmer
2. Cut your fingernails. This sounds silly, but any dead skin under your nails can leave blemishes when you apply the film. I've had it happen.
3. Spray a little Windex on a microfiber towel and thoroughly clean the palm rest. This is critically important.
4. Spray the part with compressed air and insure there isn't any dust on it.
5. Wet your fingers in the soapy water
6. Run the film sheets through the water with the backing still applied
7. Remove the film backing
8. Run the film through the solution and shake it a little bit to remove excess water
9. Lay the film over the part, aligning one corner then smooth it out over the rest of the palm rest
10. Adjust the film's placement, it should move somewhat freely. If it doesn't, you can remove the film and re-wet it to start over
11. When you have it placed, use a credit card or some other object to act like a squeegee. Work from one end to the other. The goal here is to remove air and/or water bubbles. There will be a gap around where the touchpad meets the palm rest plastic. This is normal and you won't be able to remove them until everything dries off.
12. Let the film sit for about 10 minutes, then squeegee again. Do this a few times, but be patient. Also, dip your squeegee in the soapy water to lubricate things on the top.
13. Allow the film to set for at least an hour.
14. Start cutting off the excess film with the razor blade. Obviously, be careful you don't cut into the plastic.
15. Reinstall the palm rest.

Here's a video of me applying the film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0Qv1WDgQuE

You will still see some bubbles for about 24 hours, but most of the will clear over time. I usually keep a credit card around to press down any air pockets for a few days after application. This is how you will close the gaps between the aluminum housing and touch pad.

After I executed the steps above, I cut the excess film and tucked it under the bezel. This seems to have been successful. It kept the palm rest from bunching up when reinstalled.

Pics of the bezel underbody:


Final product:


I also did the battery a while back. Same process


That's about it folks. Hopefully somebody will find this useful.

 

Well done, Zoinks. Thanks for the guide.

 

+1, thx for the guide but i dun think i have the balls to open my lappy up....

 

+Rep! Wow, that is incredible how detailed and thorough you made this guide! Fantastic job, thanks.

I too am a little worried about opening the laptop. Do you think it is still possible to add the film on the palm rest without disassembling it? I probably wouldn't use nearly as much water as you did. Maybe use a spray bottle for some minor lubrication?

 

I just purchased the film from BSE for the BB Bold 2 and the 12"x14" for the Vaio Z! It will take around 7 working days for delivery I think?

I'm still a bit weary about opening up the laptop especially to that extent, but I'm just going to be extra careful and cautious I guess.

@ZoinksS2k: Any other advice or guidelines that I can follow in the process of opening up the Z & application of the film?

 

well done ZoinksS2k I wonder if a leather rap would be a good alternative. Again well done.

 

Be patient and go in with an expectation that you will likely need to do it more than once. Practice.

I don't see why not. There has been mention of faux CF pattern as well. I think the printed pattern stuff is tacky, but to each their own.

 

All the stuff I posted about is well and good, the final product will never be a clean as a professional, precision cut kit would be.

I would love to see a InvisibleShield kit for the Z1 series. I've contacted Zagg to request they make one, but haven't recieved a response.

To show them that there is a market for such a kit, please vote in the poll.

 

@ZoinksS2k: I ordered 2 sheets of the 12"x14". Say I made a minor error, I can still readjust/reuse the sheet right? How bad must the error be until I must use a new clean sheet?

 

You can remove the film for about 15 minutes after application. Too much past this, you will damage the film while you remove it. The stuff gets sticky pretty fast, which is a good thing.

You might try cutting off a portion and cover something else for practice. An iPOD, for example.

If you are going to mess it up, it will be while you cut it down to size. If this happens, you can only start over since you should cut when the film is dry.

 

Nice work. I think I will email Zagg and point to this thread. Need one of those invisiblehshields.

 

You volunteering to send your machine in for a fitting?

 

No, I couldn't do a week without my Z

I do want one of those invisishields.

I have one on my Nokia N900 and going with a key over doesnt even leave a scratch.

 

Don't think I'd do it either, but they will require one to collect measurements. I'm unsure how long this would take.

It does look like they've changed their policy since I last checked. You pay for shipping to them, they size and apply the kit and ship it back to you at no charge. After that, they can cut as many kits as people order.

I've always wondered if home users could do the same thing with a Cricut machine or something.

 

Actually, I am ordering one and ship it to the home in the u.s.

Since I am not going back to the states until May 21st,
I may be able to ship my vaio z directly to ZAGG for measurement,
and ask them to ship it to my home address.

Maybe it is a bit sketchy cause I should be the one who opens my VArgIOn z.

anyways, where to should I ship it?
I am seriously considering to do so as they will apply one for free and send it to me.

Thanks,

 

Don't think it works that way. I'd recommend contacting them first.

 

yes, i sent them an email; waiting for the response.

i will let you guys know how things go.

 

i believe invisishield is the way to go, put it on my palm rests & lid about a couple weeks ago, but if someone is looking for an alternative, just stumbled upon this

http://www.sgpstore.com/product_info.php/cPath/23_37/products_id/1303

 

I'm assuming you cut the pieces yourself. This correct?

Also, I think clear is the best option. It a matter of taste, but I like the default colors.

 

yup, purchased one for the macbook air (barf) since it was close enough in dimensions and just trimmed to make everything fit

 

Very nice. Can you post some photos?

 

link? need some pics too Thx

 

Lucky for me, my Bold 9700 film from ZAGG arrived before the big film from BSE, so I tried installing film on Bold 9700 first and i shall say... it is extremely tedious and annoying. I only managed to install the top part, screen, and buttons. I give up on the rest of the curves and edges.....

I'm still waiting for the film from BSE but now I'm kindda nervous and hesitating to install it on my Z palmrest.... It was annoying

 

Bigger sheets are easier to work with. The corners of phone/ipod/zune kits are tough.

 

link? need some pics too Thx

 

oh sorry, i somehow missed the first request for pics.... i did a poor half arsed job applying it, and while most bubbles went away after a couple days, the sections where i tried a little too hard to force them out looked stretched. I couldn't stand it, so i removed it :\ ordered another so that i could attempt once again with a little more patience this time!!

ZAGG | invisibleSHIELD | Apple MacBook Air 1st Gen/2nd Gen Cases, Covers, Shields, Skins, Invisible Shield

you can see it's pretty close

Air = 12.8 x 8.94
Z11 = 12.4 x 8.3

once i get the new sheet in and properly apply it, i'll get some pics up. It's probably cheaper to buy sheets and cut them yourself, but eh, i had a 50% off coupon from Zagg

 

tell me about it, especially if you're a perfectionist like me... I found Zagg's film cut isnt very precise, some part are a few mm longer or shorter. Corners are also a b***h to handle.

Wouldn't Z palmrest also be hard seeing as you have to precisely cut it? how did you overcome the rounded corners on the palmrest?

 

You can see in my pics how I wrapped the corners.

Unfortunately, looks like it won't be a perm solution. the parts I tucked in have stretched and there are gaps again.

I think you need to cut it to just cover the top and leave the corners alone. There shouldn't be much wear on those sections anyway.

I do have a concern about custom kits. Since most of them require a wet application, the palm rest will be dangerous. The likelihood of water getting in the chassis is high if you apply it with the machine assembled. Removing the palm rest is something the average Joe shouldn't do.

Of course, this was the case with the classic iPODs and phones as well. I guess letting it dry before powering on would be ok.

 

I did open up my old SZ just a few days ago to replace the harddrive so I wouldn't consider myself as an average Joe no more!

However I'm still pretty nervous as opening up a $2900 laptop is a big deal. Just wondering though, won't opening it up void the warranty on the laptop??

I failed on applying the film on my Bold 9700. I only did the screen and top part, I'll leave the rest to whenever I have spare time and feel like keeping myself occupied for hours.

Also this is a little sidetracked but would you be able to provide a reason to why my SZ trackpad just stopped working? I read somewhere It may have been caused by static built up. In the past it was intermitten, but now it just totally stopped working. At first I thought it was loose cabling inside , but when I opened it up I didn't spot any loose cabling (although I didn't look too much into it)

Occasionally though, my fingerprint sensor would pop a "bad read" warning even if nothing is touching it (more reason to believe its caused by static). Sometimes it even said USB device not recognized and the fingerprint sensor just stopped working for a while until suddenly it started working again and I wont have any unrecognized device in my device manager.

I'll consider your advice to just cover the top part of the Z palmrest and not to worry about the rpunded part and the edges. It may look somewhat cheap though, it will seem as if I just stuck some stickers on it. (It sort of lok like that on the Bold 9700 because of Zaggs not very precise cutting)

 

Opening the chassis will not void your warranty. Not sure on the trackpad

 

I've had the film for around 2 - 3 weeks. applied it to my iTouch, e72, and 9700. Yet still don't have the convidence (and time) to remove and apply it on the palm rest.... =(

 

@dliem I too was also hesitant about the palm rest, but I decided to try to do it while the palm rest was intact. Instead of drenching the film into the solution, I used a mini spray bottle filled with the solution instead.

I used a ruler, graph paper, and razor blade to TRY to get the right measurements for the palm rest. I KNOW this is a half attempt and sloppy... but in the meantime it serves its purposes. Here's what the palm rest application looks like without taking it apart from the laptop:

 

Not too bad. Should serve the purpose.

Don't be afraid of putting the stuff on the trackpad. It doesn't affect the function at all.

 

To practice, I installed it on my SZ's palm rest (I consider myself pretty experienced in dismantling the good old SZ) it turned out really nice and good except for the trackpad part. at first i put it on the trackpad but then there's air bubbles at the edges of the trackpad (the edges between the trackpad and palm rest) so i decided to cut it open.

It turned out really nice clean and sleek. Next time ...... going for the big Z

edit*: i think it is better to apply it while the palm rest is off, that way u can apply it to the very edges of the palm rest. I did that for my SZ and the fit is almost perfect I shall say. Z is a very sleek laptop its a bit of awaste i think if the film makes it look less sleek because the edges are visible.

edit**: I just did it!! it looks great and it covers the whole palm rest perfectly. the only query is there are some er.... minor air bubbles ,its not really visible because of the colour of palmrest but its visible under direct light. and there are some air bubbles on the edges between trackpad and palm rest. should i be worried? it wasnt all that hard after all

 

Most, if not all of the bubbles will disappear over the next few days. Only reason one would stay is if you caught some dust under it.

On the palm rest, if you wait for a few days, the gaps around the trackpad will also subside.

 

Hey guys,
I applied the skin as instructed but i broke the keyboard connector on the palm rest. I was super careful but I wasn't used to the latch kind of connector, i thought it was a pull out and I snapped it, I can't turn it on anymore.

I'm so disappointed at myself.
Anyways I'm going to send it in for repair, here is hoping they cover it, if not i'll let you know what the bill is.

So to reiterate, BE SUPER EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA careful with they keyboard ribbon, the brown latch comes up , not out.

PS. this is like the millionth time i've opened a laptop so not the first, dumb luck. Poor Karma.

 

Just "wear" your computer like your jeans and embrace the scratches and scars that give it the uniqueness!
(See Wear Your Fiat Like a Pair of Old Jeans | Cadalyst)

 

Oh no, mfpreach.

Were you able to find a replacement cable on ebay?

For anybody else attempting the removal, here's a vid of the disassembly:
YouTube - Sony Z11 Disassembly
Skip to about 4:30 for the cable removal.

 

The cable didn't snap the port on the touchpad board did (the brown latch and the side of what it goes into) . I sent it off to Sony on friday, I'm assuming they are going to charge me a lot of money so I'll let you know the cost so you can post my warning story on the front page hehe.
I just want my baby back! I'm sure you can all empathize with this.

 

ZoinksS2k
ZoinksS2k, please tell me how to disconnect/connect the cable right.
On yours disassembling move you just pull blue ribbon. I can't see what
you did with connector. Thanks.

 

It just pulls out, slide it back

 

Then I can't imagine how mfpreach broke the connector.

 

Mine didn't pull OUT a latch opened up. I pulled it out and it came off of its housing and the pressure broke on side of the connector, then I snapped the brown latch trying to get it back on but then realized that it won't because half of the housing is gone. The reason i'm pretty sure it doesn't pull out is that is the type of connector I am used to but this was not that.

It was very frustrating as you can imagine. Like I said, I have worked with opening laptops for a long time, I have opened a macbook pro many times, ibook, acers with no issue. The acers and the macs both slide out they don't have latches that flip open.

Anyways i'm perplexed by the whole situation. I was especially careful when zoinks said be VERY CAREful with the keyboard connector and I still broke it. Maybe I am totally wrong, who knows.

 

I think I misunderstood AGabi. There is a smaller cable with a blue plastic strip that allows you to remove the palm rest.

The keyboard-side of the cable is a ZIF connector. Raise the brown latch and the cable should pop out.

The mainboard connector is the one you have to pry off. I do it along the horizontal axis. I've done this probably 15 times since I've had the new Z.

It is fragile, to be sure, but all internal connections are.

 

ZoinksS2k
You understood me right. I asked you about smaller cable with a blue plastic strip. What I have to pull out brown latch on the connector, blue plastic strip ore plastic strip and brown latch together? I damaged the palm rest surface then deleted a factory plastic stickers. I had bought new palm rest and plan to replace it at near future.

Please, paint with arrows how to disconnect the cable and how to open the connector.


mfpreach
Had you any problems with small plastic clips? Don't worry so much! I hope you will get one's own notebook very soon.

 

Yeah i'm not crazy,
I pulled the brown latch instead of raising it, as I said I was used to the pull out kind which are much better ;p. Dumb noobish mistake, thats why i'm so upset with myself.

AGabi: Never had problems with clips in the past just this one!

 

Mine is not like yours, mine has a latch that opens, that appears to be the pull out variety.
I wish I had yours, I wouldn't have broken it if I did.
EDIT: This is what I/We have, minus the latch that clicks in. That isn't a pic from my laptop but I found it by googling it.

 

To anyone following this thread.
The part the repair center needs to fix this issue is backordered so I'll have to wait awhile.

I'm not sure if I have to pay yet, but its eithar a. less than $350 or b. free . Crossing my fingers for option b.

 

I think only a. and it will be costs about 200$+(30-50$work), If only 2 connectors damaged.

 

I am thinking they will replace the whole touchpad board but who knows, I highly doubt they desolder components on this stuff.

As for cost, how do you know? You deal in Rubles!