Stinsonddog’s Comments on Screen Protectors for
the 8700
A screen protector is a must
for your gorgeous 8700 screen.
Currently there is a debate
going on as to which company will provide the best one.
Currently there are two
providers that people are happy with and some are waiting for another. In terms of looks the key is do you want
anti-glare or clear. Anti-glare,
does just that, but clear really allows the 8700 screen to shine. In my experience, I can handle the glare
when it arises, and I much prefer the clear ones since the 8700 screen is so
great. Assuming you have made your
choice of clear or anti-glare, your choice should consider three functionality
issues: 1) how easy is to apply, 2)
how long will it last, and 3) how scratch resistant is it and how does it clean
up? Some are much more difficult to apply than others. In terms of durability, the fit is key, as if it covers part of the silver bezel, it might peel
off earlier than you would like.
For a durable product also consider if it is sturdy enough to resist
scratches, and how well does it clean up.
Will a wipe on the pants do it?
ScreenPatronus offers
either anti-glare or clear. They
can also be found on 
too - 8700
Auction. I
have tried both and prefer the clear one. It's very easy to apply. I used a small tweezer
to pull off the speaker hole cover, and then I peeled
back the top and slowly applied it from the top down. No bubbles at all. I will report back on durability. Here is a review from one my respected
friends, Sir Barjohn:
I have tried the ScreenPatronous, the ScreenGardz and the InvisbleShield. In
my opinion, the ScreenPatronous win hands down in every category.
CLARITY:
They are crystal clear with a smooth surface that wipes clean easily. The
ScreenGardz are not as clear (slightly cloudy) and surface blemishes show from
trying to squeegee out the bubbles, the same is true for the Invisible Shields,
as it has a slight eggshell finish.
EASE OF APPLICATION:
The ScreenPatronous go on easy, are a perfect fit, easy to remove any
inadvertent bubble, easy to remove with no residue, & don't need to be wet
first. I found the ScreenGardz virtually impossible to apply and remove the
bubbles, even after days, the bubbles are still there and can't be removed. The
cut is not quite as good as the ScreenPatronous. The Invisible Shield is a real
pain to apply or remove. They are hard to remove the bubbles, and they slide
around while wet and thus are hard to position. They leave a residue when
removed.
CUSTOMER SERVICE:
All three companies provided excellent customer service and quick response to
complaints.
USE:
The ScreenPatronous is excellent with unbeatable clarity with the screen on or
off, and indoors or outdoors. The same cannot be said of the others in my
opinion.
I know there are strong supporters for each of the other screen protectors and
where the InvisibleShield would shine is in a
protective skin for the body plastic. However, the one they have does not cover
the areas most in need of protection which are the corners and edges. The large
flat surfaces such as the battery cover are not the areas most prone to nicks
and scratches. If they fix it so it covers the front and back edges I would be
more inclined to look at using it.
The
Invisible Shield is clear, and people
seem to like it, even though the application of it seems more complex, since
you have to use soapy water. They
now include a mix with your order to make that easier. Many people love this screen protector
so you can't go wrong with it either.
Just read the debate thread above to see what the supporters say.
The company that some people favor is Pocket
PC Techs. They have
agreed to make them in both the Crystal Clear and Anti-Glare Version. Some of us at the forum are really
excited about this development and are anxious to get them around the middle of
February 2005.