Customer Reviews

Palm 3177WW Screen Protectors Multipack

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

While the price is pretty good, these are significantly more difficult to install than most of the pre-cut screen protectors. Having to cut them out is annoying, especially as small errors in sizing can make them not fit.

Worse, they're just *too* adhesive. I had to try three different times before I got one installed well enough to be usable, and I still ended up with a few trapped air bubbles which were impossible to remove. And you won't reuse one; if you have to peel it off, you might as well just toss it. I found installing two different models of pre-cut screen protectors to be much easier... no cutting, no air bubbles, perfect fit.

The other significant difference is the feel. Palm's screen protectors have a somewhat "soft" surface and feel more like the original screen; most other brands have a harder surface which is glare free, but also make writing slightly more difficult.

The price is hard to argue with, and if you use multiple Palms it's a lot easier to keep track of just one package of screen protectors. But it'll probably take a few tries to get one to fit, and it'll be sheer luck if you can get one installed without any trapped bubbles.

I own two Palm devices. The precut screen protectors I've tried sometimes don't fit and are often, in my opinion, obscenely overpriced.

This package represents a barely reasonable compromise between price, convenience and usability.

The price is great.

The convenience however is marginal. You get a sheet that has the outlines of most popular Palm devices printed on the back. The object is to cut along the outline of your device and, voila, you have a screen protector that fits.

That's the idea --- the reality is different.

The outlines, at least for my two devices, are dimensionally accurate along the vertical dimension IF you cut precisely along the outside perimeter of the outline. Got that? You must cut on the outside of the line. Cut along the middle of the line or on the inside of the line and your finished screen protector will be too short along the vertical.

Worse, the horizontal printed outlines are too small. Cut along the outside of the horizontal lines and you wind up with about 1/16th of an inch too little on either side.

Fortunately I had a rotary cutter available, the kind used by quilters and craftspeople. I wouldn't want to try cutting these with scissors.

The adhesive is just about right to create a good bond with the screen while still having enough give to allow for removal or repositioning. (By the way, a wooden toothpick works well for lifting applied screen protectors. Just be careful.)

In short, the Palm screen protectors are needlessly frustrating to prepare and install. Once down, they serve the purpose and the price, compared to the competition, can't be beat.

Palm really owes users of this product an apology for the poor printing of the template outlines. There's no excuse for this slovenliness.

Jerry

These screen protectors are great! I was really worried after reading some negative reviews about this product, and almost bought a different screen protector (for about half the price of these, but you only got one). I'm glad I didn't. These screen protectors are easy to install, I had no problems with bubbles, and if they ever wear out, I have 12 more! Yes... you have to cut them to fit, but the guides are easy to follow. Simply find the pattern you need and cut along the line. Now here is the tricky part... do NOT peel the entire protector off the sheet! THAT is how you get bubbles! Peel just alittle bit of the protector off the sheet and start at the top of your palm. The sheet is sticky, so take your time placing the sheet. It will determine if your protector will align correctly when you make it to the bottom of your screen. There is a piece of plastic (similar to a credit card) in the box. You are going to use this to start at the top of the screen, and push toward the bottom, slowly pulling the protector off the paper and installing it bubble free as you go. Do this slowly so that if you get bubbles, you can reapply that section to the paper, and fix the problem right then. I imagine if you pulled the entire protector off the paper all at once you'd have a sticky mess, and lots of bubbles if you managed to get it on your screen at all. If you look closely at the directions you'll see a diagram showing the process I just described. It's easy! If you follow my directions (they are a bit more descriptive than those on the box), and use the diagram, you will not be disappointed. It's a great value!!

As some previous reviewers have noted, the size when cut might be slightly smaller than your screen, for my TX it was 0.5-1 mm. However, unless you actually intend to write in the outer 0.5 mm of the screen you will hardly notice it.

The application is as difficult as it gets. My tip is to use a credit card, or similar, as help. Apply it at one edge, and then use the card sliding over the screen protector as you apply it, in order to remove any bubbles.

The feel is great when writing on it.

I chose this product over the $12.95 boxwave protector, because I am a cheapskate (and proud of it). I have not tried other screen protectors, so I am basing my review totally on my experience with them alone for my T|X. I am totally happy with my purchase and do not regret purchasing them, but the saying, you get what you paid for definitely applies here somewhat when it comes to ease of application. Let me list things to consider.

1. They are not easy to apply as one reviewer stated, because if you think 'easy' means done in less than one minute and mistakes can be corrected then it's not easy. I messed up my first one :p, so I had my husband who has more patience and good with his hands to do the next one. BUT, I believe I would have been able to successfully apply it on my second try after learning what not to do. Be very careful about dust, hairs, etc. - that's what messed up my first try.

2. Yes, listen to the reviewer that said follow the directions - peel off little at a time and use the card that's included. You're lucky if you got zero bubbles, but if you get small little ones, don't fret. After my husband applied the protector for me, there was still two little bubbles bothering the hell out of me. I use the cloth included with the package to gently smooth it out. It did get smaller, but didn't completely disappear. I gave up and was satisfied with the results anyway. I left it overnight and used it the next morning, the bubbles were gone. I guess it settles a bit after awhile, but I would guess it depends on the size of your air bubbles.

3. Don't buy them if you don't have sharp scissors or the patience to cut them. I wouldn't recommend cutting them exactly so it fits the screen without the edges showing. It makes it harder to peel off and having little extra space gives you some leeway for mistakes. The template for the T|X was perfect for me. If people read the description before purchasing, they knew they had to cut them to size. So, it's ridiculous to complain about having to cut them.

FYI, I thought the reviewer Bob Manson was most helpful and accurate :) Bottom line - I'm only rating them 4 stars, because of the difficulty I had in applying them :P But, perhaps, the price makes up for it. Remember - patience and steadiness - if you don't have them, don't purchase these protectors.

These screen protectors are entirely worthless for the following reasons.

1. Not sized correctly. Ok... its not all that difficult to cut it to size. But when you do so it's impossible to get the darn thing off the paper backing without smudging.

2. Way TOO sticky. These things pick up everything and it won't come off. That includes rouge hairs, dust, even oils from your fingers.

3. Nearly impossible to install without air bubbles.

4. The above complications make the product worthless because the "protection" causes so much screen compromise that a few scratches on the actual screen would be far FAR preferable.

Try a different product or just be careful. Anything is better than this.

Whatever you do, don't buy this product. Don't even accept it as a freebie. Palm are trying to cut corners with this dreadful idea. The protectors are nothing like the old ones, which were made for your specific palm. You'd be better off coating your screen with bits of sticky-tape!

"The Perfect Installation"
Note: If you decide to follow my instructions YOU must be willing to take your device apart (This may void your warranty), if you use this method please read all of the instructions before you proceed.

What I did to place the screen protector without any problems (with the coverage size, bubbles, and scratches): 1.I took my Palm Tungsten E2 apart (if you do this be careful) by using a hex screwdriver (Save those screws in a safe place). 2.Once I had the complete screen "unframed" I cleaned it and placed the whole screen protector (I mean the whole screen protector) slowly starting from the bottom using the cleaning cloth as a squeegee instead of the squeegee itself (its really scratches the screen!), pulling back on the protector if it formed any bubbles. 3. Once I was done I did not have any obvious bubbles, then I used the cloth and squeegee (with the cloth covering the squeegee) to somewhat "force" the bubbles out. 4. I used scissors to trim the sides, try not to cut the very thin connection that controls the "touch screen", and please don't use an "X-Acto Knife"; you will probably end up cutting that connection. 5. Put your device back together, carefully (it's kind of hard to do unless you're careful, especially with a Palm device. 6. Calibrate the touchscreen on your device. And now you are done.

My review of the product:
If I had to choose between something like a one per package kind of product and Palm's 12 per package screen protectors, Palm's Premium Screen Protectors Multi-Pack would be my choice (actually was). First off, there is a template on the back (which I didn't use), I tried it that way and it didn't really work as well as my other method. Second, it comes with a squeegee card and a cleaning cloth. Third, it is Palm Screen protectors. The bad things are that it has printing on the left and top sides of the protector, not enough to affect viewing on the screen, but enough to discourage use for anything else that is larger than a Palm screen. The Protector is: 3 1/16"x3 3/4", the actual usable area is about: 2 5/8" x 3 1/2". So you can still use it for any other thing. Second the protectors scratch very easily, but not enough to affect viewing (unless you're outside or near a strong source of light. Overall, these Palm Screen protectors are the best choice for use on a Palm device or any other PDA, it is better to buy 12 at $20 USD than it is to buy 1 at $20 USD (such as some other companies that make them re-usable, because they get scratched anyway), besides what's more expensive to replace, a Palm screen or the Palm itself, or a screen protector?

Apart from having to cut out the required size - I had no issues sticking them onto my treo 650. The protector didnot effect the sensitivity of the screen one-bit.

Very nice product!
I have purchased screen protectors in the past that prevented using the stylus on the screen they were so rigid and thick. These are very nice to use, and have caused no issues with stylus use, I also like the large size that you can cut to fit any device you desire.