Outer LCD protective film?

[Goobie]

Hello,

I work in a chemistry lab and keep my T41 nearby, I noticed that in a small area right in the middle of the LCD is an area that looks like a small cluster of grey salt crystals (working in a lab it is easy to guess where they came from), you don't see it when the screen is lit, but looks like dust when it is turned off (sorry, its kind of hard to explain), and it cannot be cleaned off.

From browsing the web and the archives on this forum I see reference made to some sort of clear protective plastic covering (some refer to it as a polarizing film) that sits on the outside of the LCD. In otherwords, should I be so stupid to poke my finger into the LCD I will in fact be touching an outer plastic film and NOT the actual LCD.

Can anybody shed some light on this, confirm if this is true, and can this film be replaced? I'm not refering to some aftermarket add-on, but the factory installed cover.

thanks

[gcchatel]

I'm confused, you say outer lcd, do you mean the lcd cover (as in the top of the machine when it is closed) or the lcd screen? If you are talking about the lcd screen, the little marks you are talking about are probably created by the trackpoint. To remove them, just use a little bit of water and alcohol and rub it off with a streak free cloth. If you are talking about the outer cover, then just scrub it as well, you just don't have to be as careful there. There is no protective film on the lcd unless you put one there. The film people talk about on the forum is something that you can add to protect and give the lcd the look of an xbrite screen. Hope that answers your questions.

Good luck.

[anthony]

Right! It is an add-on fo rthe anal retentive like myself. I've been looking at a few types online. Just Google and you'll get a bunch of options. I asked in another post if anyone knew anything about or have comments/concerns/recommendations about this screen protective film? This one appealed to me for a variety of reasons. But I did not get any feedback pro or con. I will probably go ahead and order it. Figure it's a small investment to protect my screen.

With you working in a chem lab you have even more to wory about. Back in the dark ages when I worked as an analytical chemist, we used 1:1 HCl as a cleaning agent. We almost shot a mass spec due to ammonium chloride forming on the internal components. Be warned that some of those by-product crystals can themselves be corrosive.

Good luck!

[Goobie]

gcchatel, I'm refering to the LCD itself. The marks are not from the trackpoint.

So when I touch the soft LCD screen, am I touching a thin plastic see-through cover first that sits on the outside of the LCD facing me, or is that the actual naked LCD with no protection.

Seeing how soft and vulnerable the LCD actually is it would only make sense that the "factory" would put something over the LCD, something that can be replaced cheaply without replacing the expensive LCD.

This is turning out quite hard to explain

[anthony]

Not gcchatel, but hope you don't mind my posting... It is my understanding that thinkpad LCDs are coated with an anti-glare coating that is scratch resistant, but there is no protective film and the anti-glare coating is not scratchproof.

You are right, one would think that such protection would be standard. Alas, it is not the case. If damaged, you must replace the display. Some folk use a microfiber cloth to protect the screen from the keys. Others go the protective film route. Still others go commando.

disclaimer: I am not a thinkpad expert. This is just what I've gleaned from blogs and LCD care sites.

[jhonyl]

I have no personal experience with it but it is an interesting topic, so I googled a bit and here are my findings:

An LCD panel store that do repolarizaion jobs:

"Does ScreenTek repolarize scratched LCD screens?

ScreenTek does provide repolarization services for scratched LCD screens depending on quantity."

(http://www.screentekinc.com/faq.shtml)

An other store that offer such a service:
"Polarizer Replacement/Polarized Film Replacement
Scratch Screen
We use a high efficiency, anti-reflection Polarizer film. This Polarizer film is a film that is applied to the front of your screen and will give you the following advantages:Increases display contrast and readability. Images are clearer and sharper; provides deeper looking colors; permits a wider viewing angle in brighter environments; increases surface transmission; protects panels from fingerprints and scratches."

(http://www.moniserv.com/doc/pricelist.htm)

An article which has a description on how to remove the polarizing film, though for a simpler looking LCD panel : http://case-mods.linear1.org/how-to-invert-your-lcd/

The last article provide a link to polarizing film seller:
http://www.edmundoptics.com/onlinecatal ... 409058638A

Conclusion: Googling for the term "polarize film" "polarized film" and "polarizing film" give many results. There are many shops that offer to replace the polarizing film. That shows that this film is replaceable. From the film seller it is clear that the film isn't expensive ($35 for a 14.1" screen), though I am not sure that it is the same film that we have (non reflecting/anti glare) . From the instructions on how to remove the film it is clear that the job is not simple even for a smaller panel. The panel may brake in the process i.e. risk. There is still to find notes on reapplying the polarizing film, because I have seen people put films on their car's windows to make them darker, and many times bubbles form between the film and the glass. This problem may be relevant here too.


Edit:
http://www.danaenterprises.com/index_sanritz.htm

[gcchatel]

Hi goobie,
That is the lcd itself as far as I know. Well not the lcd itself since lcd stands for liquid crystal display and just the lcd would be liquid. What you can touch is the cover that keeps the liquid inside but nothing else. This cover can be cleaned quite effectively though, you just have to be gentle with it. If the marks that you are talking about really are from a chemical source, it could be quite difficult. Did you try cleaning it with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water with a soft cloth? The lcd can take some very light scrubbing and I would try that. If no luck, I would just leave it on there since getting it off might further damage the screen.

Good luck, hope you get it off.

[GomJabbar]

While I haven't tried it, vinegar can be effective for cleaning mineral deposits, and it's not so strong that I would think it could cause any damage. I would just use a soft cotton cloth dampened with it to clean the display. I would be very careful not to let any liquid to drip onto the keyboard as that would not be good.

Caveat: The above is just an opinion of mine, and I have not read of anyone trying this, but I would try it myself if I had a mineral deposit on my LCD.

[JHEM]

While I haven't tried it, vinegar can be effective for cleaning mineral deposits, and it's not so strong that I would think it could cause any damage.

NOT A GOOD IDEA! The transparent plastic covering of the LCD, the part we're discussing, would not take kindly to vinegar. If it were glass and not plastic, I'd agree with GomJabbar, but it doesn't take a Mentat to realize that's not the case.

Regards,

James

[GomJabbar]

NOT A GOOD IDEA! The transparent plastic covering of the LCD, the part we're discussing, would not take kindly to vinegar. If it were glass and not plastic, I'd agree with GomJabbar, but it doesn't take a Mentat to realize that's not the case.

Regards,

James

Hmmm.................

Take a look at this:

http://isweb.fdu.edu/computing/lcd.html

And this:

http://erms.samsungusa.com/customer/sea ... PROD_ID=-1

[redsi]

Try http://www.nushield.net

i purchased it and it's a thin layer of plastic that you insert between the bezel and the LCD.

The reflectiveness might bother you since you can see yourself on LCD. Just like xbrite. Check it out at BestBuy if you are not familiar with xbrite.

To get 10% off, enter NCLP10 when ordering.

[JHEM]

Hmmm.................

Take a look at this:

Neither says anything about applying undiluted vinegar to the display!

Regards,

James

[GomJabbar]

Hmmm.................

Take a look at this:

Neither says anything about applying undiluted vinegar to the display!

Regards,

James

True, but I was on the right track. I got the feeling from your previous post that ANY concentration of vinegar was a no-no. That I was basically a moron for considering such a thing.

IMHO (which of course, is just my opinion), even using undiluted vinegar once or twice probably wouldn't do any harm. With repeated use, that may be another story. The key word is 'repeated'. As the quote below indicates, it is the repeated use of harsh cleaners over time that will damage the LCD. Of course, some solvents such as acetone could render a display unusable with the first use.

From the link in my previous post: http://isweb.fdu.edu/computing/lcd.html
Using alcohol or ammonia - based cleaners repeatedly may cause permanent damage to the LCD. Over time, using these types of cleaners could cause the surface of the screen to yellow. It can also make the screen brittle and eventually cause cracking on the screen surface.

[JHEM]

So when I touch the soft LCD screen, am I touching a thin plastic see-through cover first that sits on the outside of the LCD facing me, or is that the actual naked LCD with no protection.

Correct. There's a clear plastic film covering the actual glass portion of the display.

It's the same for all LCD display.

Sorry for not answering this question sooner, I thought someone had already responded.

Regards,

James

[JHEM]

That I was basically a moron for considering such a thing.

If you haven't been here long enough to notice, I'll share the fact with you that I'm never loathe or too bashful to simply come right out and call someone a moron.

No circumlocution or equivocation, I just speak my mind.

I meant nothing personally negative about you in my reply, just trying to keep you in character.

Regards,

James

[GomJabbar]

No circumlocution or equivocation, I just speak my mind.

You should have seen what I started to write!

But when I saw all those feathers, I was afraid I might get scalped! Unlike you, I equivocated. I decided on the oblique repartee.

Hey, no harm done.