Thinkpads Forum

Im thinking about getting a screen protector, but before i dish out $30-$40 on a custom screen, i was wondering if its worth it or even necessary.

do any of you use a screen protector or just keep it naked?

i plan to have my thinkpad last at least 4 years. so im thinking a screenprotector isn't a bad idea, but might be overkill.

never.   i've owned a dozen thinkpads, a sony vaio, and a micron millenia transport and they've all gone naked.   never once have i scratched a screen or had any reason to be paranoid about it.

I've thought about it.

The reason being, the reports of trackpoint contact with the LCD on T61s. I haven't noticed it myself, although I just got mine, but I see it mentioned quite a bit on NBR.

I haven't shopped around, but I'm thinking of a keyboard cover too. The last I saw for my VAIO didn't "tuck in" so I passed, but if there's one that does for the T61 15.4" I'd like to see it.

my experiance with screen protectors is that often times they cause more damage than good. in other cases they are very overpriced.

Tholek wrote:The reason being, the reports of trackpoint contact with the LCD on T61s. I haven't noticed it myself, although I just got mine, but I see it mentioned quite a bit on NBR.

My ThinkPads travel in backpacks at times, and that can cause pressure on the top of the LCD, flexing it and forcing it against the TrackPoint. My old X31 got the worst of it, and had both TrackPoint and keyboard marks on the screen.

So on the new X61 I'm using a small microfibre cloth, just laying it on top of the keyboard whenever I close the lid. Cost me $1 at the local dollar store, and it's definitely not hard to remove.

tomh009 wrote:So on the new X61 I'm using a small microfibre cloth, just laying it on top of the keyboard whenever I close the lid. Cost me $1 at the local dollar store, and it's definitely not hard to remove.

hmm i might try that. i often get my laptop smashed in between two heavy books.

Two heavy (large) books is not so bad as they are flat -- they won't press on the middle of the screen.

I carry a lot of camera gear in the same backpack and that can exert pressure in the wrong spots. Hence the microfibre ...

while I know I will take care of my t60 very nice, I cant say the same for my friends. I always get a little queasy when they have to start pointing at my screen. So to remedy this situation, I bought a nushield screen protector for my t60 and I ABSOLUTELY HIGHLY RECOMMEND it. It goes on easy enough, no glue, and keeps the screen looking pretty good. But you lose the matte finish.

reason buying protector:
when i take my laptop to school, there are lot of guys don't know how to respect other's properties. most guys I have met, they always use their finger tips touch my LCD which makes me very mad, but I dont wanna be mean to them, so i get protector.

ducky2802 wrote:while I know I will take care of my t60 very nice, I cant say the same for my friends. I always get a little queasy when they have to start pointing at my screen. So to remedy this situation, I bought a nushield screen protector for my t60 and I ABSOLUTELY HIGHLY RECOMMEND it. It goes on easy enough, no glue, and keeps the screen looking pretty good. But you lose the matte finish.

I'm used to a glossy screen (VAIO) so that wouldn't bother me. Is nushield considered the best brand?

I had my T61 for only a few days and already I noticed the trackpoint imprint on the LCD. I only carried it in my backpack maybe a handful of times, never with weight specifically on the middle of the lcd, just a book or two flat against the lid. I was able to just wipe it off, but I can easily imagine the mark becoming permanent over time.

Anyway, I think we're talking about two different things here.

1) A clear cover to put over the LCD itself, ie NuShield

2) A thin cloth/fabric to put on the keyboard when you close the lid.

rukiri wrote:I had my T61 for only a few days and already I noticed the trackpoint imprint on the LCD. I only carried it in my backpack maybe a handful of times, never with weight specifically on the middle of the lcd, just a book or two flat against the lid. I was able to just wipe it off, but I can easily imagine the mark becoming permanent over time.

Anyway, I think we're talking about two different things here.

1) A clear cover to put over the LCD itself, ie NuShield

2) A thin cloth/fabric to put on the keyboard when you close the lid.

Nah, I got that, but a screen protector cover should alleviate permanent imprint damage to the screen, shouldn't it?

ducky2802 wrote:while I know I will take care of my t60 very nice, I cant say the same for my friends. I always get a little queasy when they have to start pointing at my screen. So to remedy this situation, I bought a nushield screen protector for my t60 and I ABSOLUTELY HIGHLY RECOMMEND it. It goes on easy enough, no glue, and keeps the screen looking pretty good. But you lose the matte finish.

that's why you slap them
nobody touches my laptop screen

I use a 3M screen protector/privacy filter....With the 15.4 screen people can read my stuff from two rows down on an airplane...

I have a screen protector on my old Dell 600m, and it's always been good. I can clean it without being afraid of using a alcohol or some such thing, I prevent the keyboard from scratching the screen, and the two times that I have removed it, the screen underneath it was spotless, like brand new.
I bought it from Dell.com, and it was only like 12 bucks.

So, I think they are good. As a matter of fact, I have been looking for a good one for my T60.

This is only me second real laptop (or you can include my old 486-based laptop), but I didn't have any problems with my screen thus far. I've thus brought it across the East Coast (NY -> Florida and back, x2), so its been crammed in a small carry-on bag with my essentials. There's been no imprinting on the screen, especially not from the trackpoint, but this could also have to do with which pointer you're using (I use the small one with a rounded head).

i was thinking of going with the invisible shield custom protector because i already have one for my ds and my ipod. and these are the best [censored] screen protectors in the world.

they are a little more pricey, but i think its definitely worth it.
i know people will be touching my screen, and i remember occasionally wiping my old dell's screen for finger prints. so i think im going to go with the invisible shield.

unless someone has a cheaper recommendation which works just as well.

paOol wrote: they are a little more pricey, but i think its definitely worth it.
i know people will be touching my screen, and i remember occasionally wiping my old dell's screen for finger prints. so i think im going to go with the invisible shield.

One important thing to note is, pressing on the screen and touching it degrades the screen and shortens its life span... just a note. I mean, all imprints/accidents/whatever aside, I kindly ask friends and teachers to not touch the screen... a friendly request, of course.

Well, I cant say for sure if nushield is the best, but I certainly like it. I also use a vaio for my desktop replacement simply because no thinkpad could even come close to brightness output of the vaio xbrite screen! But besides that, the screen protector is very nice, and compared to the protecT brand I bought (waste of money), the $20 I spent n the nushield was nothing when I consider how many fingerprint smudges I have saved my thinkpad from. I want my computer looking nice and new even 3 years from now!

I don't like screen protectors much.

How do you guys clean you screens though?

http://www.6ave.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=MONTVCLNKIT

Works perfectly for removing screen buildup... fingerprints especially.