Results of Shieldzone invisibleshield (screen protector) on X60 tablet

I was afraid that the screen of my new X60 tablet would get scratch. Dust and fingerprints tends to appear on the screen in a very short time and microscopic sludge can get embedded under the pen tip. Unless you change the tip ($$), one day it may scratch the screen $$$. In the beginning I used a commerical spray and microfibre cloth to keep the the screen clean. But after a while it became a daily hassle and I figured it would be best if I get a screen protector.

After searching the web for vendors, I settled on Shieldzone invisibleshield beacuse I want the tablet function to work with the shield on. I also based on these criteria

• 30 days money back gurantee – in case the tablet function didn’t work as advertised
• Tough, scratch proof
• Lifetime gurantee – when I sent for servicing, I can just remove out the shield and send for a new one (ie long term cost effectiveness)

So here goes the steps that I took (take note of the MISTAKES that I made)

 

1 – Count the components

Shown here is the cut to size shield, the tube they send the stuff with, the small solution spray, the plastic scrapper and the instruction card. You will also need a lint free cloth to absorb the solution later.

 

2 – Clean thumbs = clean shield

Watch the installation video on the vendor website, read all the steps needed because if you dont’, things will mess up. CLEAN your hands, get an extra person to help you (VERY IMPORTANT), and have a dust free, clean environment to work with (see big mistakes below). Also make sure you take out the battery and DON’T turning on the laptop as you may fry your laptop.

I clean my screen 3 times over, ensuring that all dust, smudges and impurites are removed. Shieldzone will not give you a free replacement if you screw up with bubbles/impurities trapped underneath.

3 – Aligning the shield onto the screen

Spray your fingers with the solution, peel the shield completely off the protectiive backings and spray the sticky side with the solution. At first I was worried that the solution will go under the side of the screen and go under the circuit baords (and fry them). Look at the diagrm below and you can see how ‘wet’ it can be. Don’t worry about using up the solution, I used a lot and at the end I still have half a bottle left.

My experience is that TAKE YOUR TIME during the alignment of the screen, this stuff ‘cure’ slowly (24 hours and more) so make sure you align the shield correctly. The shield that came was exact size so if you don’t take the trouble to align it, you may leave some hairline gaps on one side and an unsightly extra protrusion on the other side.

I started with the shorter edge thinking that it would be easier to align (BIG MISTAKE). After fumbling with my partner, we can’t align the four corners. I restart the alignment by starting with the LONGER side first, then get your partner to hold it down while you align the other side.

When finally aligned, use the black plastic piece and scrap the excess soluton from the center towards you. I found that human hands  are better in this direction rather than pushing the plastic away from you. You can also see better and soak up the excess solution with the lint free cloth. Rotate the laptop when completed one side, then scrap into another edge.

4 – What to do with trapped bubbles?

Based on shieldzone literature, small bubbles will work themselves out and disapper over the next few days. Shown below are 3 so called small bubbles around 2mm in diameter. They are near the latch and I scrap them out as I didn’t want to take any chances.

5 – The edges are the most difficult

Due to the physics, I found that 3 corners of the shield can go down easy, the last one prove a bit of a problem. Shown here as white patches on the top right corner and near the top left where bubbles are trapped. I found an effective way by using short back and fro scraping move (see movie attached below if can be view  Note(Background noise is my wife trying to pacify my crying baby son).

  http://vid84.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid84.photobucket.com/albums/k24/Ideasmiths/Properwaytoejectthebubbles.flv

).

6 – Big Mistakes

Somehow, some specks of sticky stuff ended up on the wrong side of the sheild. Once they are there, no matter how I try to pluck it, scrap it or rub it, it won’t go away. It spread to a wider patch as shown below and I had to stop before the thing grows bigger.

Finally after 20 over minutes I got no choice but to let it reside there. My heart ache thinking my viewing would be spoil for the rest of my century…..

Luckily after 24 hours of curing, the white patch diminish and now become hardly visible.

Note: Emphasize here again to work clean.

7 – 24 hours curing time

I convert back to laptop mode and turn the thing over so that the battery side is facing up. This also means that the screen is facing UP so that gravity don’t play a part during the curing process. At intervals of 1, 2 and 3 hours I open it up, look for any bubbles and scrap it out. At this time, the solution starts to work it’s chemistry and you can see that it become ‘sticky’ when you push the bubbles towards the edges. After the first few hours, it becomes impossible to push the bubbles trapped in the center of the shield as it starts to leave a ‘trail’ when pushed.

8 – Visible Wet Envelopes

After the 24 hours curing time, I press the power button and crossed my fingers hoping there is no more wet solution inside the screen that can fry it. When it booted up the results was okay

• the multiview  looks just as good
• the multitouch work just as bad, in the begining the touch panel is not senstive to the touch anyway, even with calibration. Once the shield ‘dries’. it seem to exert some pressure at certain fixed point on the touch panel rendering it useless. Anyway, i use the digital pen. If you need touch panel, then you are out of luck.
• the screen is TOUGH. I tried to scratch it with my keys, a screwdriver and other hard objects. There is no visible marks. Just note that the shield is scratch resistance but the LCD screen itself is crackable. Don’t be over enthusiastic and hammer the screen.

My installation turns out to be not perfect as an envelope of uncured shield shows up on the bottom right (covering 25% as shown below). It’s the faint triangle white stuff starting from the pen. I don’t know how it happens because you can’t ‘see’ it during the curing process. I couldn’t get rid of this one becasue the edges are already ‘cured’ and set.

9 – Post 24 hours curing time results

On day 1, I tried to write with the tablet pen and the results was LOUSY. There was so much resistance that I can’t hardly write well(estimate 65% effectiveness), I need to press VERY hard to make any scribbling shows up. I wrote to shieldzone and they informed me that the rubbery feeling is normal and will go away in the next few days. They also promise that if it didn’t work out, just ask for a RMA and shieldzone will refund the monies.

On day 2, the writing improves to 75%

On day 3, the writing improves to 80-85%, especially over one corner of the shield where the curing started, I guess physics dictates that the curing will spread from one edge to the other.

On day 4, I can write without fear on my screen and the writing shows up well. However, you can still feel a bit of rubbery because that is the nature of the shield (it is elastic). Overall, my tablet can function well now.I have to disable the touch panel as it screws up my tablet pen. I only use the pen to write.

 

10 – 7 days after the curing

Wonders of wonders. I am happy to report that  "bubble envelope" is starting to shrink! I think the ‘wetness’ inside is drying up (somehow) and there are pockets of cured areas as shown. What started out as 25% "bubble envelope" has now shrink to around 18%. 

 

11 – 9th day after the curing – the bubble has definitely shrink faster and faster. I guess I will stop at these last two pictures as it has become boring to stare at paint drying (ha ha).

 

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