Productivity Portfolio

The best way to protect your investment is with a quality screen protector. These have advanced since the days when I would apply Scotch Magic™ Removable Tape 811 to the Graffiti area of my Palm. Today's screen protectors are precision cut to match the screen dimension of your device. Also, the good ones have a textured finish that prevents the stylus from slipping and improve handwriting recognition.

My preferred screen protectors are WriteSHIELD" by PPC Tech, Inc. This company makes a reusable screen protector that is more durable and resistant than others I've tried. They are slightly thicker with more of a plastic quality than vinyl. I suspect the difference in materials explains the more expensive price.

At first, I worried the WriteSHIELD would be too thick and stiff for my Tungsten T3 and would get caught in the sliding mechanism. Like most of my fears, this one never materialized. The precut form fit nicely leaving a few millimeters between the edges.

PPC also offers two versions of their screen protectors. One version is called C^2. I'm guessing the name stands for crystal clear. The other version is called AG, which is for anti-glare. Because I often use my PDAs outside, I chose the AG version. If you use your device only indoors, you'd probably prefer the C² version as the screen maintains its original brightness.

Like many vendors, PPC Tech sells the protectors in a kit. The standard kit for $26.99 includes:

Applying the protector was simple using the instructions. And if you must know, I didn't follow the instructions precisely. The company suggests the best environment is a steamy bathroom because they tend to be dust-free. And if you do make a mistake, it's very easy to reposition the screen protector.

About the drawbacks to these protectors are price and availability. If you go to your local computer retailer, you're apt to see screen protectors for considerably less. Although these may look enticing, they don't provide the same quality and protection. Many of these screen protectors aren't precision cut for your device, which leads to misaligned protectors with air bubbles. I've also used some that made the screen so dull you didn't want to show your PDA in public.

While you can't get these screen protectors at your local retailer, you can purchase them online from several sites. This does add shipping and handling costs, but I think you'll find the screen protectors worth the extra cost. They've also outlasted any of the previous makes I've tried.