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Apr 06 2005
Martin Fields Screen Protector Review
PSP Hardware Review | Screen Protector
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| Summary: Make sure you install it perfect on the first try...
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You'll see a lot of people say that Martin Field's screen protector is the finest one available. But most reviews of these types of product's fail to give you clear information about the pros and cons of these things. While MF may be better than 95% of screen guards, my personal experience is that claim only applies to picture quality. However, I am still waiting to find a screen guard that is #1 in terms of easy installation, which none of these brands seem to have mastered.
So far I have tried the $5 pelican screen guard which I purchased along with my PSP, my Best Buy was really pushing these and it was cheap enough. DO NOT BUY the Pelican screen guard. It installed fairly easily, actually easier than my Martin Field's product, but it greatly reduces screen clarity, the edges and lines of images get dark and jaggy with this thing on. I was greatly surprised by this because I thought these things were supposed to maybe improve and not reduce picture quality. The distortion on the Pelican product caused me to immediately rip it off and go online to buy Martin Fields. When buying ANY of this type of product, try to find out where it stands on picture quality. The only brands I know that get good marks for this are MF, Hori and Brando, with others YMMV.
Martin Fields took only 3 business days to arrive after ordering online here. Ordering process was smooth and delivery was fast, no complaints there.
Package was very bare, instructions minimal, but they do have some decent videos on the website showing installation and how to remove bubbles, but neither process is as easy as they make it sound.
I had previous experience applying these screen guards on my GBASP and the Pelican one mentioned above. Still, I had tremendous difficulty getting the MF protector on correctly and continual attempts simply ruined the screen guard to the point I am about to throw it away. Here's my experience:
I followed the instructions and applied the film to my PSP and then went about pushing the bubbles out with a credit card.
However, as I was getting rid of bubbles (not as easy as advertised), I noticed a fleck of dust under the screenguard. CRAP. Now I have to try to carefully peel back the screen, use scotch tape to pick up the dust then reapply the screenguard. Sounds simple and I watched the video, right? WRONG. It was tough to pull the film back up using tape as they instructed (took several tries), plus when I pulled it back up, the entire process of removing the dust with tape just made the whole thing worse as I'd put fingerprints on the screen, would have to use the microfiber cloth to wipe that, all the while trying to remove tiny dust particles AND make sure NO MORE DUST gets on there. Perhaps I am clumsy, but the whole thing just seems impossible to do without f'ing it all up.
Ok, some of you are probably saying, MF says this thing can be washed and reapplied, so why don't you do that? Two problems: washing doesn't work and reapplying causes the whole remove dust death loop described above to happen again. First of all, I couldn't wash the thing. MF says "run under tap water". I did that and all I got now is a piece of plastic with water streak marks on the sticky side that don't rub off, and if they did rub off, you'd probably cover the thing with dust particles.
MY BASIC LESSON ON ALL SCREEN GUARD PRODUCTS: If you can't get it on right with the very first try, you are screwed.
Currently, my PSP is bare, I am going without a screen protector on it at all. Why risk scratches? So far, I've been pretty careful with it, and no scratches at all. I've read many places that scratches can be repaired with various cheap products to make the PSP look new again, as well as people who have removed the faceplates discussing that in the worst case, a damaged face plate could be replaced and perhaps some are developing custom faceplates for the future. Think what you will about that one.
In any event, I may try the Brando, or I may just keep it naked and invest in a logitech or Brando case and just try to stay careful with the unprotected screen. I'm just tired of wasting money on these plactic films, as inexpensive as they are, just too frustrating to apply.
Best Buy or EB or some other store should offer a "Professional Installation" service for this type of product and charge like $5. It would be worth it.
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Comments
i have had the same problem. i went through 2 already and now waiting for my brando screen protector to arrive. currently as of now the psp is bare. i am being very careful not to add anymore scractches to it. yeah, i wish we could get someone professioanl to do it. i would definitely pay someone else to do it.
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I bought a HORI for $5 and putting it on got hundreds of little bubbles. So I followed the directions of pushing out the bubbles and in doing so...some dust was on the screen so i got a hairline scratch on my screen...hard to see unless you look with certain light, but still pi$ed me off. I am going with no screen protector because i dont want to risk another scratch.....I usually treat all my stuff very carefully anyways.edited: Apr 08 2005
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You can wash the MF to get rid of whatever fingerprints you get on it during installation.
DO NOT use any kind of cloth on the adhesive side of the overlay - just use tape or rinse it. It can be a real process, but one trick I've learned is this:
1). Turn a hot shower on in your bathroom for 10 minutes and let the room steam up.
2). Turn off the hot water and close the door, leaving the room to cool and the water vapor to settle. About 15 minutes.
3). Make sure your hands are washed and dry. Take your shirt off (I know, just do it). Go in. Close the door.
4). Wipe PSP down with LINT FREE cloth (must have - camera supply if needed).
5). Inspect the hell out of the screen. ANY particles will get trapped. Blow on it with canned air if you have it.
6). TEST ALIGN the overlay a few times to get a feel for where the corners reach to.
7). Peel a LITTLE off one end of the overlay and align it. Then pull it off while pressing down the MIDDLE of the overlay. This keeps bubbles from forming in the middle and makes them easier to press out if needed, later.
8). Once it's on, DON'T press down anywhere else yet. CHECK for particles. Use the edge of the removed backing sheet to pry it back up if you have to, and get particles or air bubbles out. DO NOT use a finger or even your fingernail.
9). After you have confirmed no particles under it, start working the air bubbles out gently by pushing them toward the nearest edge of the overlay.
...Hope this helps.
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Really thin surgical gloves might help, but I find I can't do the really delicate manipulation of the edge of the overlay with those, so I just make sure my hands are as scrubbed and oil-free as possible.
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Pixelator - thanks for the tips, but doesn't it strike you it shouldn't have to be this hard? Imagine if they put your recommendations on the web page where they sell these, they'd be lucky if anyone bought one. Must be the price, at such a low price-point, they must not care or think people will ask for a refund, I know I won't bother, so they basically conned me out of 15 bucks (12 plus shipping). Kinda clever marketing...
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This is how it is with the really clear acrylic neutral adhesive screen protectors (passive, not an active or permanent type that leaves residue). I haven't seen any like this that go on any easier. The cheaper, easier to install ones are invariably inferior in terms of transparancy.
I think that most people who are discerning enough to go to the trouble of ordering a Martin Fields overlay are generally capable of putting them on correctly. It's more a matter of being careful and some preparation -- the actual application is the simple part.
...And if you screw it up, you wash it and start over. Why ask for a refund when the product works? I agree they could use a better walk-through instruction, but other than that - they are simply what they claim to be.
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Any washing tips then? When I washed mine, the sticky side got incredibly streaky and it won't get clear again. Still have it in the drawer. I found their claim of wash and reuse a big selling point, but it also seems like the most misleading feature.
On the other point I disagree, I think they aren't described accurately enough. I don't blame them, however, it's called marketing and happens every day to trillions of products.
I'm not that disgruntled or angry with Overlay/Martin Fields, I just wish I had gottent this thing to work properly. And I don't believe mine is an uncommon experience. Alas, I have no data on whether or not I'm just in a minority of stupid people whose dexterity can't finagle these things.
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Honestly, I haven't had to wash mine. Did you use any kind of soap or cleaning agent? My understanding was that you can rinse them off. If not, then I agree, that's a drag. I've seen quite a few posts about this on PDA websites, but I can't link any at the moment.
Sorry you've had a bad experience - You could try to get them to send you more.
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I just looked at mine again and the streaks aren't as bad now that it's dry. I might try this one more time, I think I might try covering the adhesive side of the protector in tape as well as the face of my psp and see if that cleans both further, peel the tape off and try your bathroom procedure. If that don't work, I guess I'll just live with no protection.
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I myself have installed a screen protector. I got a bunch of trapped just particles and I must be honest with you all. Yes its sucks but its a whole lot better than not having one. After u got the screen protector on u don't have to worry anymore about scratching it. I just figure I can scratch the out of it and when its time to change it I will do it right. I can put it in my pocket worry free without a case. It was worth the money however going without is alot worse because changing the face plate u will have the same problem of trapped dust.
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i had the pelican screen protector as well, but its not really that bad.......except for the first time i cut into the packaging. i cut about 1/16 of the protector off like an idiot.
so then i bought a hard plastic case for the PSP, once again made by pelican. i wouldsay these are more useful, especially when protecting from the sun. except my friend got his chocolate hands all over it,forcing me to temporarily remover the visor. turns out that if u screw and unscrew the thing too much........it breaks
just like you guys, my PSP is all bare and im considering a logitech case or a decal girl skin.........which one is better?
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If Pelican's protectors were glossy-finsihed, they'd be 100% perfect!
They are a dream to put on due to the stiffness - 100% no bubbles.
The matte finish does diminish picture quality though, so that's it's only problem.
Too bad - if they made these glossy, I'd become a dealer!
SB
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has anyone tried putting this screen protector on while having a decalgirl skin on? do they both fit well together?
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