Recently bought a new laptop for the first time in about 8 years and I'm having a hard time trying to a screen protector (15.6 inch).
Does anyone still use these (on non-Apple / non-touchscreen devices)?
If so can you suggest a reputable seller? All I can find are listings on eBay…
The only laptop screen protectors that seem to be for sale on major sites are specifically for Macs.
Have you not searched on eBay or Aliexpress? There should be heaps online.
e.g
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/15-6-Clear-LCD-Screen-Film-Gu…
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/15-widescreen-laptop-computer…
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/freeshipping-Radiation-resist…
And uh… branded screen protectors are not that much different from generics. With branded protectors there are more features such as matte finishes, anti oleophobic coatings etc. but none of this is going to matter if you aren't actually going to touch your display.
I personally wouldn't bother. Very seldom will you actually scratch a laptop's screen — in most cases you'd outright break the screen — a screen protector won't protect it from breaking in that case.
Yup, did search eBay (see original posting) but I was looking for one of the dealers that specifically provide custom and fitted screens for other devices (e.g. Xtreme guard, Belkin or similar).
I guess they're just not as popular as they used to be… eBay it is then :/
I'm using a surface pro 3 with a tempered glass screen protector from ebay (China).
But that's a touch-screen right?
I guess if you find a laptop that has a touchscreen, they might have screen protector for those?
Look for those that have similar dimensions?
i dont think ive ever seen a screen protector on a laptop… ever
Also, the dimensions are probably bigger than an a4 sheet of paper, so you're going to have to get a pretty big customs screen protector.
Typing this on 8-ish y.o. Dell Inspiron 6400 which has a screen protector fitted :)
Maybe it was a bigger thing back then - fairly sure everyone I knew back then got one. Have laptop screens gotten more sturdy since?
I think some of the reason might be because people change laptops more frequently nowadays compared to back then as well.
Yeah I had that feeling too, even though I've just paid the same amount for my new laptop as I did for the old Dell (and they're similar in "performance for the era", i.e. lower-to-mid range models).
But still, if I had spend $3000 on something really high-end I would want a $25 screen protector!
@mad__llama: This is definitely true. I think since people tend to not buy laptop screen protector anymore, it became more profitable to just use that production line for smartphone and tablet screen protectors, who knows.
I bought a screensaver for my tablet from ebay and the quality wasn't bad, so it wouldn't be too bad.
Also, check Amazon as well, I've seen some accessories coming down to price that beats the local price as well.
I have not seen one used either or that I can recall anyway. I don't use one myself.
The reason to put protectors on phones and tablets is that they are a working surface and for a lot of users generally exposed without a flip cover.
The screens on laptops on the other hand are natively protected by its lid. Moreover unless you are using a touchscreen laptop it is not a work surface.
I too have never seen screen protectors for laptops, only decorative wraps for the lid but not the screen itself.
Why would you need to anyway?
If its not touch then nothing touches it, especially when it is closed. Phones are different as keys and stuff rubs against the screen all the time.
I have absolutely no idea why people pay thousands of dollars for a notebook with a great screen designed and engineered with precision ground glass that gives maximum transmission, colour accuracy and resistance to glare and then stick a piece of $2 plastic on it.
Do you cover your TV with a giant screen protector? What about your car? Do you cover that in plastic film to stop it from getting scratched?
Whilst you're at it, why not cover every single glass panel in your home with a "screen protector" too, they're all much more expensive to replace and much more likely to get scratched from flying debris in the wind and abrasion than your non-touchscreen laptop would ever be exposed to.
I have absolutely no idea why people pay thousands of dollars for a notebook with a great screen designed and engineered with precision ground glass that gives maximum transmission, colour accuracy and resistance to glare and then stick a piece of $2 plastic on it.
I'm not sure they still do, hence my question. A laptop my friend owned had a screen that got damaged by the keys when the lid was closed (this was years back) - clearly the tech has progressed since then…
I honestly don't understand why it has to be looked down upon?
I've seen people damaging their screens with keyboard and other junks. I've seen babies touching the screens with their bare hand, I've had cases where I touched the screen while opening the screen up etc etc. Also, you need to wipe the screen once in awhile. Some people simply don't like the idea of having their monitor exposed to potential damages, no matter how small the chances are.
Also, I think your argument fits smartphones and tablet more. Smartphones and tablet use insane amount of technology to reduce the distance between the glasses and the touchpanel. They use specially designed glasses, Corning Gorilla glasses and other glasses, that are resistant to scratches, i.e. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvRLhVBC87c&spfreload=1. The screen itself is coated with anti-smudge coatings as well which most Chinese screen protects don't tend to have. If you look at some of the expensive glasses ones, they add like 0.4mm which makes the home button further away from your finger (thus makes it slightly weird to touch it), 0.4mm on 7~8mm (being generous) is like adding extra 5% thickness of the whole smartphone onto the screen.
That being said, I do have a screen protector on my tablet (but not my phone since I couldn't find screen protector on those in store, have been using it without a case too). My phone does have a small scratch, which is amazing since I pretty much dropped the thing on asphalt several times and wasn't careful with it. So if someone who uses his phone as rough as I do can get away with only one scratch, why do people use screen protectors on phones nowadays?
I've seen people damaging their screens with keyboard and other junks. I've seen babies touching the screens with their bare hand, I've had cases where I touched the screen while opening the screen up etc etc. Also, you need to wipe the screen once in awhile. Some people simply don't like the idea of having their monitor exposed to potential damages, no matter how small the chances are.
If touching your screen is going to damage it, you probably should look at a different manufacturer. If you're talking about getting your screen dirty, it gets just as dirty with or without a screen protector.
Also, I think your argument fits smartphones and tablet more.
To a certain degree, but people also use their smartphones and tablets much more roughly than a laptop. It's very unlikely for a laptop screen to come across anything abrasive.
I honestly don't understand why it has to be looked down upon?
Because it's very silly. If you're genuinely concerned about things getting scratched, cover your car with pieces of plastic then, it's much more likely to come across abrasive material than your laptop screen. Whilst you're at it, why not cover all the windows in your house so they're immune to flying rocks, dirt and other debris. Oh yeah, let's not forget about the plates in your kitchen, better cover them up so forks don't scratch them…etc.
You get the point.
My stupid tablet did end up posting my comment as a seperate comment, so I think I might as well just write a seperate one to show it pop up on your feed. Obviously this is just my opinion. If it gives them a shred of comfort, peace of mind, why not let them do it. I don't think it is unjustified, screens do have chances of getting scratched. My opinion is as simple as that. If you go, well the chances are slim, I personally think whether someone will act upon it would be dependent on how much they will be bothered by it, if it happens.
Also, your arguments about smartphones and tablets, yes, they do get used more roughly, but, how high is the chance of the screen actually getting scratched with all the fancy technologies out there?
I personally think you are overgeneralising everything to a point of ridiculing and digressing from the poin. The point is, there are chances of laptop screens becoming damaged, some people simply like to have something that prevents that.
Your arguments about people uses laptop less roughly doesn't really apply if you start looking at how much smartphones actually have implemented new technologies like stronger glasses. Look at what they've done with the new Gorilla glasses, look what they are thinking about doing for newer screens etc. If your argument about, "it's stupid because it's not going to be used roughly compared to laptops." Shouldn't you also consider the fact that smartphones and tablets are designed with those rough usage in mind and how smartphones and tablets actually try to incorporate the best techology available to make them thinner?
My point about screern getting dirty was to show you that you do end up touching it once it awhile, it is possible to scratch it when you try to get rid of some water smudges and stuff. I personally think people can do whatever they want. Laptop screens can get scratched, no matter how small the chances are, and back in the days, people used laptops for a long time. Scratched screen does make it less appealing to look at, especially for those things that you can see the scratches easily, i.e. laptops and other electronics, Some people simply don't like the idea of leaving it to chances.
Also, if you want to go into dishes and stuff, my mother does have collection of dishes that fetches over few hundred dollars easily, she doesn't use it like those other dishes that you can replace. She doesn't have protections for them, but she keeps them somewhere no one touches and she only wipes them gently.
Furthermore cars, most scratches are not as "right in your face" as the screens do. Screen scratches can bother people, whereas scratches on cars and dishes, not so much as. Even then for those people, I think they have things like coating and wax and all sort of different things that I will never get to learn (since I am not a car person).
honestly, its not in your pocket, its a bloody laptop, you are not going to scratch it, stop being overly cautious.
When I am up in the bush, setting up for bird photography, it is almost impossible to see the laptop screen wihen the sun glaring on it.
I'd love a temporary matte protector for my laptop for outdoor use.
:)
Margaret
No lol. What makes you think Apple users use/don't use screen protectors on laptops?