ViewGuard Anti-Glare Matte Screen Protector Review Discussion

When it comes to modern notebooks, no single feature is more liked and simultaneously disliked than the glossy screen. When you're in a retail store shopping for a new laptop chances are you probably think the laptops with the glossy screens look cooler and more up to date. Unfortunately, when you bring that new notebook home you quickly discover that "cool" glossy screen also makes it almost impossible to see what is on the screen under bright sunlight and causes mirror-like reflections under indoor lighting. ViewGuard comes to the rescue with its Anti-Glare Matte Screen Protector.

Read the full content of this Article: ViewGuard Anti-Glare Matte Screen Protector Review

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Nice review. But how is brightness/contrast/viewing angles affected after applying the screen protector?

 

Viewing angles are essentially unaffected by this product. You lose a little brightness so if you like bright screens you'll need to turn up the screen brightness a little compared to using the screen without the matte protector.

Contrast remains good and I noticed some slight change in colors, so if you are a graphic artist or photographer who cares about color accuracy you will probably need to recalibrate your screen with a colorimeter like a DataColor Spyder after applying the screen protector. That said, most people probably won't notice the minor change in color.

 

I hear that with a lot of other anti-glare films it makes the pixels not as sharp, and grainy looking. Did you notice this?

 

Were you able to get this thing on without any dust under it?

 

I mean, it looks like it works, besides the whole "making the whole computer blurry" aspect of the program. Not the screen. but the physical computer. Must be some new type of matter that was just discovered.

 

Aren't you supposed to be reviewing this laptop instead of putting stickers on it

 

I'm also curious about the grain effect. From what I've read, all direct application screen protectors add grain or sparkle, so I'm wondering how this screen protector does in that regard.

 

Yes, but it wasn't easy. It required multiple cleanings of the screen and several applications/removals/reapplications of the screen protector.

If the one corner that was bent during shipping didn't prevent the bottom left corner from sticking correctly then the final test application would have been fine with no dirt/dust particles under the screen protector and no bubbles.

The grain/sparkle effect is there, but it wasn't what I'd call obtrusive. If you've looked at most matte/semi-gloss touchscreen convertible notebooks/tablets then you probably have an idea what this screen looks like with the protector on it.

Again, the major benefit is not having mirror-like reflections stare back at you while working or playing a game and not having glare from light sources shine into your eyes.

 

We already reviewed the laptop used in this review ... a first gen M11x. Our review unit of the second gen M11x with Core-series processor is incoming.

 

Yup, I can confirmed this.

About the air bubbles, all of the annoying bubbles gone within a week of applying it.

 

I'd have to say the second photo didn't really look as sharp. As a long time ThinkPad user who recently switched over to a glossy screen, I have to say I don't mind the glare. Occasionally, it gets mildly annoying, but the quality of the screen overcomes it. Glossy or matte, give me a good screen and I'm happy.

 

I want to buy this, but I have one question:
1. Is this sticker custom cut for the alienware m11x, in the pictures it looks like they are shaped like the m11x screen which has a unique shape on the top edge?

 

No, the ViewGuard matte screen protector is not custom-cut for the M11x. If you buy the 11.6" (16:9 screen ratio) protector from the ViewGuard website it just fits over the screen ... not the black frame around the screen.

Dell offers a similar matte screen protector for $30 which is supposedly custom-cut to cover the entire M11x screen area including the frame ... with holes cut out for the webcam and the microphone.

A2G Anti-Glare Screen Protector for Alienware M11x Netbook Computer : Monitors | Dell

 

How effectively do these compare to the matte screens of business line notebooks (that personally I still limit myself to because of annoyingly distracting glossy-glare reflectivity not to mention cheesy looking oily fingerprint smudges)?

Do you think the resolution-pixel density of screens that the anti-glare protector is placed on could make a difference to the overall result (e.g. I've noticed the actual diffusion layer more on higher resolutions-PPI produce more of a "dry" looking matte effect)?

{I've only installed screen protectors on handsets like the 3GS but wonder if they are good enough for notebooks}

 

You say you managed to get all the bubbles out? You must be superhuman!

I once struggled with one of these for what seemed like ages and I basically came to the conclusion that it cannot be done without leaving some bubbles.

The problem with the bubbles is not the air, but dust. When a speck of dust lands there during the installation, the game is over: you need to remove the screen protector, clean it, and reapply. There's only so many times you can do it before the screen protector gets slightly damaged and the corners start sticking out, etc.

Have you ever installed a screen protector on your cell phone/digital camera/GPS/etc? Do you remember how hard it was to get it perfect? The surface of your laptop display is easily 10-50 times greater, so you do the math...

There's dust in the air, in your hair, in your clothes... Are we supposed to shave all hair and strip naked before installing one of these ? I think that in order to have any reasonable chance of success, you need an industrial-grade cleanroom. At the very least, if you want a realistic chance of getting it right, order not one, but two-three protectors, because you are unlikely to succeed with the first one...

 

Yes, dust and air bubbles are the two biggest problems when applying any screen protector.

There is one additional installation method that works but I did not mention it in the review because it can DAMAGE YOUR NOTEBOOK if you aren't careful and or lucky.

The other method (which is NOT a recommended installation method from ViewGuard and I only mention it for the brave/stupid) is to lay your FRESHLY CLEANED notebook screen completely flat (screen side up) in a relatively dust free environment (no fans or air vents moving air and dust in the room) and then apply a film of isopropyl alcohol on your screen.

This is the dangerous part, because if you create a pool liquid on your screen the liquid might get past the frame of the screen and damage electronics. As soon as you've made a film/shallow pool of isopropyl alcohol on the screen you can lay the screen protector down and move it into the perfect positon (it floats on the film of isopropyl alcohol so you can move it around without sticking). After you're happy with the position of the screen protector, take a credit card and squeeze the alcohol and air out starting from the middle and working your way to the edges ... be careful to use a clean microfiber cloth to soak up excess alcohol as it squeezes out from behind the screen protector.

If it's done right then you should end up with a screen protector with no air bubbles or dust particles. This is the same method used to apply vinyl decals to cars so that you can position them without sticking to the car until you have the decal where it needs to be. This method is obviously safer with car exteriors since you aren't risking getting a fluid on sensitive electronics.

Again, if you decide to use this method for applying a laptop screen protector you do so at your own risk ... but it has worked for me.

 

A simple tip I read for preventing dust is to apply the screen protector in a humid room. So turning on hot water in your bathroom and letting it steam a bit will get rid of all the dust in the air and you can apply the protector without fear.

 

Sounds like a great product to hawk on infomercials to half-asleep brain-dead ppl at 2am still watching TV.

 

I just received my one of these, and I'm trying to work out if I've applied it wrong - getting a lot of sparkle, and a lot of blurriness. Have I accidentally covered it in honey, or is this just what it's expected to look like?

 

We need a review of a glossy anti-reflective screen protector, IMO the best of both worlds.

 

Yeah a review would be great!

 

I tried them on M17x-R1&R2 as well as Photodon and 3M filters/films.
They can never be compared to proper built in filters.
They all have some significant graininess and loss of sharpness.
I wish there could be a good AG screen shield, as have personally, wasted about 500$ on trial and error.

 

So basically, this: PixelBright LCDs is my best bet?

 

i just ordered one to use as a screen protector (my screen already has an anti-reflective coating). we'll see how it goes.

 

Let me know. Thanks!

 

i haven't received it yet, but now i'm wondering:

1. what happens if you apply it on a screen with an anti-reflective coating (for use as a screen protector)? will the display get blurry? will the coating come off if you remove the protector?
2. what are the long-term effects? does the adhesive get sticky and messy? does the plastic turn yellow? does the protector become harder to remove over time?

i'm having second thoughts about applying it.

 

NO it wont get blurry. It is a screen protector. It wont make your matte more matte. Matte is matte, but it will make a glossy screen less reflective.

 

Ordered one for my Sager 9280.
I can't stand the reflections when I am working in the studio at university.

Hoping this will be a good alternative to replacing the entire screen with a matte one. Will report back!

 

Let me know your experience

 

well, that was anticlimactic. the screen protector was a couple of mm too short both ways, rendering it essentially useless to me.

to anyone who might be wondering: i did do a dry fit, and as far as i can tell, there is barely any difference in sharpness.

if anyone is interested in purchasing the 11.6" screen protector, send me a pm.

 

Good that there is no difference in sharpness!

Sucks that it was millimeters off... makes me worry about the one I ordered...

 

Sounds lke this is the only way to get it bubble-free..

 

Received mine a couple days ago and took 15min to install. Patience is key.
No bubbles on my Sager 9280.
Makes a world of difference too, cut down pretty much all the glare.
No more searching for a matte LCD!

 

Great to hear, any loss in sharpness?

 

Not that I have noticed.
A tiny bit a grain effect.
It doesn't matter to me really, my Sager 9280 screen is not that good to begin with and will all that glare gone for $20, I am happy.

 

Because of this review I purchased a ViewGuard Anti-Glare Matte Screen Protector for my Dell 15 and love it. Thank you Jerry for the review.

 

I got this for my 16" MSI GE600. The product is amazing. Either they designed this thing very well, or I was extremely lucky. I got absolutely no bubble and no dust caught beneath the screen. It looks like stock.

 

They also have a glossy screen protector:
Official Site of ViewGuard® Products including Privacy Filters & Screen Protectors for Laptop, Notebook & Desktop Computers; LCD Screens; Mobile Phones; PDAs and More)

I dont get how a screen protector would enhance color etc if applied on a matte screen.

 

Photodon and others make screen protectors that have anti glare properties but do not add graininess or dull the colors. They do allow more reflection than the matte versions, but I agree with the above posters that it is worth putting up with some reflection to get the better contrast and color properties of a non-matte finish. Some stock LCDs already incorporate such a layer in their screens.

Also, to clarify two prevalent issues raised:

1) Most mfrs make custom cut covers for virtually all popular notebooks

2) Getting the cover to install does not have to be the ordeal it has been for some. Starting with a clean, dust free room and an excellent screen cleaning with a good microfiber cloth helps a lot. if your notebook opens to 180 degrees or close, that makes it much easier as well. Finally, Photodon and others sell an installation kit, with a roller and some special fluid to lightly coat the screen with. It made it a cinch for me; got it right the first time. And btw, the air bubbles go away after a couple of days, or, if you are impatient, you can get rid of them right away with extremely arduous pressing and squeezing them out.

 

do they still ship this in a flimsy envelope? For 9 dollars shipping, I would expect more protection. They better refund me if I receive it in damaged condition!

 

Newbie - It doesn't ship in the black envelope. My order was shipped in in a brown cardboard box with the black envelope and other order contents inside.

 

Was it damaged when it got to you shipped in that way?

 

I guess i'm in the minority when I say I love glossy screens when indoors. The Dell Vostro V13 probably has the best screen finish I have seen where the finish is in between glossy and matte.

 

For a 15.6" Sager, which size should you buy?

 

Just received one for my ASUS and it was unfortunately bent slightly during shipping. I set a bunch of textbooks on it to try and straighten out the darn thing, hoping it'll straighten out and fit fine. Otherwise I'll have to see if I can get a replacement or refund.

 

I had ordered one of these off their website. They had no problem charging my CC right away, but after that, not a word. I waited 5 days and ended up cancelling. Fortunately, that was easy to do via their live chat, and I received a cancellation/refund notice right away. Still, I wouldn't do business with them again.

 

nice thread thanks for the info