Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 31

Is it my imagination, or are the Visor screens more prone to scratching that the Palm screen? Any comments.

Adam B

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: I'm not sure, but I see lots of lights everywhere.
Posts: 1287

It's probably your stylus. Are you using the cheap stylus that comes with the Visor?

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 31

I have had the same scratching with both the stock stylus and the PDA Panache.

Adam B

PS Please don't tell me I need to buy a Pocket PC

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 94

I'd say they're about the same too. I'm a little more aware of scratches and I'll admit the visor screen seems to scratch--well i noticed micro scratches after a week of using my pda-panache and unprotected screen. Keep in mind you could only see the scratches if you reflected it in the light.

Somebody at work got a palm v a few weeks ago, and I could already see scratches after only a few days of use with the stock stylus. They were also really light scratches.

Minh

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Boston MA
Posts: 16

The Visor screens seem much more prone to scratching. I bought a Palm IIIe a month ago. Used it a few weeks, got hooked on the PalmOS concept but wanted better, so ordered a Visor Deluxe and gave the Palm to my wife. Got it 3/30, along with a PDA Panache stylus.

After > 1 month, no visible scratches on the Palm IIIe cheapo.

After < 1 day, still on 3/30, the Visor was visibly scratched in the Grafitti area. By 4/3 it was a mess - lots of visible scratches. I complained to Handspring, and they nicely sent me a replacement via FedEx. I got the replacement last night 4/5, and started using it today.

That's right - the replacement is already getting scratched! Same problem, just as bad if not worse.

In an old thread somewhere else on this board IIRC, somebody supposed that perhaps the Visor screens are newer - more recently produced, and perhaps not fully "cured". Visors are coming still mostly direct from Handspring, as soon as they're built it seems.
While Palms, especially the older ones, have been in the supply chain and stores for a while. Maybe the plastic has to age?

That might also explain the scratches on the Palm V someone mentioned - since they're in high demand too, they're probably building them and shipping shortly after the screens themselves are made.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 43

My experience has been quite different from the earlier posts. I have had a Visor since last November--I was one of those "gotta have it freaks" that ordered the first day. I have yet to see a scratch on my screen. I did develop a cracked case, which Handspring exeditiously replaced with a new unit. I used the stock stylus for several weeks until I received a PDA Panache stylus.
I have had every Palm unit since the first one all the way through the Vx, and, frankly, I haven't been able to detect any difference in the "scratchability" of the Visor screen and any of the Palm units.
Maybe I'm just lucky--I AM careful about keeping lint and dust off the screen.
I hope I'm not the exception.

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 25

I've seen advertised on eBay these screen protector thingies. Are they legit? Would they help with this problem?

= Ruby

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Roseville, MN, USA
Posts: 161

I just got my Graphite Visor Deluxe today and the screen doesn't look any more fragile than the one on my Palm III. My Visor came with a deluxe stylus, and I also bought a pen stylus with it. I checked the tips on both and they seem pretty smooth. I may cut down a Write-Right to cover just the Graffiti area since that's the only place with any scratches on my Palm III.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 97

If you just want to protect the graffiti area, you can use 3M's Magic Tape #811 from your local office supply store. It is inexpensive and a perfect fit.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Tonka Bay, MN USA
Posts: 36

I've tried several stylus pens and found the smoothest, softest and least likely to scratch are those by Cross Pen. As much as I like the PDA Panache Trio pen including its smooth operation from switching to ballpoint or pencil, I went back to my Cross Classic Duo because of the scratching and hard surface of the PDA Panache.

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Posts: 9

I have a friend that abused a palmPilot with a solitare game and now you can see where the cards used to be. I was wise and I bought some WriteRights before I got my handspring and put them on right away. I know some people say they are expensive, but I know that my screen would get scratched sooner or later, and I think it is cheaper to buy WriteRights than a new screen (or new Visor)

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Border Independent
Posts: 69

I used a PalmV for 9 months, without an microscratches on the graffiti area. Then I used my Visor for a few days, and it started to scratch... with a metal ice deluxe stylus!

I saw how expensive the WriteRight screen protectors are (sold by VisorCentral) and got in touch with someone selling protectors on Ebay. Turns out he makes them himself out of acetate sheets used for overheads. Another makes them from lamination film. I tried the acetate. Bought the kind with a paper stuck to one side, measured the screen, drew the measurements on the paper, and cut it out. It poped right onto the screen, and seems to be working great!

Hope you all can save your screen... and a few bucks too! PS. See my posting about improving the cradle under the accessories topic.

--Superstream

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Hillsboro, OR, USA
Posts: 64

Get the WriteRights. I didn't have any bad scratches on my VDx, but saw the potential and didn't want to risk it. It was well worth the investment to me and they last at least twice as long as the literature says. I've had mine since a little after I got my Visor (11/99) and am still on my 2nd WriteRight.

I'm still thinking of ordering some better styli, just because the default one is just too light for me, but the WriteRights are required for any PDA I have or will have.