Protecting Your Laptop Screen

The screen is the most frequently damaged part of a PDA and often a laptop. Accidents can result in all sorts of damage, including crushing, cracking, scratches, and electrical component failure. A good case protects your screen from crushing and other damage, but to prevent scratches you should consider a removable protective film.

Protective films cling to your display and protect your screen from scratches. They are particularly useful with PDAs because many PDAs require you to touch or tap the screen with a stylus. Protective films are inexpensive, removable, and can extend the life of your screen. If you decide to use protective film, look for the following features:

- Use film that is at least 0.25mm thick. Thinner film does not last as long or provides as much protection.

- Look for antiglare film. This makes your screen easier to see in bright light.

- Film with an anti-ultraviolet light coating protects your screen from damage by direct sunlight.

- Many films are also dust-repellant, a nice feature because LCDs invariably attract dust like a magnet.

Using a protective film helps extend the life of your LCD screen. Other steps that you can take to protect your screen are the following:

- Don't point at, poke, or tap a laptop screen with a pen or sharp, pointed object. I have watched an individual furiously tapping at an LCD to point out a mistake in a document, puncture his screen, and ruin it. Now this isn't easy, but it can happen and if it's your boss, don't laugh (trust me on this). Of course, you can tap a PDA with a stylus, but don't use any thing hard or metallic, and be gentle.

- Keep the LCD screen out of direct sunlight. LCD displays deteriorate when exposed to UV light. This shortens the life of the screen and reduces picture quality.

- Don't place heavy objects on top of your screen, or your PDA for that matter. Doing so may crack the screen. Don't place heavy objects on top of a closed laptop either, as this may also damage it.