• InnoPocket

• $10

• Protects screen from scratches
• Doesn't show fingerprints and smudges

• Makes digitizer a bit less sensitive

Design:
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To be honest, I went into this review expecting to not like these. I've always just put a strip of Scotch tape over the Graffiti area on my handhelds and have never had any problems with scratches. However, this won't work with virtual Graffiti, which I think will see increasing use in the future, so decided it was time to give screen protectors a chance.

And, much to my surprise, I really liked them. I tried the ones InnoPocket makes for Palm's m500 series and Sony's T series and both were very good.

I thought there would be a trade off: the screen wouldn't look as good but it would be less likely to be scratched. There is no trade off at all. I've had the screen protectors on an m505 and a T665C for a few weeks now and I often forget I even have them on. InnoPocket also makes a version for Sony NR series but I didn't try that one. I don't see any reason why it would be much different, though.

With a name like "screen protector", it isn't hard to figure out what the primary function of these things is. It is possible to get some grit on your stylus and scratch up your screen. Until now, this has mostly affected the Graffiti area, which is where the vast majority of contact between the stylus and screen happens. But, like I said, virtual Graffiti means this area is used for more than just Graffiti now and the NR series actually has two Graffiti areas, depending on which configuration the handheld is in. Having this even slightly scratched up is no longer acceptable, as it might be with a dedicated Graffiti area.

InnoPocket's screen protectors prevent any kind of scratches to your screen by completely covering it with a thin layer of plastic. If this gets unacceptably scratched, you just peel it off and put another one on. Though at $10 each, you won't be doing this every week.

This brings up the question of durability. Unfortunately, I can't give you a definitive answer. I can say I've had one of the these on my primary handheld for weeks and it isn't showing any signs of wearing out, even on the Graffiti area.

Though these are called screen protectors, this isn't the function that endeared them to me. The finish on these doesn't show fingerprints and smudges like the actual handheld's screen. If you are someone who regularly touches the screen on your handheld with your fingers, I recommend these highly.

The finish is also good for another reason. I've never liked the way the screens on Sony's models felt when I wrote on them. They are too slick. But with one of InnoPocket's screen protectors on, writing is much easier.

The closest thing I can come to a drawback is these protectors make the digitizer slightly less sensitive.

Installing these screen protectors isn't hard, but you have to do it carefully. I'm not going to go over the installation process. Just follow the directions on the package. But I will emphasize the importance of cleaning you handheld's screen very carefully before you put the screen protector on. Any speck of dust you leave on you'll be looking at for weeks or even months until your screen protector wears out. Use a cloth; never clean your screen with any kind of paper product because the wood fibers can scratch it.

Like I said, I really like InnoPocket's screen protectors. Not only do they give a measure of protection to the screen, they have other benefits, like not showing finger prints.