Question For Garmin G5/G3 Users

[Solutions Etcetera]

And a cool little tip for you as well

Just pulled the trigger on a G5 and have been very pleased with it… but have a concern about the soft touch screen (was hoping it would be glass like my iphone). My question is if any of you have felt the need to affix a screen protector to it (especially in Winter when you are constantly wiping mud off your ball and clubs, and may get dirt embedded in your glove or fingers).

And if so…
Which one did you use?

Do you find it has improved, hindered, or made no difference in the display visibility?

Do you find it has improved, hindered, or made no difference in the touch screen responsiveness?

Was it easy to install without bubbles and the like?


And now for a little tip. If you launch Google Earth, select GPS from the Tools menu, you can import the GPX file on your G5/G3 at GARMIN/Garmin/GPX/Current/Current.gpx into Google Earth and get tracks of your most recent golf rounds. You can then record an animated tour of any of these tracks and revisit your entire round. You can even save the track and tour (very small .kmz files) and email them to friends so they can have a virtual tour of the course you play. Pretty cool.

[slash77]

I have a G5 and i do have a screen protector on it. I just got one off ebay that fit the dimensions of the screen. I have not noticed any difference in performance at all.

[TJCDAS]

clearfreak.com

zero bubbles 3m adhesive, avoid the cling version protectors.

[Jimmy Mac]

I have the G5 and haven't used a screen protector and really don't have any scratches on the screen to speak of, despite it sliding off the cart seat onto asphalt at about 20mph. Whoops. Tough little bugger.

I generally have it clipped to a loop on my bag with a carabiner, I store it in the padded pocket on my bag that was supposed to be for sunglasses.

I have no idea if it applies to the Garmin screens, but I know Apple doesn't recommend using screen protectors for their devices. The touch screen has a bunch of tiny wires embedded under a layer of plastic or glass. The problem isn't sticking the protectors on – rather when you peel them off there's a risk of delaminating the layers of the screen and screwing up the touch sensors. I know plenty of people who have used protectors on palm devices without problem, though.

[Solutions Etcetera]

[quote name='TJCDAS' timestamp='1297574569' post='2972385']
clearfreak.com

zero bubbles 3m adhesive, avoid the cling version protectors.
[/quote]
Thanks… I have ordered one of these.

But after looking at the videos on that site I am not sure about whether I will use it. Have you removed one of these from your Garmin? I can't help thinking the upward tugging may damage the touch screen spider.

I fired off a note to Garmin, but it may be a while before they respond.

[Solutions Etcetera]

[quote name='Jimmy Mac' timestamp='1297703802' post='2976333']I know Apple doesn't recommend using screen protectors for their devices. The touch screen has a bunch of tiny wires embedded under a layer of plastic or glass. The problem isn't sticking the protectors on – rather when you peel them off...
[/quote]
You were posting while I was. Yes this is my main concern. The technology is very different between Apple's screens and the Garmin. Apple's sense capacitive discharge where the Garmin has a web with points that physically make a connection to the backing layer.

Because the Garmin's top layer is flexible, and physically suspended above the back layer, I fear they are even more susceptible to damage that the tugging of trying to remove one of these entails.

Hmmm… we'll see what Garmin says.

[Jimmy Mac]

[quote name='Solutions Etcetera' timestamp='1297706330' post='2976484']
You were posting while I was. Yes this is my main concern. The technology is very different between Apple's screens and the Garmin. Apple's sense capacitive discharge where the Garmin has a web with points that physically make a connection to the backing layer.

Because the Garmin's top layer is flexible, and physically suspended above the back layer, I fear they are even more susceptible to damage that the tugging of trying to remove one of these entails.

Hmmm… we'll see what Garmin says.
[/quote]

I haven't been too worried about my screen, especially after a drop didn't destroy it. I try to take decent care of it, but I also know that – for me – electronic devices have a limited lifespan. I've had my Garmin for about a year and a half, it's still running fine with no screen damage. I figure 2-3 years from now I'll probably be ready for some other gadget. Given the condition of the screen ofter 1.5 years, I imagine it'll still be fine after 4 years. Really, I think the biggest threat to the screen isn't during play, rather if you stick it in a pocket of your bag with a divot tool, brass brush or car keys.

[Solutions Etcetera]

For any of you that are still interested in this saga… Garmin's somewhat surprising response was:

[quote]There are a number of third-party screen overlays such as the Zagg
Invisibleshield that are virtually impervious to scratches. There is no concern about harming the device by removing the overlay.[/quote]
And in response to my inquiry about replacing a damaged screen:

[quote]The flat rate of repair for the Approach G5 is $99.00, regardless of
what repairs are needed.[/quote]
So I guess I'll put the protector I have got coming on.

[Jimmy Mac]

Alway nice to hear how these thing turn out. Good to know about the screen protectors. I'll probably leave mine unadorned, but nice to know they should hold up.

And that worst-case scenario for my out-of-cart experience would have been $99 service charge – I probably wouldn't have even sent it in if it broke, I just assume if I'm dumb enough to drop a $350 GPS out of a moving cart that expecting someone to fix it cheap isn't all that reasonable. Not Garmin's fault that I'm stupid.

[h2ohzrd]

[quote name='Solutions Etcetera' timestamp='1297541879' post='2971269']
And now for a little tip. If you launch Google Earth, select GPS from the Tools menu, you can import the GPX file on your G5/G3 at GARMIN/Garmin/GPX/Current/Current.gpx into Google Earth and get tracks of your most recent golf rounds. You can then record an animated tour of any of these tracks and revisit your entire round. You can even save the track and tour (very small .kmz files) and email them to friends so they can have a virtual tour of the course you play. Pretty cool.
[/quote]

My track was much straighter than my drives! Yeah, it is cool.

[TJCDAS]

The 3M screen covers come off easily, you just hit it with a hair dry for a bit and simply peel the cover off. These things have been used on thousands of Garmin Oregon's without issue.