Apple Banning Screen Protectors in Retail Stores?

[MacAddict2000]

Then why aren't 20-40% of MBP sales matte? What does a self-selecting survey prove?

Because Apple only sells the antiglare Macs through their own channel. No other retailer or online store sells the antiglare MacBook Pro. Even in the Apple Retail Stores, you can only get antiglare on the highest pricing tier for the 15" ($2349). If you want AG on the $1599 model for example, you have to do it online as a build-to-order option.

Back when matte was a no-extra charge option, the over whelming majority sold were matte. The "average Joe" doesn't really care, but he cares enough that if the price were equal, to go with matte. I have come across a lot of people who say "if I had to do it again, I would have gone with the matte." I myself said the same thing on a previous MacBook Pro of mine. Glossy was a new thing to Apple at the time and I thought it looked cool, then after six months or so, I started to regret it. Besides, antiglare just has more of a "pro" look.

 

[iMaggot]

Wow that's a dumb move by Apple, they are too power hungry.

 

[dbassett]

My guess is that they are getting a lot of support calls regarding difficulty using the devices and finding that these are interfering with the multitouch working properly. My iPhone is less adept at picking up touches when a protector is on it.

This is ridiculous! I have bought 4 3G's (not 3gs) with anti glare and they all work flawlessly. So we all pay the price for a few rejects that can't apply it without bubbles... Well it doesn't matter. 3rd parties will make the profits anyway.

 

[gibbz]

This is ridiculous! I have bought 4 3G's (not 3gs) with anti glare and they all work flawlessly. So we all pay the price for a few rejects that can't apply it without bubbles... Well it doesn't matter. 3rd parties will make the profits anyway.

Really? They decided not to carry a product in their stores anymore. It happens everywhere. No need to be so dramatic.

 

[toohectic]

Totally agree. All of the people saying, 'I've had my iPhone for 2 years with no film and the screen is scratch free' - I call bullsh*t. Take a high resolution picture at the right angle and I pretty much guarantee it'll be scratched. It sure as hell won't be perfect like the day you got it. Just because it doesn't have a huge, immediately noticeable gouge out of it doesn't mean it's not scratched.

Not mine... I've had my 3G since day one without a cover/screen protector, and I just looked at it under a strong light at every angle, and there is not a single mark on my 3G glass screen. My home button has some marks (since it's plastic) and my back has a few gouges and plenty of surface scratches, but my screen is literally flawless. I'm not saying the screen is scratch proof, since I have seen some iPhone with scratched screens (and it's obvious from the comments in this thread), but a 2 year old iPhone that has never had any protector on it and still has a perfect screen is not bullsh*t. I don't baby mine either. It goes in my pocket with my keys all the time. Maybe the fingerprint grease helps lubricate it! =)

What is the consensus on the 3G vs 3GS screen. Does the oleophobic screen deter from the durability?

 

[greygray]

This has to be one of Apple's stranger moves!

I think it's one of Appl'e most stupid moves ever. Way lame, way retarded, way stupid. Crazy shiz. What's up with not allowing people to put screen protectors? Just mad.

 

[marksman]

What's up with not allowing people to put screen protectors? Just mad.

They are going to shoot you with a bow and arrow if you try.

This is ridiculous! I have bought 4 3G's (not 3gs) with anti glare and they all work flawlessly. So we all pay the price for a few rejects that can't apply it without bubbles... Well it doesn't matter. 3rd parties will make the profits anyway.

Well I feel like us ones who know you don't need a protector are paying for the support of the rejects of the rejects who need to actually use them in the first place.

 

[MacDawg]

Wow, here is something new... people not agreeing with a simple Apple business decision... what a shock

 

[840quadra]

Wow that's a dumb move by Apple, they are too power hungry.

I would assume you have similar or stronger thoughts about Wal*Mart too.

 

[headfuzz]

I can only assume this has something to do with screen protectors interfering with that tactile feedback technology that surfaced in a patent application a while back by Apple;

and Apple not wanting owners of the next gen iPhone to erroneously buy a screen protector then generate bad PR by flaming Apple left right and centre by saying the screens are non responsive.

Beyond that, I'm fresh out of ideas and it seems a pretty silly move. I have a scuff in the protector on my iPhone 3G which is annoying at certain angles, but all I have to do is replace the protector, not the damn phone itself.

 

[Lesser Evets]

iPT/iP screen protectors are for buffoons.

I honestly have had two iPhones now (original and 3G) and really haven't needed a screen protector on either of them.

I've used my iPT every day for 1.5 years and it's flawless.

This is Apple being concerned about the perception of their product and also clearing crap kitsch product from their stores. WELL DONE!

 

[*LTD*]

I think it's one of Appl'e most stupid moves ever. Way lame, way retarded, way stupid. Crazy shiz. What's up with not allowing people to put screen protectors? Just mad.

I think you misunderstood.

 

[Kebabselector]

I don't how it happened but I managed to get a small scratch on my old 3GS, not that I care anymore as it was exchanged.

As for the protector ban, I was looking to get a Matte screen cover. Looks like I may have to try elsewhere now

 

[randyhudson]

One of Apple's smarter moves

I have a friend with a film over his iPod touch. It's ironic/moronic, as the soft screen protector looks worse after 1 week than the glass screen on my 2+ year-old iPhone (never protected).

 

[bing12345]

Or you could do what I did - I carefully cut the plastic film on my 1st gen ipod touch so that it just covers the screen. I've been using it that way since day one (I was an almost early adopter). Works just fine (and I'm betting that the ipod looks great under that film)

 

[jawporta]

Bull ****

I was just at an Apple Store today, they have plenty of screens protectors. This post is BS. Most people by anti-glare because the new Apple products are way to reflective.

 

[DaREdBaRoN]

Laminate the glass so the shards stick together? Seriously, does anyone think these protectors do _anything_ to help a dropped phone.

I put a screen protector on mine after I dropped it and got the spiderweb cracks and it did keep the glass from falling out. I just hope it lasts till july

 

[fabulicious]

I was just at an Apple Store today, they have plenty of screens protectors. This post is BS. Most people by anti-glare because the new Apple products are way to reflective.

They just announced it. Give it some time. lol

 

[applesith]

Who honestly cares? The Apple store is jut another retail store that's a dime in a dozen. It's the same thing as if Best Buy or some small mom/pop store decided to not carry a certain product. Apple isn't telling you to not use the screen protector, they are simply not offering them for sale. I don't hear people complaining about the countless other Mac accessories The Apple store does not sell.

 

[ebouwman]

I have a friend with a film over his iPod touch. It's ironic/moronic, as the soft screen protector looks worse after 1 week than the glass screen on my 2+ year-old iPhone (never protected).

Or you could do what I did - I carefully cut the plastic film on my 1st gen ipod touch so that it just covers the screen. I've been using it that way since day one (I was an almost early adopter). Works just fine (and I'm betting that the ipod looks great under that film)

So... you're iPod is 2+ years old now, in another year or (likely) less it's either going to be dead, or you're going to buy a new one because 8 gigs isn't enough storage and you're "betting that the ipod looks great".... so now it doesn't matter how well you protected it you're going to sell it now nobody's going to want it because its still 2+ years old!!!!!


I knew a guy who had a laptop and he'd left almost all the film that came on the laptop on. It was at least 1.5 years since the laptop was bought and it looked like ****. The plastic was peeling and getting dirt under it and the film on the screen (if i recall) wasn't sticky, it was a thin, stiff sheet of plastic taped at each side. He walked around with this crap on because it was protecting his laptop, and he looked like a FOOL.

My point is that people shouldn't look at iPhones or iPT's as "investments" because they're not, and anyone who thinks it is is a tool.

 

[distortedloop]

People bought them from day 1 and have never used the phone without one.

...

There was no evidence before the release of the iPhone that any kind of screen protector was necessary. I would say people who have always had a screen protector on their iphone have little to offer in this discussion other then how to potentially waste money. All they can claim is they don't have scratches on their screen, which is the same that many, and probably most without protectors on it can also say. One of the big websites even did tests with the screen and various coming items like keys and coins and such and it was never an issue.

...

Don't assume that your experience means it will never happen.

I have four iPhones. Two original models, a 3G and a 3G.

The first original model was treated with kid gloves the first month. Never anything else in the pocket with it except for its microfiber cloth. Never dropped. Never laid face down on anything. Never put in a bag, briefcase, whatever. Never put anything on the glass. Never loaned to anyone without me watching their every move.

Within a month it had a 1/4" scratch in the top third of the viewing area. I have no idea how it got there. It got an Invisible Shield after that, and so did my other 2G and my 3G. Partly for protection, partly for fingerprint avoidance.

I don't bother with one on the 3G or my Nexus One (yet), but I also don't regret the very minor costs of the protectors I used in the past.

With my first iphone, a 3GS, I initially didn't put a screen protector on it because I assumed it was highly scratch-resistant.

Then a scratch showed up a few weeks later. Then another one. Never dropped it. Never drug nails across it. Just scratches from common usage.

So when I replaced that phone, the first thing I did on the new 3GS was apply a screen protector.

Yep, exactly my experience with my first iPhone.

 

[distortedloop]

Who honestly cares? ...

Obviously the dozens (hundreds) who have bothered commenting in this thread care one way or another.

 

[ratbatblue]

Power Support non glare screen protector is the best thing I have bought for my iPhone. I guess I better stock up on them.

Me, too. It's great that so many contributors to this thread have never had or seen a scratched iPhone screen, but I've seen them, and I won't carry an iPhone without a screen protector, period. I also agree with those who've mentioned how great this particular protector is at drastically reducing the problem of fingerprints and face oil smearing up the screen. Fingerprints don't happen, and grease cleans with a quick wipe. Apple doesn't want to sell them anymore? Unless it's because they actually somehow damage the phone, screw 'em. I'll find the products elsewhere. Apple sure can make itself difficult to like with some of the things they do.

 

[distortedloop]

I have tried several screen protectors before I found one that wasn't absolute garbage. I can see why these were pulled from the stores...causing problems on multiple levels.

You can't make a statement like that and not say what brand you found to be high quality!

Also, Apple stores have fixed amount of inventory and display space.
With the iPad comes another set of accessories to sell. Tossing several of the 3rd party iPhone ones will give them room to sell more of the Apple iPad stuff.

If Apple hadn't moved all the stores to that ridiculous open look with a bunch of tables that only have a few display items on them, they'd have a lot more shelf space to stock items like this. I absolutely hate that almost anything I want to buy from them that I used to be able to walk in and grab off a shelf I now have to wait for an employee to go in the back and get one for me.

 

[bobr1952]

Well after 16 pages of posts on a topic some would think is trivial, I took my screen protection off just to see for myself how worthless or not it is.