Review – RadTech ScreensavRz

A notebook is a major purchase. Aside from your house and car, it might be the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought. The one thing most buyers don’t put much thought into though, is how to protect their investment. Sure you might have a case or a backpack, but have you thought about how to properly care for your screen?

The screen is the single most expensive component of any notebook, yet it’s the one thing most buyers know the least about. I can’t tell you how many horror stories I’ve heard about people destroying their displays. It could be something as bad as using Windex and a paper towel to clean or it could be more subtle like not knowing keys can rub against the display scarring it forever.

 

I’ve been recommending to people in our forums since day one to buy a micro-fiber cloth to lay down on the keyboard when you close the notebook. This will not only protect the screen from your keyboard, touchpad, mouse nub, etc; but it also serves as a convenient cleaning cloth. If you’re anything like me, a single blemish in the wrong spot is enough to annoy.

 

Enter RadTech, a company that specializes in notebook computer accessories, including the ScreensavRz micro-fiber cloth. They are largely Mac oriented, but offer several sizes, one of which should be close enough to fit your machine. RadTech sent me a black version of their smallest unit to test with my Fujitsu P7010.

 

The tube

 

The ScreensavRz comes in plastic tube that is actually a good deal of fun. Quickly pulling off one of the caps results in a loud woop” noise that’s great around the office. You can even use the tube to store M&M’s, beat co-workers or practice for a relay race. Tube fun aside, it contains the SreensavRz, instructions and an alcohol swab.

 

Not proper technique, but it works for me

 

RadTech is actually much more detailed with their instructions than I thought possible. It’s a cloth right? Just lay it down or wipe the screen and you’re done! But no, they have tips for cleaning a dirty screen for the first time, screen care and proper cleaning technique. I did find that when cleaning my small display I needed to get much less of the cloth wet than they suggested, you’ll surely find a proper balance. If you end up using the cloth a lot, it’s machine washable to extend its useful life.

 

Great coverage for my Fujitsu P7010

 

Hangs out just a little too much, but this is not a problem

 

Beyond keeping your new display clean, clear and polished, the cloth can also help heal some damage to older displays. Anyone who has keyboard rubbing or other distress on their screen can probably get a good portion of it out with this product. I used a second cloth they sent to try this out on an older Toshiba wide screen, and the cloth succeeded in taking at least a year off the age of the display. It’s not going to work miracles, but will make a significant improvement.

 

Pros:

Cheap and effective

Can renew worn displays

Does double duty to protect and clean

 

Cons:

Only four sizes will make it hard for some to find a perfect fit

 

Bottom Line:

It’s a great product that’s not very expensive. I strongly recommend everyone who owns a notebook get a micro-fiber cloth and I haven’t seen one I like more than the RadTech product. There’s no excuse to leave your display unprotected.

 

Purchase Info:

Prices range from $13.95 to $17.95 and the cloths come in four different colors. For more info visit the RadTech site, http://www.radtech.us/Products/NotebookScreensavrzPC.aspx