Review: Bubble-Free Installation With Proper Prepping
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 30, 2013
I'm going to go out on a limb and rate the Moshi Screen Protector 5 stars. I was able to install it bubble-free on my Kindle the first try. I'm a bit of a fanatic when it comes to protecting my devices from scratches, so I've performed the screen protector application routine plenty of times in the past with my other devices -- so, yes, I've had plenty of practice!The trick to a bubble free installation is prepping your Kindle to ensure that it is ABSOLUTELY free of dust. Persistent air bubbles (bubbles that won't disappear over time) are caused by trapped dust particles under the screen protector.Tips For Installation:1. Let me reiterate: It is imperative that the prepping and installation of the screen protector be done in an environment that is ABSOLUTELY free of dust. I really CANNOT emphasize this enough. The only place that's as close to being dust-free as you'll get -- unless you have access to a cleanroom -- is the bathroom. To rid the bathroom of any suspended dust particles, leave the hot shower running until the bathroom is filled with steam. The fine mist should remove any dust suspended in the air. I know all this may sound rather silly to some of you, but I do all my screen protector installations in the bathroom!Why am I making all this fuss about dust? Because it's DUST that causes persistent bubbles under your screen protector. I've used all kinds of screen protectors -- from the very cheap to the very expensive (like this Moshi AirFoil Screen Protector) -- and I've found no matter what kind of screen protector you use, if you have dust particles trapped under the screen protector, YOU ARE GOING TO GET PERSISTENT BUBBLES under the screen protector.Once dust adheres to the underside of the screen protector, it is virtually impossible to remove it. You can try to use a piece of tape to lift the dust, but it's tricky. By prepping your kindle and installation the screen protector in an environment free of dust, you're going to save yourself a lot of grief!2. Optional: If the screen of the Kindle is really dirty/grimy, first clean it a cotton ball soaked with Isopropyl Alcohol (preferably 99%). When you're done, remember to inspect your Kindle for any tiny fibers of cotton that have gotten left behind. If you find them, lifting them off with Scotch tape (and I do mean the SCOTCH brand of tape, which will not leave a sticky film behind).3. Using the included microfiber cloth, wipe the screen to remove any smudges.4. Just prior to the installation, use the included tape to lift any specks of dust. If you find the tape isn't strong enough to remove specks of dust on the Kindle (dust trapped near the edges of the Kindle can be hard to remove), use a piece of Scotch tape.5. Installing the Screen Protector: First align the screen protector with one side of the Kindle screen (left or right, depending on whether you're left-handed or right-handed), ensuring that the film is not slanted. SLOWLY lower the screen protector from one side of the Kindle, all the while making sure you carefully monitor the alignment of the film to ensure it isn't slanted. AS SOON AS you find that it's been misaligned, peel it off right away and restart the process. The film has a certain amount of rigidity to make it easy to work with. As you lower the film, push out any trapped bubbles. If you made a botch of the application, use a piece of scotch tape to pull the one corner of the film up so you can get a handle on the film to peel it off completely. Start over.A word about the price:At the List Price of 2499 (currently 1499), I do think the Moshi is grossly overpriced. However, I didn't deem it fair to use price as a factor in rating a product, so I have rated the product 5 stars based on its performance, which is as promised.---Getting a bubble-free installation takes a dust-free environment, a LOT of prepping, and a LOT of patience. Don't fret if you do get a few bubbles. If the bubbles are not caused by dust trap under the screen protector, they will typically disappear within a week or so (this applies to the Moshi as well as other brands of screen protectors). Moshi claims that these protectors are "gas permeable," which should expedite the process. Good luck.