plastic on back of screen

[Namrepus221]

Is this plastic really necessary? My brother says it helps protect the back of the screen from the slide out mechanism.

I'm asking because some of it is starting to come off through regular use and I'm wondring if it's gonna be a problem if it is necessary and it all comes off.

 

[tec1ra]

I've had mine off for a few months, no problems.

 

[allanlaw]

There's a huge old thread on this topic - let's just say it contains a lot of difference of opinion.

 

[Namrepus221]

Yeah, I just found it.

I'm just one of those guys that likes to keep their stuff pristine. Mostly the lack of a "remove this" in the manual.

If anyting, can anyone recommend a replacement for it? I read in the older thread that some people started making them, but i'd like a recommendation on a trustworthy place first.

 

[Arsonman]

On my D1 I removed it. When I got the D2 there was an extended tab on the plastic to actually remove it. So I say go for it.

 

[ajacques002]

To me, the sliding mechanism seems smoother with it off. I think motorola intended the user to remove it.

 

[johnlgalt]

Here is something to consider.

Our phones have no fans installed to keep them cool.

They rely on passive cooling. Passive cooling is achieved without the use of devices such as fans or water pumps to keep the components cool. Your phone is one beast of a device in terms of the electronics it contains, and even at stock voltages, if you do enough things that require a lot of CPU (and / or other IC) power, you're going to need to dissipate that heat.

If you look carefully at the back where said plastic comes attached, you'll notice that it is metal. Metal is a good conductor of heat. However, plastic is not as good of a conductor, and will help 'insulate' all of that metal.

Basically, what I am saying is this: leave the plastic on and take your chances with the heat build-up - or remove it and not.

The choice is yours.

(I have no real scientific data to back this up, other than my knowledge of the phone as I have been using it for the last 9 months, but I can say this:If it were meant to be permanently left on there, it sure as hell would be a lot tougher to take off!)

 

[Psychokitty]

*forehead-smack*

Not again. lol

 

[Psychokitty]

...The CPU is in the screen?

 

[johnlgalt]

I *did* say other IC as well.

 

[Thornfullessrose]

Here is something to consider.

Our phones have no fans installed to keep them cool.

They rely on passive cooling. Passive cooling is achieved without the use of devices such as fans or water pumps to keep the components cool. Your phone is one beast of a device in terms of the electronics it contains, and even at stock voltages, if you do enough things that require a lot of CPU (and / or other IC) power, you're going to need to dissipate that heat.

If you look carefully at the back where said plastic comes attached, you'll notice that it is metal. Metal is a good conductor of heat. However, plastic is not as good of a conductor, and will help 'insulate' all of that metal.

Basically, what I am saying is this: leave the plastic on and take your chances with the heat build-up - or remove it and not.

The choice is yours.

(I have no real scientific data to back this up, other than my knowledge of the phone as I have been using it for the last 9 months, but I can say this:If it were meant to be permanently left on there, it sure as hell would be a lot tougher to take off!)

Very profound!

 

[Namrepus221]

I am well aware of how heatsinks work (I acctually made that mistake on my pc once and forgot to remove the plastic from it before putting the thermal paste on it and on the processor)

Mostly I was asking because asi understood it, it was there to protect the back of the screenhalf from being scratched by the metal clips.

Thanks for the input guys.

 

[defkorn]

Mostly I was asking because asi understood it, it was there to protect the back of the screenhalf from being scratched by the metal clips.

I've had the plastic off my screen since it launched back in November, and haven't noticed any negative effects. Since I started using Swype about 6 months ago, I rarely ever slide the phone open now. I do see "tracks" where the clips have rubbed against the metal backing of the screen. I imagine this would just wear out the plastic that was previously there, making it more difficult to remove as it'd be in pieces. I agree with johnlgalt, if it were meant to be there it wouldn't have been so easy to remove.

 

[takeshi]

I have no real scientific data to back this up, other than my knowledge of the phone as I have been using it for the last 9 months, but I can say this:If it were meant to be permanently left on there, it sure as hell would be a lot tougher to take off!

You're making a huge assumption that products are perfectly designed and manufactured.

I've certainly had pieces of products that came off despite the designer's intent.

Don't most manufacturers also clearly mark the "remove me before using" pieces?

In any case, there's plenty of existing discussion on this for those that are really interested in reading up. There's nothing conclusive one way or another and experiences with removing the plastic depend on who you talk to.

 

[gnath9]

Is this plastic really necessary? My brother says it helps protect the back of the screen from the slide out mechanism.

I'm asking because some of it is starting to come off through regular use and I'm wondring if it's gonna be a problem if it is necessary and it all comes off.

a good old fashion coin flip can solve lots of problems. lol... (just kidding)

I've had the plastic off my screen since it launched back in November, and haven't noticed any negative effects. Since I started using Swype about 6 months ago, I rarely ever slide the phone open now. I do see "tracks" where the clips have rubbed against the metal backing of the screen. I imagine this would just wear out the plastic that was previously there, making it more difficult to remove as it'd be in pieces. I agree with johnlgalt, if it were meant to be there it wouldn't have been so easy to remove.

me too !!! not a single problem.

 

[Turdbogls]

the chick that set my phone up took it off for me on day 1...she said she left hers on and it started to come off and "clog" the sliding mechanism. i took her word for it and let her do it.

 

[JTforPink]

I noticed this when i first got it and assumed it was supposed to be there. After reading this threat though I took a closer look at it. There's a flap (part of the plastic that stick out farther than the rest of the "rectangle" that is not attached. it looks like those tabs that you pull in little battery operated toys to easily remove the plastic. I'm pretty sure it's supposed to come off.

 

[Psychokitty]

Oh for the love of God! The plastic is MEANT TO COME OFF!
The last thread on this was ******ed, too.

-Yeah, they designed the Droid with Gorilla Glass to protect the front of the screen and a vinyl sticker with no adhesive on it to protect the back.

This irks me like people that buy cameras, phones, clocks, etc, and never peel the protective vinyl film off the screen.

 

[Borntu]

The plastic protector on the back of the screen is removable, and should go to hell.

 

[Lock-N-Load]

I took mine off and did 1 of these in the first month

 

[Thornfullessrose]

I took mine off and did 1 of these in the first month

Wow, people put stuff on the back of it like that? Seems cool, but would in some weird unexplainable way bother me. Ha!

 

[geekabilly]

I took mine off and did 1 of these in the first month

Same here -- since December -- hard to believe this discussion continues...