VPC-Z with Invisible Shield Protection

As requested, I'll share how I got my Z fitted with 3M's Invisible Shield. This material is the same material that shops use for paint protection or "clear bras" on cars. The film is fairly thin, clear, and protects the finish underneath whatever it is protecting. The quality of the film is pretty high and it's not supposed to yellow over time (not that us computer users have to worry about that since the computer wouldn't be in the sun all day like a car might). The application does, however, require a solution to be applied (in other words, the film must be wet when it's applied to the surface).



I took my computer to a local window tint shop that generally works on real cars to have my lid, and the left and right side of the palmrests protected. They used a machine to laser cut the material, however, the technician said the machine can't cut that "U" shape of the palmrest as one piece so the area above my trackpad is the bare plastic. The application went right over the indented "VAIO" area on the left palmrest and it feels like it's embossed. There was, however, a thing stuck in the "I" before it was applied so now it's stuck in there unless I decide to get that redone.



The tint shop did the three pieces (lid and two palmrests) in about half an hour and charged me $30 for the job. Generally with the application process, they will apply the solution on the surface and the 3M material but since this was a computer, he just applied it to the 3M and it's been holding up fine.



A few complaints about the material in general is that there is some slight wavyness to it like that of orange peel if you're familiar with the paint term. You only see this in the correct lighting. When it's dark it's hardly noticeable. Since the surface of the palmrest is now glossy instead of matte, sweat and other grime sticks to it and requires cleaning more often than before. It's also much more finger print prone.



The technician also didn't cut the lid straight, and the trailing edge near the webcam is slightly wavy. I have a feeling that he cut 3 sides with the laser machine and the 4th side he cut with an Xacto to try and get as close to the edge as possible.



Since I wanted my trackpad and a few other areas protected from everyday wear and tear, I bought some of the 3M material off eBay and tried applying it myself. I cut out a rectangle for the trackpad, rectangles for the left and right mouse buttons, a "U" for the finger print scanner trim, and a small rectangle atop the fingerprint scanner. I tried to get the cut as close as possible with an Xacto but some edges are slightly off. I figure I can always take it off and try a new piece when it bothers me enough, but it's fine for now. I also used a wet solution when applying it but made sure to use it sparingly. The finish look the same to that of the "professionally" finished pieces next to it. I then cut a few rectangles and attached it to the battery, and various stickers underneath the machine. The usability of the trackpad has not changed in any way, only the texture has changed. I would highly recommend feeling the material first to see if it's something you'd like using every day.



I would say that the lid looks quite nice with the glossy finish on it. Before, I had the matte prem carbon finish as the glossy is only available on the $4800 Signature preconfigured machine here in the US. By putting this material on it, the lid became a glossy lid and it really brought out the texture/ pattern of the matte lid.



As for the keyboard cover, it's a silicone cover that someone on this board showed in the cases and bags thread from Taiwan. It fits the keyboard perfectly and has protected it from the dreaded shiny keys. Most say it's ugly but I personally don't mind it. I also find it quite comfortable to type on. For those interested I got it from here: ENJOY Keyboard Protector



Pictures (click on them to make them larger) Unfortunately this forum has a ridiculously small photo posting limit:



































Here, you can see the wavyness of the image:



















Here you can see the image of the lid and how the colors and pattern is really brought out:







As for trying this yourself, I bought this material (same as they used in the shop) 12"x 24" Venture Shield Paint Protection Film clear bra - eBay (item 380255991987 end time Mar-29-11 21:45:00 PDT)

It's not awfully expensive so you can buy some and try for yourself. If you don't like the results you can try taking it to a window tinting place and have them do it.



I had the lid and palmrests installed one week after I got the machine back in November, 2010, so after four months of use, I haven't noticed any signs of wear and tear. There are a few scratches on the material, but it should be able to be taken out with some rubbing alcohol. There are only two marks on the palmrests and that's from each corner of the big rubber feet running next to the webcam hitting the film and leaving a mark when closed.



In closing, I found that the best way to combat scratches and the general color wearing off of the palmrest was to cover it with something. I think that this is the best solution on the market and it doesn't look tacky like some of the other ones available that's already precut. I hope you found this informative and if you need any additional pictures just ask for a better shot. (I can get a better camera if necessary).

Reply 1 : VPC-Z with Invisible Shield Protection

Thanks for the guide GenericSN <-- haha i just got that



my first thought: Glossy! O.o... the lid looks like the Glossy Premium Carbon Fiber of the $4.5K Signature Series model.



Does the material attract as much fingerprints as i think it does? In a few of the pics you have some tree or something reflected and i thought on first glance that it was a bump.



In any case, that looks like the most babied laptop in the world



edit: nvm my fingerprint question, i just didnt read closely enough ><

Reply 2 : VPC-Z with Invisible Shield Protection

I forgot to link this photo which was taken by a member on this forum. His is a factory glossy CF lid: fibra! | Flickr - Photo Sharing! and as you can see it looks more or less just like mine.



And yes the material does attract finger prints, streaks, etc. It requires quite a bit of wiping and the occasional cleaning with some car products. And yes the material is quite glossy.



I do end up babying this computer probably way too much. I ended up getting so worried about breaking it by bringing it everywhere that I got a P to take over most of the note taking duties in class.



Off topic: I never noticed that yours is a 192GB configuration. Did they only offer that in the US on the Z11? How much was that option if you don't mind me asking? The 256 option was $300 for me and I decided to pass on that since storage can be expanded other ways and the computer was way too expensive as is.

Reply 3 : VPC-Z with Invisible Shield Protection

I think your Z is over protected, and I'm pretty jealous. Somebody ran off with my ZeroShock case and even though it was in a padded section of my backpack it only took a few days for the lid to somehow obtain a few scratches. I think my biggest worry is the palm rests, I need to get something on those before I get these large worn out areas that I see on everybody elses notebooks!

Reply 4 : VPC-Z with Invisible Shield Protection

You want to hear something ironic, caldoer? I have a Sony VGP-SKZ1 hard case made out of fabric and leather: http://salestores.com/stores/images/...7/VGPCKSZ1.jpg and on the inside there's a small Sony tag similar to a T shirt size tag. That damn tag has sharp corners and put a scratch on my lid within the first few days I got it!



At least you're lucky to only have lost your case and not the computer!

Reply 5 : VPC-Z with Invisible Shield Protection

Quote:

Originally Posted by caldoer I think your Z is over protected, and I'm pretty jealous. Somebody ran off with my ZeroShock case and even though it was in a padded section of my backpack it only took a few days for the lid to somehow obtain a few scratches. I think my biggest worry is the palm rests, I need to get something on those before I get these large worn out areas that I see on everybody elses notebooks!

Yeah... mines got some really large wear patches (I got my Z in early May). Then again i got sweaty palms and i game a ton on these things... BUT at least i can prove to my parents i was working VERY hard at school, I got the evidence to prove it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxGenericSNxx You want to hear something ironic, caldoer? I have a Sony VGP-SKZ1 hard case made out of fabric and leather: http://salestores.com/stores/images/...7/VGPCKSZ1.jpg and on the inside there's a small Sony tag similar to a T shirt size tag. That damn tag has sharp corners and put a scratch on my lid within the first few days I got it! At least you're lucky to only have lost your case and not the computer!

Yeah... I think we should petition Sony to make the lid actual carbon fiber so that it's scratch resistant and not just plastic with some carbon fiber dust... I noticed that in my Zeroshock 3 case that the lid is starting to look a little unpolished from the wavy material in the case, or maybe i'm just imagining it...

Reply 6 : VPC-Z with Invisible Shield Protection

Mine is highly warn in the right side of the palm rest.

I don't really mind, it gives it that personal touch.

I got mine when they first came out in April.

Reply 7 : VPC-Z with Invisible Shield Protection

Carbon fiber isn't scratch resistant either. My MC3 case got scratched within the first few days when it lightly rubbed against an aluminum tissue holder accessory sitting on the island.



Ultimately what would've been nice is for the plastic palmrest to be milled from the same piece of aluminum that the rest of the keyboard surround is made from. Nevertheless, I'm studying design in school so hopefully I can be the one to make these decisions one day. =]

Reply 8 : VPC-Z with Invisible Shield Protection

Amazing!



Would any tint store be able to make a clear shield?



What exactly did you ask them?

Reply 9 : VPC-Z with Invisible Shield Protection

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeathDealer Amazing! Would any tint store be able to make a clear shield? What exactly did you ask them?

I say find out where a few tint stores are in your area and give them a call. Just ask if they can custom cut some clear bra material (mine is 3M Venture Shield) for a laptop computer. My installer said it's possible and that I should bring it in for him to take a look at. When I brought it in he said it's very doable and that they take no liability if they damage the computer during the install. Just make sure you take the battery out when you do it in case an accident does occur.

BD 5500 and WD TV Live Hub

I am trying to play mkv video on my 5500 via networked WD TV Live hub. The hub is in another room, but on my network. When viewing the hub from the 5500, I can see the files fine, but the mkv type won't play.

The very same file file will play if it is loaded on USB and played directly from the 5500. xvid/divx files play fine when done through the networked hub.

Any thoughts?

Jason

Reply 1 : BD 5500 and WD TV Live Hub

Be sure to look inside the MKV to check how the video is encoded then see if that is in your BD 5500's manual.
Bob

Reply 2 : BD 5500 and WD TV Live Hub

The file is supported. It plays fine when loaded on a USB drive and plugged into the player. Only run into problems over dnla. I read another thread that had similar issues. Only fix was to use servioo as a dnla server and use the original firmware. Twonky is what's loaded on the wd live, and no way to change it.

Where is PBC Button

Where is PBC button (trying to connect to facebook)? Am novice...is it on TV or Linksync box, although there appears to be no button to push. LED 7000 series

Reply 1 : Where is PBC Button

Cs05900,

PBC stands for Push Button Configuration, which is a option that is available on some routers.

--HDTech

Removing TV from source list

Hi, I want to know if there is a way to remove 'TV' from the source list. I don't have any equipment hooked up to the coax connector. The rest of my equipment is hooked up via HDMI.

The reason for this basically is that I have to use the Cable boxs remote and whenever I press the button to change the source, the tv cycles through the available sources and the 'TV' source always shows static. Thanks in advance.

Reply 1 : Removing TV from source list

So silly of me to not put the model # of my tv. It is the LN40A650 model with the 2007 firmware. Thanks.

Reply 2 : Removing TV from source list

K0301R,

Unfortunately, there's no way to disable the tuners for the television as an unused source. Several posts in the past few months have raised the same complaint, and I have forwarded this to our engineers. But at this time, I don't believe the television menus will be equipped to do that, even if we tried. It's an integrated part of the television and a source that is available.

Hope that helps at least explains!

--HDTech

Reply 3 : Removing TV from source list

Is there a way to remove a source that the television thinks is active even though it isn't? I originally connected my TiVo via Component 1 but then switched it to HDMI. The TV still shows Component 1 as active and places it on the top portion of sources where the other active sources are.

I can delete the name, but I actually want to mark the Component 1 source as being inactive and have it placed in the bottom portion of the source list.

Reply 4 : Removing TV from source list

I believe the only way to make an input inactive once you've hooked up a peripheral is to reset the television per the owner's manual. However, you will have to reset your channels and picture/audio settings as well.

Keep me posted.

--HDTech

Reply 5 : Removing TV from source list

I reset the television (holding down the Exit button for about 30 seconds) but the Component 1 source is still showing as an active source even though nothing is plugged into it.

Any other ideas?

Is it possible that the Component 1 source is just like the TV source? Meaning that it will always show up as active even if it's not?

Reply 6 : Removing TV from source list

You got me there. I'm going to check on Monday to see what kind of answer I can drum up from our TV experts.

At first you asked about the tuner, which I do know is not something we can make inactive regardless of reset or otherwise.

But you're saying - just so I have this correctly - is that you formerly had a peripheral hooked to Component 1, have since removed it, and it still shows as active, yes? And the Component 2 doesn't show up and hasn't had anything hooked to it?

Let me know and I'll see what I can find.

--HDTech

Reply 7 : Removing TV from source list

That's correct. I used to have something hooked up to Component 1 but no longer do. I never connected anything to Component 2.

Component 1 shows active still and Component 2 shows inactive.

Thanks for your help!

Reply 8 : Removing TV from source list

I'm glad to see this question, as I'm having the same problem with my Samsung LCD. I hope you're able to come up with a solution, as it's been very frustrating.

Reply 9 : Removing TV from source list

Have you disconnected all unused cables from the TV?? I think I had the same problem with mine, but realized I just disconnected the source and left the cables back there, once I removed them from the TV I think that resolved the problem...

As for the TV thing.... keep on them engineers Mr. Samsung.... I agree it is very annoying... maybe Samsung could program in a setting to disable the tuner, so that it comes automatically on, but the finicky owners like us could bypass it....

Reply 10 : Removing TV from source list

I have the same problem on a PN50B860 with the PC Source... and it has been there from the beginning. I have plugged and unplugged other scources and they move to the bottom gray-out area but PC is and has always been active

Reply 11 : Removing TV from source list

When I turn on my Samsung Blue-Ray DVD the system automatically connects but when I finish, it always returns to the Antenna input but there is nothing connected. My Satellite connects to HDMI#1. How can I get the system to recognise the HDMI port as my primary?

Reply 12 : Removing TV from source list

I totally agree, I want SKY HDMI to be default source, I don't use TV Aerial - dont need to because I have SKY.

Come on Samsung, let us disable connections (including TV Aerial) that we don't use, so we only have to switch between the connected HDMI sources.

Reply 13 : Removing TV from source list

steveuk71,

None of the inputs can be disabled - the TV tuner and PC inputs are 'always on' connections. Unfortunately, I don't have a solution to implement to disable those options. I'll be happy to pass that information up, but I can't provide a solution on this. They're operating as they were designed to operate.

--HDTech

Reply 14 : Removing TV from source list

If there's no possibility to disable sources it should be possible to edit the list and modifiy the orders of the sources.
When I move from TV to HDMI1 or HDMI2, I always need to scan the list through Ext1, Ext2, AV, PC to reach the HDMIs sources.

Samsung should deliver a new firmware allowing us to change the order of the list.
This will help a lot.

Reply 15 : Removing TV from source list

I have the same problems described above on my Samsung DLP TV. Use to have something connected to Component 1 and now I can't disable that input. I also have no need for the tuner input and want to disable that. This is really basic functionality and I'm surprised Samsung has done nothing to fix it!

DELL Latitude D620 - How to delete the Hidden Partition

Hi,

I bough a DELL latitude from DFS one year back. After little investigation I understand this can not be done with the hidden partition.



So the hidden partition is not useful any more, and it is 6/8 gb out of 80gb. Is there any method, to get rid of that hidden partition which is not useful. The hidden partition was not visible during a fresh install of XP from CD.



I am ready to install XP again as I am having XP CD which DELL sent me along with this machine.

Reply 1 : DELL Latitude D620 - How to delete the Hidden Partition

Cheap way: Back up all your data off your hard drive. Download Darik's Boot and Nuke, burn the CD/DVD and boot into it. Type 'quick' and then let it run for a few minutes. You may have to disable your laptop's card reader in BIOS if the Boot and Nuke CD freezes when booting.



Note that Boot and Nuke erases everything on your computer's hard drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by core2avs After little investigation I understand this can not be done with the hidden partition.

What do you mean?

Reply 2 : DELL Latitude D620 - How to delete the Hidden Partition

I wouldn't run DBAN if you like your laptop as is. You should be able to go into Disk Management and delete the partition there.

Reply 3 : DELL Latitude D620 - How to delete the Hidden Partition

Quote:

Originally Posted by namaiki Cheap way: Back up all your data off your hard drive. Download Darik's Boot and Nuke, burn the CD/DVD and boot into it. Type 'quick' and then let it run for a few minutes. You may have to disable your laptop's card reader in BIOS if the Boot and Nuke CD freezes when booting. Note that Boot and Nuke erases everything on your computer's hard drive.

Will Try that

Quote:

Originally Posted by namaiki What do you mean?

recovering from hidden partition. This is only used for first start-up.





I appreciate your help.

Reply 4 : DELL Latitude D620 - How to delete the Hidden Partition

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsunade_Hime I wouldn't run DBAN if you like your laptop as is. You should be able to go into Disk Management and delete the partition there.

I like this way than DBAN as it is simple and I know it. Till now I have never used DBAN.

I think I tried this, Will check one more time. The hidden partition is not at all visible from disk management tools (windows built in). Do I need do any thing special to find that partition.



I appreciate your help.

brake caliper q's

hey all, I just changed my 99 corollas front pads/rotors beacuse of vibration with high speed braking even though the pads still had half the life; (my novice brother did the job) and shortly after i noticed slight smoking and smell and some clanging noise from the driver side, and the pickup was stiffer as if the brakes were sticking,

so i called my mechanic friend and he looked at it and saw that the caliper wasnt releasing properly even though everything was structurally intact. Also when we jacked the car up (both sides), in drive, the wheels wouldnt turn. Upon further review, we realized the bottom housing unit for the screw of the caliper wouldnt come out at all even after hammering it, (he said its supposed to go in and out with braking). There was no room for the new thicker pads to function, so he put the old pads back on and it seems to be working well now, with more room.

Now, i dont know how to fix that problem. Do i need a new caliper which is costly or just a new housing nut/screw? Is this a common problem? Thanx guys for any input.

Reply 1 : brake caliper q's

You mean the slide pins got stuck? Could be your rubber booth got torn / damaged, allowing dirt and moisture in there. If that happens, it can rust. This may result in a stuck calliper.



The best way to tell, is to disassemble the entire calliper. As far as I know, you can buy the slide pins from the dealer / shop. If the damage can be repaired, get it fixed and also replace the other rubbers (refurbish).

Reply 2 : brake caliper q's

i had the exact problem. i ended up going to napa and bought manufactured calipers. they cost 40 bucks each and i haven't had a problem with them

Reply 3 : brake caliper q's

You have two possible problems. The caliper slides are rusted or damaged or your caliper piston is rusted or damaged (or the piston bore).



You can get the calipers from any auto parts store for around $40 which is not costly at all. However, you may only need to replace the one that isn't working. If the other is working fine, there's no need to change it. I work at AutoZone and we sell calipers for the 8th gen corolla's for $42 with a lifetime warranty so it's not a bad deal.



Anyway, changing out the caliper is a very simple job too so you can save money by not taking it to a mechanic. BUT, understand that you will need to bleed the system. So be sure to get some DOT3 brake fluid and either a helper (to press the brakes to bleed the system) or a one-person brake bleeder kit (around $10 - $15).