3M Privacy Filter- 3M PF15.4W Widescreen Notebook privacy screen
by 3M
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List Price: Our Price: $39.49 You Save: $44.10 (53%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $21.45 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of 3M Privacy Filter- 3M PF15.4W Widescreen Notebook privacy screen
Customer Review: What price do you put on your privacy?
Summary: 4 Stars
The 3M Privacy Filter for 15.4" screens is pricey, but does give you a measure of protection on information that could be revealed to wandering eyes (innocent or otherwise). If you are involved in high-security detail, or work for tech firms and need to keep the IP where it belongs, this screen might be just the thing you need.
Installation is simple: you either use the double-sided tape or holding tabs (both types are included) to keep the filter attached to your monitor. The screen itself is very thin (yet rigid), and seamlessly layers over your screen. The filter itself has two sides: a glossy side to face your screen (and keep the screen in good shape) and a matte side to keep other peoples' eyes off your screen.
Two things I should note: 3M has taken the liberty of adding a permanent mark to their filter (with their logo and model number, with text at about 1mm high), and it sits on the upper-right side (mostly away from on-screen items). This is a bit annoying but you get used to ignoring it. Secondly, there is a small notch cut-out on the top of the filter, to allow you to pull the filter out if necessary. This is annoying as it disturbs the look of the filter, but you may also tend to ignore this after time.
So how does it function? Not bad at all. Any angle past 90 degrees and you will start to see the screen fade to black. Sitting right next to the screen or even about 30 degrees off the center, and you still won't see anything (this is just about the angle you might find that many snooping watchers at, such as on an airplane and just one or two rows behind you, opposite your aisle.)
I use an HP Pavilion dv4170us notebook at the moment, and it fits like a glove. This notebook has an exceptionally bright screen though, and the brighter your screen is, the more that will show through the filter. If this is a concern for you, I suggest learning how to turn down the brightness of your monitor.
Like I said though, this product is high-priced. But given the alternative of having thousands of dollars worth of stolen information whisked away because you failed to take precautions and shell out about $100, isn't something you probably want on your conscience.
Customer Review: Works GREAT
Summary: 5 Stars
First off, I want to say that Amazon had the best price I could find, and this shipped right away and arrived 3 days after ordering, even with 3-5 day shipping.
Second, I agree with some comments I have read on this. Sure does feel like you spent a lot of money when a thin piece of plastic arrives that cost you over $50. Unfortunately there is no alternative. To me though, the privacy is worth the price.
I bought this so I could have stock charts up on my laptop at work without people being able to see what I was doing (so I wouldn't get in trouble for trading) when they would walk by down the aisle. This works perfect in that sense. I tilt my laptop so it faces me, and when people walk by, the laptop looks to them as though it is off. The screen is black for them except in the little thumb notch spot 3M made so that you can easily remove the screen.
I used the plastic tabs that came with to hold it in place, they work well enough... however, I found that I cannot close my laptop with the privacy filter held in, as it flexes in the middle and thus falls out. I can't really imagine a better way for 3M to improve this, except perhaps to make it much more rigid.
Some other notes that potential buyers may be wondering...
1) It only filters and looks black from side to side, not up and down. If someone is standing over your shoulder, they will have no problem seeing it. It is only when they go to an angle to the side that it will block. So horizontal blocking, but not vertical.
2) This thing smudges easily! Expect lots of dust, fingerprints, etc. It wipes off just as easily though with a dry Kleenex.
3) 15.4W fits perfectly with my 15 inch widescreen. Perfect fit.
4) The tabs that hold it in are small and transparent. They have very sticky material on part of them, and look like a half circle attached to a rectangle.
5) This filter does not reduce glare in my opinion.
Overall, this was well worth the cost of privacy for me. No one can tell my PC is on even though my screen is open.
Customer Review: I'm satisfied
Summary: 4 Stars
I read the reviews for the 3M brand privacy screen and I should've taken their advice because the 3M brand is a much better quality than the Targus 15.4 privacy screen. See my review for the Targus 15.4 privacy screen. I ended up buying the 3M brand, size 15.4 from another company because at the time Amazon didn't have it in stock. I wasn't too impressed with the 3M brand either but, I can tell the quality is much better. 3M uses a unique microlouver privacy technology which darkens the screen on a 45 degree angle away from the center too. They use the film material from the company named Vikuiti which they claim is the best in the business. You can see a lot less on the screen with the 3M filter at the 45 degree angle compared to the Targus 15.4 privacy screen. The 3M privacy filter makes the laptop screen much darker which will make it difficult for people to discern what's on the screen. Beyond 45 degrees all you see is a black screen. You can work on your laptop in a public place with confidence or watch a movie without other people snooping on you. The screen is very expensive in my opinion so shop around. The good thing about the screen is that I can close my laptop and the filter doesn't interfere with the keyboard therefore; I keep the film on all the time. The adhesive tabs that came with the 3M filter are long so they keep the screen filter in place, not like the Targus tabs that were round and small and you had to use 6 of them in order to hold the filter screen in place. I only had to use 2 long tabs for the 3M brand. Both filter screens have a thumb shape gap at the top so you'll know how it should be positioned on the laptop screen. However, on the instructions for the 3M filter screen it states "slide filter beneath the tabs. Matte or shiny side may face monitor." I'm guessing that for the 3M screen it doesn't matter what side you use. It's better to have something to protect your privacy versus having nothing at all. I hope this review helps other buyers so; they don't end up buying and returning the Targus 15.4 screen filter like I did. I'm satisfied with the 3M brand.Customer Review: Good product - better than the competition
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm a consultant who travels weekly. Lots of time on flights makes a privacy filter important to me. Being something of a perfectionist and the fact that I look through it for hours each week, I ordered both the ViewGuard and the 3M filters to compare them. I kept the 3M and returned the ViewGuard. Why?
The image clarity of the 3M filter was significantly better (note that I work with small fonts, spreadsheets, etc. and wear glasses) Yes, ViewGuard, I removed the protective film before making the comparison! Two things bugged me about the ViewGuard: (1) its polarization cuts run diagonally (the 3M run vertically), which is distracting, and (2) the image through the ViewGuard is a tiny bit blurry/hazy compared to the 3M. 3M seems to have a more clear film that they use. A colleague of mine did the same side-by-side and agreed with me.
Both products do what they claim, and both fit my notebook well, although I also prefer the optional vertical mounting strips that come with the 3M product (both come with mounting 'dots', but 3M supplies an alternate mounting mechanism as well).
Let's face it: $50 for a piece of plastic seems expensive, but there's no alternative if you want to work on client (or your own financial) information on a plane. Thanks, 3M, for making a quality product. (And no, I don't work for 3M!)
Customer Review: Matte (or Glossy) and Privacy All-In-One!
Summary: 4 Stars
The 3M Privacy Filter does what it is suppose to do, act as a privacy screen overlay on top of your current screen. I really like how it has a matte (almost anti-glare, not purposed as) screen side. The glossy side is as glossy as a MacBook screen, a nice finish though.
I installed the 3M Privacy Filter 15.4W on my Lenovo Y510. Since the Lenovo Y510 has a frameless screen, it's a little different installing it, since there's no frame slot. It is possible to use the adhesive tabs, but it will be an almost permanent tight fit. I don't plan on taking it off, so I put the tabs on all sides of the screen. It makes the screen look more matte than it ever could be (the Lenovo Y510 has a mirror like glossy screen). There is an option to order (for free) additional adhesive tabs from 3M [...].
So far, the privacy filter works well. It does make the screen a little bit darker. You can compare it to the small cut out slot where it doesn't cover the screen.
Overall, I would recommend purchasing this. I believe that the pricing is actually cheaper on 3M's website. You might want to check out the 3M Gold Privacy Filters, although I haven't seen that much detailed information on it.