Home > Consumer Reviews > 3M Privacy Filter for Widescreen Notebook Computers with a 12.1" diagonally measured display

I had my doubts about ordering a product like this online (whether I would get the right size or not), but I also couldn't find the PF12.1W size at any of my local stores (I live in a smallish Midwest town). The filter fit my Latitude's screen perfectly, and it works well. My only complaint is that the filter reduces the overall brightness of the display so it's somewhat dim even at the brightest setting, which is a little challenging for my old eyes. Oh well. You can't have everything.

If you often find yourself sitting in close quarters with strangers and don't care to provide them with reading material off of your screen, this is a must. Now rather than discussing what they are seeing, I talk to strangers about why they can't see my screen.

A perfect fit out of the box, keeps my patient's private health info private so I can work with my laptop in a treatment room.

I negotiate contracts and travel a lot so I not only have curious seat mates, but opposing interests from whom I need to protect data. I just got a new laptop, so its time for a new privacy filter. A couple tips after 2-years of full time use:

1. If you keep the filter on your laptop full time, consider using a small tab of scotch tape to keep it from shifting in the little press-on tabs supplied with the filter. Otherwise the filter will 'jiggle' against the screen over time and slowly put micro-scratches in the screen.

2. It is not as glare-free as modern screens. It's not as bad as the old glass screens, but there's definitely more glare than with a 'bald' screen. And it does darken the screen a shade or two. If your laptop uses reduced screen power on battery, you may need to increase the screen intesity.

3. Privacy protection. A previous reviewer said 10-degrees either side of head on. That's a stretch in my opinion - more like 30-degrees. Just right for seat mates, but in a conference room environment where the person next to you may push back from a table, there may be some exposure.

Overall, great product. I had no reservations in buying a new one for my new laptop.

I am a road warrior and travel almost weekly. I got sick and tired of wandering eyes from my neighboring seatmates. I can't believe even the 1st class folks want to know what you are typing. I've seen these privacy screens for a long time and finally decided to buy one. It does it's job perfectly. My screen is now completely hidden and black to any prying eyes. Feel free to sit next to me now 'cause you'll never know what I'm typing.