3M Privacy Filter- 3M PF13.3W Widescreen Notebook privacy screen

by 3M

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1.3 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0015YOV1E
• Item model number: PF13.3W
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (240 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #5 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Computer Accessories > Laptop & Netbook Computer Accessories > Screen Filters
  • #16 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Computer Accessories > Monitor Accessories > Screen Filters
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 14, 2008

Product Description

Size Name: 11 1/4 x 7 1/16 Inch

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer 3M™ Privacy Filters for laptops and netbooks are the perfect fit for people who want to keep their private data out of sight. They share the same patented microlouver technology used in 3M™ Frameless LCD and Framed LCD Filters, blocking the view of curious onlookers without diminishing yours. So you can enjoy peace of mind using your laptop or netbook in close quarters or high traffic areas. Plus, easy-on, easy-off 3M™ Privacy Filters are the convenient way to create a barrier between your fragile LCD screen and inevitable scuffs and scratches. And like the stylish new 3M™ GOLD Privacy Filters, they don’t rely on blurring or distorting images to guard your privacy. So they go a long way in protecting your eyes. Simply size up your screen and scroll the model list above. Then confidently take your digital life with you, wherever life takes you. Even better, all 3M Privacy Filters are backed by a one-year warranty.

To ensure proper fit, measure the viewable height and width of your laptop screen. (Do not include the screen frame in your measurement.) Then, choose the filter size that matches your exact measurements, or slightly smaller. Measure Twice. Order Once. Even if you have a pretty good idea what screen size and aspect ratio your laptop or netbook boasts, it’s best to pull out the ruler. By ordering the 3M™ Privacy Filter that is a perfect fit for your widescreen or standard laptop or netbook, you’ll save time and money by avoiding the hassle of returns and exchanges. See the measuring instructions diagram to determine your perfect fit from the model list above. It's a matter of perspective. Whether it’s staying compliant for work or keeping family photos to yourself, privacy is central to everything you do. 3M™ Privacy Filters create a 30-degree cone of vision so on-screen data is visible only to those directly in front of your screen. Microlouver technology exclusive to 3M™ Privacy Filters and Films creates an invisible 60-degree “safe area” where on-screen data is visible only to those directly in front of the monitor—without blurring or distorting. Fear no train commute, plane seat, park bench, cubicle farm or coffee house. No matter where you are or what digital device you have, 3M™ Privacy Filters prevent others from crowding your personal space or perusing your digital life. Covering all the angles. Your laptop or netbook screen is an open window to your personal and business affairs. But what about your mobile device or desktop? Whether you login at work or home, in a bustling coffee shop or busy airport, 3M Privacy Filters and Films are designed to deliver peace of mind in any setting. A deeper understanding. How do 3M™ Privacy Filters protect your on-screen information while making it privy to your eyes only? Patented 3M™ Advanced Light Control Film (ALCF) technology contains closely spaced black microlouvers positioned to 1-degree precision, with over a dozen louvers per millimeter evenly distributed across the screen. It’s a mini Venetian blind with no strings attached. Microlouvers just one-fifth the width of a human hair simulate tiny Venetian blinds to shield out curious glances toward your screen while directing onscreen data to the user’s viewing area. Easy-on, easy-off attachment system makes 3M™ Privacy Filters the perfect fit for laptop and netbook users on the go. Scuff happens. Today's laptop and netbook screens are brighter and easier to view. But fragile LCD surfaces are easier to scratch, scuff, smudge or damage, making it difficult to view your data. And repairs can be costly and time-consuming. 3M™ Privacy Filters provide your laptop or netbook extra protection against everyday use the moment you place it on your screen. Have a mobile device with a screen worth protecting? Check out 3M™ Mobile Privacy Films .

Product Description

PF13.3W fits widescreen notebook computers with a diagonally measured 13.31" viewable screen; actual filter dimensions are 7.06" high x 11.28" wide. This filter is designed for widescreen laptop computers with screens that appear more rectangular than square and have a 16:10 aspect ratio. Notebook privacy filters keep confidential and private information private. Utilizes 3M's microlouver privacy technology so only persons directly in front of the monitor can see the image on screen; passersby see only a dark screen. 3M's PF13.3W Privacy Filter provides 1.5 times more effective privacy than competitive filters and offers more consistent quality and uniform appearance, thus reducing visual distractions.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

139 of 141 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Product, Costs Too Much, January 5, 2006

By 

Robert Lee (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 3M Privacy Filter- 3M PF14.1W Widescreen Laptop privacy screen (16:10) (Personal Computers)

I've owned this product for about a month now and purchased it because I was frustrated with seatmates on airplanes looking at my notebook screen for the whole flight, trying to figure out what I was doing. This screen works wonders in deterring others from taking glances at my private information. In fact, most people think I'm crazy, typing away on a computer with a blank screen, or so they think.

There are some disadvantages with this screen though. Your seatmate directly next to you will be able to see through the filter to your screen partially, because they are within the viewing angle of the screen with the filter on. But move over any farther and the screen is not visible, nor is it visible across the aisle (if sitting in an aisle seat). About the only other place that it is visible is if someone is standing directly above you, one row back. Turning down the brightness of your screen also helps immensely in blocking people from viewing your screen through the filter at any angle.

(Please note, having this filter installed screens out about half of the light coming out of the screen. If you have poor eyesight with dim lighting and have trouble with computer screens, this product may not be for you.)

Additionally, the clear plastic tabs included with the filter adheres to the plastic border around the notebook LCD screen to keep the filter in place. It works, but blocks about a 1/8" of the screen at 6 points, especially noticeable around the bottom of the screen where the start bar is located.

You'll also notice a large "3M PF14.1W" printed in the top right hand corner of the filter. It's used to help in determining whether the filter is facing the right direction, but it's quite distracting at times. The height of the lettering is equivalent in size to the window bar at the top of any program.

This filter is also very dust, lint, debris, and smudge attracting. You'll find yourself wiping the filter often.

Overall, this filter does its job. Great for those who need to comply with HIPPA or other privacy regulations. But as an individual consumer, I wonder if the high price is justified for the benefits it provides.

70 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good product - better than the competition, May 13, 2007

By 

Michael B. (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 3M Privacy Filter- 3M PF15.4W Widescreen Notebook privacy screen (Personal Computers)

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!)

64 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars ineffective, with drawbacks, February 16, 2006

By 

Wolfram Bosch "Wolframinous" (Mill Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 3M Privacy Filter for Standard Notebook Computers with a 14.1" diagonally measured display (Personal Computers)

Three big disappointments. Biggest is the viewing angle is WAY too wide. It darkens at 45 degrees, but you can still clearly see what someone's up to, even if it's *kind of* harder to read precise text. It doesn't blacken until your near a 90 degree viewing angle. Pretty lame.

Also, though it's "matte" it's a lot more reflective than a regular LCD flat screen. Maybe it's less than an old glassy CRT, but the reflectivity is terrible compared to an LCD. You can actually make out your own face and highlights in the screen, even highlights coming from a side window (which I was hoping would be reduced by the microlouvre, not increased). Bright environments are 5 times harder to work in than they would be with a regular LCD screen.

And lastly, looking at it straight in, it darkens the screen enough to be distracting and eye-straining. So it's the worse of both worlds - it darkens too much for the user, and not enough at odd angles.

The method for sticking the frameless kind on clutters your screen with cheesy plastic adhesive disks.

Plus, it's pretty expensive for a sheet of plastic.

Wait until the tech gets better. Or decent, at least.

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