Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

My work space is like a fish bowl. I often work with student or applicant confidential information on my computer. I always felt guilty whenever someone approached me and I hit Alt-Tab to switch to a benign screen - I worried that it suggested inappropriate use of my computer rather than work :-) ! I'm using the 3M Privacy Filer PF 19 on a Dell LCD 19" monitor. Things to Consider When You Purchase a Privacy Screen: PRICE: I got out the catalog of the office supply chain that offers our institution a discount and checked the prices of privacy screens. Then I talked to our IT department and found out what they could offer my department. To say I had sticker shock is an understatement! One source was $100 more, our own IT department was $30 more than the screen I'm reviewing here and purchased from Amazon. STYLE: I checked different privacy screens throughout our 8 story building and decided that there was no clear advantage to having a frame around the screen. It added to the bulk and quite a bit to the cost. The screens I looked at without frames were held in place by small tabs that came with the screen and attached to the monitor frame. No one I spoke to who used the frameless models reported any problems with the screen falling out, and a number of users said it stayed in place without the tabs (as I discovered later, mine does too). EFFECTIVENESS: This privacy screen works very, very well. I've lost track of how many people have made me laugh by stopping and watching me stare at my screen as I'm intently reading something and asking me what's so fascinating about a monitor that's not on! I usually laugh, switch to a neutral web page and invite them over to "see" what I can see. The next question, after the "WOW", is where did I get it? I'm glad I kept the original packaging because I just pull it out and lend it to the person and usually I hear later that they've ordered one for their workstation(s). As another reviewer noted, unless someone is standing right behind you or within approximately 20 degrees of the center of your monitor, they won't be able to see what's on your screen. And yes, if someone walks behind you, there is a point in their pass-by that they can see your screen, but it's brief, and unless they stop to focus, they quickly are out of the "I can see your screen" zone. NICE FEATURES: There are two different "finishes", or looks to the screen. One side is a high gloss, the other matte. After using it both ways, I've decided that the gloss works better for my eyes. A second nice feature is a little half-circle, thumb-notch in the screen, at the top, that makes it easy and fast to pull the screen off the monitor if you want to share your screen with those around you. When I'm done sharing, I just pop it back into place. This is easy because as I mentioned before, the privacy screen stays in place wonderfully without the need for the tabs that are included. The 3M Privacy Filter -3M PF19 is a product that not only would I purchase again, but did - 4 more of them for just our little department. I've always trusted 3M products, and this item has reinforced that trust.