( 1 reviews )
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( 2 of 2 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jul 13 2006
I really like this product (beige 17"-19" anti-glare/anti-radiation filter, Fellowes part-number #856274) especially at the discount prices, and I now own 2 of them (exact same model), for dual monitors. I like the anti-radiation feature (although you have to remember to attach the ground-wire to an actual ground for it to work; also see "NOTE" about CRT's below). The first one of these Fellowes filters I bought on sale at a local Staples before they discontinued them in spring 2006, the second one I bought here at Amazon (Dealz4Real). The filter's glass is not too dark (unlike a different brand that I'd owned previously), and it doesn't interfere with image quality or colors at all, but it cuts any glare and prevents eyestrain even when using the computer for hours on end each day. I also like that this particular model of Fellowes anti-glare filter is available with a beige frame, instead of the all-pervasive black frames that are everywhere nowadays. I'm very happy with this product. NOTE: The anti-radiation-filter thing is useful for CRT monitors, while the anti-glare could be useful for both CRT and LCD monitors (I don't think LCD monitors have any radiation concerns in the first place, other than the flourescent backlight which some people might be sensitive to). But you might be asking, "Why would anyone want to use a CRT monitor these days, thus needing a radiation filter? Aren't CRT's obsolete?" Well, no they're not quite obsolete yet, because - at the present time (summer 2006) dollar-for-dollar you get better image quality compared to LCD's, although that will probably change eventually as LCD technology improves, but now it's especially noticeable in the ultra-low-cost range ($200 and below) which applies to people on a tight budget. For instance, I just bought two nice new white NEC FE992 19" CRT monitors ($200 ea) which have a very good picture quality and I'm very pleased with - nice sharp image even on the edges/corners (unlike my old blurry decrepit Apple 15" multi-scan monitors which finally conked out, thankfully), the new NEC's shadow-mask is not even discernable (no graininess or annoyingly-visible "dots") at my current 1152x870 in millions of colors on an antique Mac, *front* of the screen is flat so there's no distortion, and the geometry and moire/color controls work quite effectively. I didn't really have to adjust much of anything; just took it out of the box and plugged it in, and the NEC factory settings were almost perfect. Some of the *other* CRT brands I looked at, though, didn't look anywhere near as good (some were downright awful), and none of the LCD's in that price-range could even begin to compare. Yeah the CRT's are big and bulky if you have to move them around or if you have limited desk space, but for people on a budget, CRT monitors can still be a good buy. If you have a CRT, you might want the anti-radiation thing like the Fellowes filter has (in my case, it keeps me from getting headaches). Even people using LCD's might find the Fellowes filter anti-glare feature useful, although I'm not very well-acquainted with LCD size-measurements which I've heard are measured differently, somehow, than CRT's. I can personally attest that this Fellowes anti-glare filters fit perfectly on my new 19" CRT monitors - they nicely cover the screen but they don't hang out over the edges. I went ahead and snapped up the second one before they become unavailable, since it seems that most of the anti-radiation filters that are currently being manufactured are larger (19"-21") and much more expensive. I am very pleased with this Fellowes product. A side-note, on both of these identical Fellowes anti-glare screens that I've purchased (one from Staples, one from Amazon, as mentioned above), both of them were factory-packaged in such a way that the interior shrink-wrap was a little torn, inside the factory-sealed box (probably occuring during the transit from where they're manufactured in Asia to the U.S.) because of the placement of the little plastic hanger-gizmos inside the box - both of mine were - but, the good news is that in both instances, I examined the glass literally with a magnifying glass to make sure that the glass itself hadn't been scratched or marked in any way, but it was fine - not a mark on it anywhere, so I didn't have to worry about that, after all. One other note - do NOT use any type of chemicals on the screen, to wash it. I haven't tested this exact model of filter with Windex or screen cleaners because I don't want to risk damaging it, but a previous (different) brand that I used to own, got sort of messed up from trying to use solvents to clean it, and I'm not interested in taking any chances with these new Fellowes filters, just in case. Just use water - it shouldn't need anything else than that, anyway. To sum up, my experience with this product has been very positive.
