Display article   Subject:  Anti-Glare Filters
   04/30/97   19:22:25


ANTI-GLARE FILTERS

Anti-glare filters are a hot topic.  If you're on the West Coast,
you know this already.  They are sweeping the nation.  As each
state adds legislation to their books regarding VDT usage,
anti-glare filter sales increase dramatically.  But all filters
are not created equal.  The chart below shows you the differences
between Tandy's filter (the tempered glass) and some of the
competitor's filters.

         Performance Properties of Anti-Glare Filters

                                                   Untempered
                  Tempered Glass                 Glass with Anti-
                   with HEA and                   Reflective and
                  Backside CHEA                      Backside
                    Conductive      Conductive     Conductive
                      Coating          Mesh          Coating
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Glare
  Reduction        Excellent        Excellent        Very Good

Resolution         Excellent           Poor          Excellent

Contrast
  Enhancement      Excellent        Excellent        Very Good

Reflection         Excellent        Excellent          Fair

Viewing
  Angle            Excellent           Fair          Excellent

Cleanability       Excellent           Poor          Very Good

Durability         Excellent           Poor            Good

Safety             Excellent        Excellent          Poor

E-field
  Screening        Excellent        Excellent          Good

UV/IR/X-ray
  Screening        Very Good           Poor          Very Good



                                     Laminated
                                     Polarizer
                  Laminated Glass    with Anti-
                     with Dip        Reflective         Plastic
                     Coating          Coating           Uncoated
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Glare
  Reduction        Very Good          Excellent          Poor

Resolution         Very Good          Very Good          Fair

Contrast
  Enhancement      Excellent          Excellent          Fair

Reflection         Very Good          Very Good          Fair

Viewing
  Angle            Excellent          Very Good       Very Good

Cleanability       Very Good            Good             Poor

Durability           Good               Good             Poor

Safety               Good               Good          Excellent

E-field
  Screening          Poor               Poor             Poor

UV/IR/X-ray
  Screening          Good               Good             Fair



Source:  OCLI; reprinted by permission.


Summary

-- Tempered Glass with HEA and Backside CHEA Conductive Coating:
This filter offers the best overall performance of any available
anti-glare filter.

-- Conductive Mesh:  Mesh filters provide good glare reduction at
the expense of downgraded resolution and restricted viewing angle.

-- Untempered Glass with Anti-Reflective and Backside Conductive
Coating:  These filters present a serious durability and safety
problem, and typically have high second surface reflection.

-- Laminated Glass with Dip Coating:  These filters do not provide
significant radiation protection; otherwise, performance is good.

-- Laminated Polarizer with Anti-Reflective Coating:  These
filters do not provide significant radiation protection;
otherwise, performance is good.

-- Plastic Uncoated:  This filter is very safe to use, but
otherwise, performance is poor.

After looking at the chart and comments regarding the chart, note
the following drawbacks with some of the competition:

Mesh Filters
- Poor Resolution
- Difficult to clean
- Poor UV, IR and X-Ray screening

Untempered Coated Glass
- Reflection is high
- Extremely poor safety (even automobiles require tempered glass)

Laminated Glass with Dip Coating
- Poor radiation screening
- Good durability

Polarized Filter
- Poor radiation screening
- Good durability

Uncoated Plastic Filter
- High safety is its only strong point
- Everything else is inferior


Our filter (Cat. No. 26-279) is of the highest possible quality
and is priced to sell.  Check the competition -- we are priced
right.  Sure, you can buy a mesh filter for $10, or a polarized
filter for $30, but when you can buy the best of the best for
only $40 (and others sell the same filter for $50 or more) and
you're talking about your eyes and eyestrain, isn't it worth the
extra money?  Sure it is!
