Spyder3Pro vs. Spyder3Elite

Please help out a techno-challenged color management idiot.

What's the difference between the Pro and Elite versions of the Spyder3, besides 75 bucks?

The only difference I can find in the description is the Elite version "Supports L-Star Calibration", whatever the heck that means.

I'm looking to calibrate a new Dell laptop and a desktop PC that initially will have one LCD monitor but may someday have dual monitors.

Thanks.

Have a look at this link, that should help you out...

L star.

No idea how much difference it makes frankly.
Some more confusion.

Piet wrote in post #6977994
Have a look at this link, that should help you out...

The manufacturer's website? What a novel idea!
Thanks.

René Damkot wrote in post #6978017
L star.

No idea how much difference it makes frankly.
Some more confusion.

Thanks, Rene. Every time I try to grasp the concept of color management, my head starts to spin.

Curtis, I recently (as in the last week) was looking at the issue. There are some differences, but personally I felt the advantages of the Elite were something that I wouldn't use, so picked up the Spyder 3 Pro for $115 (after rebate) from www.calibration-direct.com, which is a authorized dealer of Spyder calibration devices. I will be getting it in the next couple of days. They have a good chart comparing the differences here

http://www.calibration​-direct.com/chart3.html

Thanks, Dodge.

The rebate ends today, so I guess I'll pull the trigger.

Curtis N wrote in post #6978839
Thanks, Dodge.

The rebate ends today, so I guess I'll pull the trigger.

Pull the trigger on which one? Don't leave us hanging.......

I went with the Pro version. Like you, I figured the extra features of the Elite would be of little value to me.

Curtis N wrote in post #6978997
I went with the Pro version. Like you, I figured the extra features of the Elite would be of little value to me.

The Pro version works fine for me too, didn't miss a thing until now...

I went with the Pro version too. From what I read, the Elite supports calibrating projectors among other things which isn't something I need.

wow just a side note. I use a colorMunki and it blows the Spyder3 elite out of the water. Never had prints match my computer like i do with the ColorMunki.

I use the Spyder3 Pro and don't feel that I'm missing out on anything... I was also tossing up between it and the Elite and am glad I went with the Pro - prints match the monitor perfectly so what more could I want?

The Spyder3 Pro works as well as anything possibly could for me. My prints on my Epson 2400 match what I see on my HP LP2065.

Curtis, I have been using the Datacolor Spyder products from the beginning and have found them to be very good. The Spyder3 Pro should serve your needs very well. I presently use the Studio version on my Eizo monitor and I'm very happy with it. The only difference is that Eizo provides their own software to use the Spyder. So unless you plan to make custom printer profiles and spend hours in the color management world, the Pro will do exactly what you want.
I enjoy printing my own work as much as I enjoy taking the photo. (that is a different mental health issue though).

ruchad1 wrote in post #6979887
wow just a side note. I use a colorMunki and it blows the Spyder3 elite out of the water. Never had prints match my computer like i do with the ColorMunki.

I was so disappointed to learn that the ColorMunki does not support CRT calibration. It seems like a capable solution for display and print profiling.