Spyder 3 Elite?

I'm looking at getting a calibrator to my Macbook Pro. I do not have a desktop monitor anymore, and I'd like to start printing my photos again.

I hear about the Spyder 3 Elite recommended quite often. Is it really that good over cheaper alternatives? Is there anything better that is within it's price range?

Thanks

What are the cheaper alternatives you mentioned? I'm curious.

And I've been using the Spyder 2 Express for two years. Not much luck with it, however.

pxchoi wrote in post #11737742
I hear about the Spyder 3 Elite recommended quite often. Is it really that good over cheaper alternatives? Is there anything better that is within it's price range?

X-Rite EyeOne Display2 is an equal alternative. Pay less and you get less.

Actually, I went and gave the Spyder2E a try just a few hours ago. And I like my results..

I haven't touched the Spyder in months and months because I didn't like what it did last time, but I gave it another go and monitor is accurately calibrated.

I have always been under the impression you don't need to calibrate mac monitors. Everyone I know doesn't seem to and I've seen their prints that come out great, one person even told me doing it screwed hers up. I don't own a mac though.

Have you had any problems with calibration?

CallumPhoto wrote in post #11739321
I have always been under the impression you don't need to calibrate mac monitors. Everyone I know doesn't seem to and I've seen their prints that come out great, one person even told me doing it screwed hers up. I don't own a mac though.

Have you had any problems with calibration?

Hmm... You know, I hear that from time to time, I haven't actually had any prints done since I purchased my Mac, so I couldn't you.

Can anyone else with a Mac chime in on this?

I don't have a Mac but I've done my share of printing from uncalibrated systems and, sure, if you have a good shot and keep an eye on what you are doing you can get fine results. But, if and when you get to a point where you are looking critically at your prints and comparing them with your display and wanting a good accurate match that is not quite there, then calibration is the best place to start. Plus, calibration establishes a "standard" for viewing images in color-managed applications. Plenty of Mac users here are quite happy working with a calibrated system!

Guys. Do you know if it works on a Gateway Laptop i5. I have always wonder if you can calibrate a laptop screen? Any replies would help out.

Yeah it works on laptops fine.

With laptops and desktop "consumer" models it's always a tossup with not-so-reliable results, but something is typically better than nothing.