7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Has led to a lot of frustration
Date of Review: Feb 18, 2008
The Bottom Line: Probably a good idea, just make sure to dissable, Adobe Gamma, and any HP video utility before attempting to calibrate your monitor
The idea behind monitor calibration hardware is a sound one. Any one who is into photography should have a calibrated monitor. How you get there is up to you. Whether it be Adobe Gamma, Spyder, onOne, Huey, etc.
The hardware tools like this one work by placing an image sensor directly on the monitor itself and having the corresponding spyder program display a list of colors. The sensor tool reads back what is displayed and the software knows what it "should" look like after being displayed on the monitor. The computer does the processing to adjust monitor output to the correct display levels(in theory)
I have found that this tool calibrates two different monitors two different ways. I think this sort of defeats the purpose. However, I have recently found one major obstacle in the process is all the other software included from HP with my new computer. There is a utility to adjust the hp monitor remotely without having to open up the menu manually in monitor, a software product that adjust what is sent via the video card to the monitor, and adobe gamma. These three compete for the proper adjustment.
I have been able to calibrate my monitor each time but every time, it has been a long process.
Next time, I am going to delete the other programs. I put this up as helpful advice for anyone starting the process. I will update it once I recal my monitor. I have it where it should be right now with a little help from all the programs and I don't want to touch it.
If you buy this do yourself a favor and make sure to disable or remove any other software utility that adjust display properties.
