So I tried to calibrate my monitor...

I frankly have no idea if I did this correctly. I followed the instructions for normal calibration, but I wanted this monitor to have a similar gamma to what you see on every other computer. This is a Mac.

Therefore, since it's a pre-Snow Leopard mac, it has a default gamma of 1.8. I know Snow Leopard by default uses a 2.2 gamma, and the rest of the world has used 2.2 for a long time. I set this one to 2.2, after making sure the tint and luminance at all levels was correct, and now everything looks a lot darker than I'm used to.

Trouble is, I have no idea if this is normal or not. I'd kind of like to be able to use this computer for some color work eventually, but I'm starting to feel like calibrating by eye is just in general a bad idea.

Any tips from people who've done this before?

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

. . . No?

Wow. I'd think at least one of you digital art folks would have an answer for how to reduce the blue-ness of my monitor. Not a one? Huh.

Either way, I've determined that perception-based calibration is a bad idea, first off. The Apple display calibrator that comes with your computer (if you're a Mac user) is a perception-based calibrator — it uses the effect that bars on screen will blur to produce an image you perceive as being a solid color, from the right distance. It's not that great.

After checking with someone in the art department, I got a more definitive answer. There are hardware calibrators that can be used. Unfortunately, they run from around $99 to $299 US. I can afford a decent one, but it means I'll have to make sure I actually use it. Plus, this being a laptop monitor, it may need calibrated more often than others, and even then the color quality varies across the surface depending on the angle I view it from. Which means I might be better off getting a proper monitor, or jacking my television in the living room when I want to color things properly.

So. I've picked up on the following options.

ColorVision Spyder 2 Pro: Good quality, if a bit slow. Don't bother with the Spyder 3. It's gotten terrible reviews, and everyone I know who's used it hates the thing, and went back to the Spyder 2. The sensor is a great big puck with three legs. The trouble is finding one of these, and being sure its quality is good — all the ones I find are used. Price is $99 and up.

X-Rite Eye-One Display 2: Has gotten very good reviews, is current. Wasn't mentioned on the list my professor gave, but is currently produced by the same parent company. The scanner looks kinda like an egg for some reason. Price: $199 and up.

Pantone Huey Pro: Recommended by the professor I checked with. Sometimes has some quality control issues, but they seem to have very good customer support in those cases. The quality of calibration is fairly high, though not the excellent quality of the more expensive models. The sensor is smaller, a little slimline thing instead of an egg or a great big puck. Price: ~$75 and up.

I'm not sure which of these to go for at present. I'm leaning towards Huey Pro. Does anyone here have experience with these? Which would you recommend?