On January 7th, 2012, Datacolor announced the availibility of their new line of Spyder monitor calibration tools. I recently picked up the Spyder4 Express. I've been using the Spyder products since they first came out several years ago, on both Windows and Mac platforms. Since I upgraded my Mac to OSX Lion, the older Spyder2 became obsolete. Just in time for their latest version.
By default, Spyder4 Express creates a monitor calibration "icc" profile file called Spyder4Express.icc and places that file in your profiles directory. The biggest problem I had using the Spyder2 Express in the past was that it didn't support a dual monitor calibration on my Mac. I figured out a work-around for that by doing separate calibrations, one monitor at a time and renaming that calibration using the Colorsync utility. I'd then switch the primary monitor to the other monitor, repeat the calibration on that monitor and rename that calibration when finished. I could then normalize the monitor configuration and then select which calibration was used for each monitor in System Preferences. Spyder4 Express is limited to one monitor just as Spyder2 Express was, and I'm happy to report the dual monitor work around I used on the Spyder2 works just as well on the Spyder4. It's a little more convoluted than the SpyderX Pro system, but for $50 bucks less in cost, I'm willing to put up with the inconvenience. The extra work turns out to take less than a minute per monitor.
Physically, the Spyder4 sensor is a little smaller than the older models. The design has remained roughly the same, but the newer sensors look a little more rounded and petite, plus the different models are now color coded, with the Spyder4 Express sensor having a green trim. Electronically, I'm not quite sure if there is any difference other than the sensors being hardwired for the Spyder product purchased. With older Spyder software/sensor, the sensor was tied to the software purchased with the sensor by a serial number / fingerprint type of setup. I could not use my Spyder2 Express sensor with my original Spyder Pro software. I'm assuming the same holds true today, so don't count on your sensor working with older software or with a different level of software or even someone elses software for that matter.
The package also includes Spyder 3TV, which I won't talk about because I didn't attempt to useit or even understand it. I'll save that for another report if and when I get around to it.
I had no issues loading the software on my Mac Pro and loading another copy on my Windows Laptop. Functionally, it works the same on both systems.
With the earlier versions of the Spyder products, I generally got good calibration results if I placed a black cloth over the monitor while the calibration was taking place. I also generally got spotty results if I didn't use some type of cloth to shield the sensor/monitor from light. With Spyder4 Express, they've improved on the ability to calibrate your monitor without having to shield the pickup and monitor from external light to a significant degree. Calibrated my Mac 30 inch Cinema Display with the black cloth, with the lights off and no cloth, with the lights on and no cloth, with the curtains pulled and the lights down low. What I found was that I got a consistant result so long as there was no direct bright light on the monitor. Much nicer in my opinion than earlier versions of this product.
I'll also note that the time it takes to do the calibration is a little less then previous versions of the product. Not so much quicker at to be a major improvement, but noticably faster. Fast enough that I don't mind waiting at the computer for it to finish. I used to have time get a cup of coffee and visit the bathroom or something and then return to the system.
The software is also configurable to allow for different check periods between calibrations and can be configured to alert you when a new calibration is required after that period expires. You can also configure it to not alert you at all, but I don't recommend going too long without recalibrating your monitor. I do mine ever 3 months at least, sometimes more often.
Results…
The Spyder4 Express does an adequate job of calibrating your computer monitor, or laptop monitor. The results appear to be consistent in different lighting situations and I encountered no issues in getting nice consistent color on both my Mac monitors when viewed side-by-side and with my Dell Windows based laptop PC.
I can recommend this product to anyone interested in keeping their monitor's color correct and if you are a photographer using digital cameras, you should be calibrating the color on your monitor. This product works.