Summary: Overall it's the same device as Spyder2Pro and would work with Spyder2Pro software.

However the software included in the Express package does not allow any advanced settings at all - only lets you chose what kind of monitor you have. Which is not necessarily bad - I would chose what the defaults are anyway (\"native white point, gamma2.2., visual luminance\" for an LCD).

The calibration process itself works like the Pro version. No dual monitors option, so you would have to calibrate one at a time and in case of Windows XP use a \"wincolor.exe /L\" loader from the XP color applet and delete the Colorvision loader from Startup.

But for most users it's a nice calibration option. If you need a more professional software later on you can buy Coloreyes software - it now works with Spyder2 colorimeters.

Summary: When I saw this mentioned in an article, I thought, \"What a neat gadget!\" I am an avid amateur digital photographer who does some freelance work. I have toiled with the gamma provided with Adobe, but never felt quite confident that I was getting the absolute \"best\" result I could with color. Most of my pictures are children, so it is important to me to have the best rendering of skin tones I can get. I hesitated about buying it because of the price (not bad but hard to justify to my spouse), but I was given a gift card to a store which sells it, so I jumped. So far I have calibrated my computers and a friend's and have been happy with the results on all screens. My laptop was a little too blue; the friend's desktop was too cool. The software really does all the work for you. This is very easy to use. The article I read recommended calibrating every six months; the packaging recommends doing it monthly, but either way, this is not money spent on a one time use tool. This little gadget is perfect for an enthusiast, but a pro who really knows what he is doing may want the next step up. I would buy it again.

Summary: This sure has been a lifesaver, and I can't believe I tried to do photo editing for a brief while with an uncalibrated monitor (or technically, one calibrated with software alone).

I initially had my monitor turn fairly red when supposedly calibrated with the Spyder2. Had read that things could look \"warmer\" when done correctly (since most monitors are way too blue/cool by default to appear brighter), and that it might take awhile to adjust one's eyes, but no, this just wasn't right.

Long story short, ended up finding a \"color\" setting within my monitor that had to be adjusted before the Spyder2 would calibrate correctly. My monitor's supposedly 6500K setting was nowhere near 6500K, but that's my monitor's fault, not the Spyder2's. Everything is hunky dory now, though I wonder if the higher-end Spyder2 software available might have helped more.

The Spyder2 line isn't known for stellar highlight ability compared to other things out there, so if one does a lot of work with, say, wedding gowns, this might not be the way to go. I have no issue with \"normal\" things though.

Supposedly the top-of-the-line ColorEyes software will be compatible with Spyder2's on PC's in the future -- at the moment, it remains available for just Macs. Will certainly be worthwhile comparing to current Spyder2 software ability once available.