Display calibration

[shankle]

Does anyone here have any expertise on adjusting the colors on their monitors?
I'm not a photographer but I think even a TN monitor can be made to look better than it does.
If you were to buy an H-ips monitor then such a device would be necessary to have.
Are there any made for the average Joe, that would use it when he bought a new monitor or TV?
Something  not to expensive.
I've been reading about the Spyder2 Express but the price makes me think it might be a toy.
The other Spyder models are way to expensive.
Then there is the buying of something sight unseen which I hate to do.

[shankle]

For what it's worth, an update on calibration.

I bought the Spyder3 pro and calibrated my Dell 19" flat panel.
Truthfully I can see little difference. Probable reasons: I don't know what I'm doing, the unit is no good, software needs to be updated,
Dell monitors are so good they don't need calibration(LOL), don't fully understand all the technical jargon in the software etc, etc, etc.

Will keep playing with it to see if the problem is my fault.
It would be better to test it with the HP l7580(h-ips) which I understand needs calibration to view it properly.
But that is a $600 chunk of money..

[dedndave]

other than adjusting contrast and brightness, you will see little difference
there are ICM color profiles
they apply to monitors, scanners, and printers
the idea behind them is to make what you see = what you scan = what you print
although, the changes for monitors are so subtle i doubt the human eye could detect them
at least, not this humans eye