Luminous Landscape Forum
Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Colour Management => Topic started by: D Fosse on March 21, 2014, 05:30:11 am
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I finally managed to get hold of US Spectraview II software to use on a European P232. As you all probably know by now, the European non-SV units have a firmware lock so that the Spectraview software sold here can't access the 14 bit monitor LUT, giving you video card calibration only.
Anyway, it's installed and running, and works beautifully.
In the near future I'm planning on getting a PA242, but possibly on another system than the one it's installed on now. So can I still use this software for that? Is there a limit on installations, any "silent" activation, anything of the sort? I can't figure this out on the NEC website, nor do I get anything remotely understandable out of the EULA. Or perhaps I am already violating the EULA by using the software in Europe...?
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AFAIK there's no limit, it's sort of on-site license.
I'm 100% that it's legal to use the software in EU - I received such information directly from NEC DS. Which is a blessing, because european software is useless piece of crap IMO.
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Thank you, that's good news.
Actually it was a very painless purchase from B&H. Shipment doubled the price of course, but it's still not a particularly expensive piece of software. Why they're not selling this worldwide is a mystery. I had the BasICColor version on 14-day trial, but this one seems superior in every respect.
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Thank you, that's good news.
Actually it was a very painless purchase from B&H. Shipment doubled the price of course, but it's still not a particularly expensive piece of software. Why they're not selling this worldwide is a mystery. I had the BasICColor version on 14-day trial, but this one seems superior in every respect.
It pisses me off every time I think about it - Spectraview II is an excellent profiler, it has almost anything I need, works stable, is constantly updated and improved, copes well with Multiprofiler that extends its capabilities even further. Instead of this in EU we're forced to pay much more $$$ for a software that's not as convenient, full of bugs and idiotic solutions, and doesn't really work like it should >:(
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Hello,
I've checked B & H and it seems they are willing to send the complete kit ( NEC PA242-BK-SV ) to Germany.
After calculating everything, I ended at 1018€ incl. transport by UPS ( 3-5 days ) and German VAT. As far as I found out, there will be no taxes for PC monitors.
The only cruz is that you click at B & H ' I want to pay my taxes at delivery', otherwise B & H adds more than 500US$.
When I compare the price with the best price offered by Amazon.de, there is a difference of just 170€.
To me, this looks as the best way to have te full privvilege of hardware-calibration to a easonable price.
Best wishes
Robert
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It pisses me off every time I think about it - Spectraview II is an excellent profiler, it has almost anything I need, works stable, is constantly updated and improved, copes well with Multiprofiler that extends its capabilities even further. Instead of this in EU we're forced to pay much more $$$ for a software that's not as convenient, full of bugs and idiotic solutions, and doesn't really work like it should >:(
I'm running Spectraview II (SV2) with the PA242W bought and used here in the US. I never installed the software that came in the SV2 box. I was speaking with the NEC technician in a phone call when I was hooking up the monitor. I had some questions about cables and other stuff. He told me to ignore the software in the box and just download the latest program from their site, which I did. It's Spectraview II Version 1.1.16.02 build 140106. I'm running Windows 8.1. Here's the link. You do need the serial number so that might cause a problem. But who knows until you try it. Report back. http://www.necdisplay.com/support-and-services/spectra-view-II/Downloads
Why would I need Profiler? I thought SVII replaces that entirely.
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PS That NEC links has the software for Mac and Linus.
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B&H has always given me good service. I bought a 271 and 241 (complete kit) and then repeated that order a year later when the first two were broken in an earthquake. The monitors have always arrived in good condition and at a substantially lower price (including import duty) than buying locally. (Not NEC NZ's fault about the price- they have to get their units from NEC Australia who know how to charge).
David
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I'm running Spectraview II (SV2) with the PA242W bought and used here in the US. I never installed the software that came in the SV2 box. I was speaking with the NEC technician in a phone call when I was hooking up the monitor. I had some questions about cables and other stuff. He told me to ignore the software in the box and just download the latest program from their site, which I did. It's Spectraview II Version 1.1.16.02 build 140106. I'm running Windows 8.1. Here's the link. You do need the serial number so that might cause a problem. But who knows until you try it. Report back. http://www.necdisplay.com/support-and-services/spectra-view-II/Downloads
Why would I need Profiler? I thought SVII replaces that entirely.
Well yes, you need a serial number and - more importantly - a license, which can't be bought in EMEA market, where only NEC SpectraView Profiler a.k.a. basICColor display is available (which is worse than SV II).
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Sorry you can't use it
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I thought a kind of hardware hack was needed with the monitor buttons to get it working on a normal EU NEC model like the older 2690WUXI. I think it is discussed here: http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1293270
The policy of NEC could make the Dell's Ultrasharp's more interesting in that price category. The X-Rite Display Pro I have.
--
Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst
http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
January 2014, 600+ inkjet media white spectral plots.
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This hack was working only with early x90 series models, then NEC changed the firmware to make it more complicated. So or so hacked x90 still worked with Spectraview Profiler a.k.a. basICColor display, which is slightly limiting the potential of x90/PA display due to some stupid bugs, and it was de facto illegal solution.
In EU we have two solutions - one is to pay more and get Spectraview II from Adorama or B&H, second is to get free NEC GammaComp MD QA, which is basing on Spectraview II DNA, but has different UI and doesn't work on OSX.
http://www.necdisplay.com/support-and-services/gamma-comp/downloads
Dell is not as good as NEC PA, and Dell Calibration Solution is much worse than Spectraview II.
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The policy of NEC could make the Dell's Ultrasharp's more interesting in that price category. The X-Rite Display Pro I have.
Well, they're not really in the same price category. The P232W that I'm using now, 23 inch small and standard gamut, has almost exactly the same price tag as the U2713H, 27 inch and wide gamut. In both cases without calibrator or sensor.
The interesting thing is that on paper, the Dell has all the specifications of a state-of-the-art unit. So why is it so "cheap"?
The answer is in quality control and tight manufacturing tolerances. This is where Dell cuts corners in a big way. I sometimes feel I'm on a sort of one man crusade against Dell, but I once bought one (a U2410) and returned it within 24 hours. It was useless, and this is why (note the official response from Dell):
http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/peripherals/f/3529/t/19526218.aspx (http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/peripherals/f/3529/t/19526218.aspx)
(and in case anyone thinks these are just two isolated incidents, think again. This is still a very frequent complaint, and has been for may years).
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I've never seen a Dell Uxx14 that was as uniform as PAxx2, where each unit is digitally uniformised with Konica-Minolta CA-2500.