ColorMunki or Datacolor Spyder ?

[cjackson]

I am a serious photographer, but not a full fledged pro.  My prints do not match my monitor.  I have been told that I need to calibrate my monitor.  I have a Dell U2412MB monitor.  The products recommended are ColorMunki and Spyder.  There are probably others, but I am not aware of them.  I want something that is; effective, not too complicated to use, and hopefully less than $200.  What are your suggestions?

Thanking you in advance for your suggestions.

Cal Jackson

[digitaldog]

There’s a new Spyder, no idea how good it is. Previous products where nothing to write home about.
The product you probably need since your goal is matching a print to the display is the X-rite i1Display Pro. Same hardware as the cheaper ColorMunki Display that ships with crippled software which make your goal harder to achieve. The more expensive product runs faster but provides much  more robust software in terms of altering calibration.
This might help: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/why_are_my_prints_too_dark.shtml

[AlterEgo]

There’s a new Spyder, no idea how good it is. Previous products where nothing to write home about.
The product you probably need since your goal is matching a print to the display is the X-rite i1Display Pro. Same hardware as the cheaper ColorMunki Display that ships with crippled software which make your goal harder to achieve. The more expensive product runs faster but provides much  more robust software in terms of altering calibration.
This might help: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/why_are_my_prints_too_dark.shtml

I have heard also that OEM software for some displays where you have and might want to use hardware calibration (technically shipped by LCD display manufacturer, but in many cases procured by X-Rite) also will not work with ColorMunki Display while i1Display Pro supported... also a point to consider

[AlterEgo]

I have a Dell U2412MB monitor. 

this is simple non widegamut no hardware LUT enabled model, it tells you might have some budget limitations, then you might try to consider cheap ColorMunki Display with free http://dispcalgui.hoech.net

[Pictus]

Tutorial for Argyll+dispcalGUI.