Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I "remember" (for the most part?) if my printer prints darker or lighter than the screen, adjust accordingly before printing. Or print a 4x6 before printing an 8x12.
If the print is off by a little bit I don't worry.
Most of my prints are done by Costco anyway.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...I LOVE my i1 Display Pro device. Picked up several other aids over the years and have junked 'em all. I know the OP is looking for different, less exacting, advice, but had to chime in on the X-rite product.

MJPerini

I am a big believer in high quality displays and hardware calibration, and do it al the time.
But in your case, as you describe it, I would NOT recommend spending the money , time or learning curve on a calibration device. Spend your money on a good entry level display with an IPS panel --
Something like this: BenQ SW240 24.1" 16:10 PhotoVue IPS sells at B&H for $399. The Photovue is their code for a wider Gamut display meant for editing Photos with a Gamut of 99% of Adobe RGB.
If you want to limit yourself to sRGB (8 bit, like everything displayed on the WEB) you can pay half of the above) Most modern displays come from the factory calibrated and fairly consistent for web viewing. (although most are set too bright) The purpose of display calibration which is necessary if you do serious printing, is to help create a "closed Loop" between display and a profiled printer, so that on screen pictures look very close to printed pictures. If You are a JPEG shooter who does not edit RAW files, a good sRGB display will suffice.
My advice here is to help you achieve your stated goal and budget while enjoying Photography. My advice would be different for a larger budget, but higher end options come with a learning curve.
I hope this helps.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

Agree...and BenQ's are great monitors which come out of the factory pretty dang close to what you want to see...

Electric Gnome Loc: Norwich UK

With the x-rite i1 Studio device you start the software and it produces prints with different colour and intensity blocks. You then scan these printouts with the hardware device and the software works out any adjustments. Once completed it produces a profile specifically for that particular paper. From then on you select that profile when using that particular paper and you get a spot on print every time first time (if you have set it up correctly). Easier to look at some youtube videos like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUPYHLOKC-A Most good paper manufacturers provide ICC profiles which you can download from their sites, but some don't. Even if they do I find making my own gives better results.

Electric Gnome Loc: Norwich UK

Not sure what you have found there Dirty Harry, it actually sounds like an old usb WiFi device (plug it into a computer usb port and it gives your desktop PC a WiFi capability), it does not sound like a calibration device. Bearing in mind your budget have a look at some of the monitors suggested, there are a lot of great ones out there for your budget and most will be good enough without worrying about calibration. Good luck and keep taking the pictures, looking forward to your new posts with some images you have taken.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

That $300 will buy a really good calibrator. Monitors made for photography and the graphic arts start at $400 and go up — way up.

BenQ makes the monitors I’d look at.

X-Rite and Datacolor have the best primers on color management. Dig through their .com sites and look for white papers, tutorials, videos, and FAQs.

tnleafer

BenQ sells refurbished monitors that are callibrated and guaranteed, there is a tab on their website for the outlet

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...had one years ago. Old tech...

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

That’s precisely why the only sane way to work is to calibrate and profile all monitors you use for image adjustments and evaluation. Repeat the calibration and profiling monthly, and before any large or important project.

It really does keep you on track. If you publish or print or post on sharing sites, color management is critical to success.

Gallimaufry Loc: Denver, CO

Dirty, my computer guy--who is also a photographer--recommended BenQ or the Asus PB series to me. I wound up getting a used PB258Q via ebay for $300. This was a couple of years ago, and I've loved the monitor It's a 25" monitor. I thought prices would be cheaper now for this, but I just checked ebay (https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR2.TRC1.A0.H0.Xasus+pb258q.TRS0&_nkw=asus+pb258q&_sacat=0), and didn't find any good prices. I haven't checked Amazon. You should also check Craigslist, OfferUp, LetGo, and used computer stores.

I did see some PB238Qs, which are a23" if that is big enough for you. If you get an Asus, stick to the PB series because they are photo oriented and not gaming oriented, which have features you don't need.

I also agree with others that you should calibrate your monitor . . . if you want what you are seeing to look right, and particularly if you are going to print, because otherwise you will likely be disappointed with your prints' look compared to how they appear on your screen.

I happen to have a used (my own) xRite colormunki Display (CMUNDIS) which I am looking to sell. The lowest price on ebay right now is $104.99, including shipping. If you want it at that price private message me. If you don't like it, I'll gladly let you return it. I don't think I have the original box, and the software you download free from the xRite site. It works with at least some of the upgraded Display software. I was able to upgrade to the Photo model, so I no longer need my Display model.

Of course I'll sell it any of you reading this, but Dirty gets first dibs.

As for how to use it, you can find plenty of Youtube videos. I suggest you look at several, including those by Jose Rodriquez (not the singer) on his Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz9YXaSulpM90vC24lmAeZA.

Hope this helps.

tcthome Loc: NJ

I purchased a LG 29um58-P about 4 years ago for $220 at best buy. It is not made anymore but I'm sure they have something simular out. I also purchased the i1display pro but it is out if your price range. If you can swing the benq MJPerini suggest, go for it & get the cheapest xrite calibrator they have at about $145.00

If you can't go that hi look at some thing like the LG I suggest with the link below.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1506566-REG/x_rite_eodisstu_i1display_studio.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=CjwKCAjw2uf2BRBpEiwA31VZjz3GP_xoi0GJkqYHQp4mKNfSZgl8LL3NYQLUWNRPEYJojpyay9qlGxoC8oUQAvD_BwE

It would put you around $370 plus tax & shipping. This would really help if you print.

Good luck , Tom

MJPerini

DH,
One thing that hasn't been mentioned, is that an older laptop and a TV is about the least ideal combination for viewing and editing photographs. Newer laptop screens like the Mac Retina Displays are quite good. They have 10 bit color depth, and a wide P3 Gamut. Some laptop screens including older Macs were 6 bit interpolated to 8 bit and less than sRGB in color gamut. TV's can be good at being TV's but are generally poor computer displays.
You have a budget of around $300 bucks.
You have not said weather you shoot JPEGS or Edit RAW files . If you do shoot RAW, or would like to , then my original suggestion of stretching to $399 for a good entry level Benq PhotoVue display stands. In the future you could add a calibration device if you feel you need it.
If you do NOT shoot raw then the least expensive display you could look at would be something like the
BenQ GW2780 27" 16:9 IPS Monitor, 1080x1920 and 72% NTSC (which equals 99% sRGB) JPEGS are 8 bit sRGB, the WEB is 8 bit sRGB it is $179 at B&H. Benq displays come from the factory true to their specs.
Display calibration on a regular basis is standard procedure for photo editing, but even the least expensive accurate device is a couple hundred bucks. A $179 Display will probably not have the capacity and internal LUT's to respond to the calibration device.
So sort of $399 or $179 will allow you to enjoy photography, both will be accurate for anything including your photos on the web, and the Photo vue will be more future proof and take calibration well should you decide to add it. Photography can and should be able to be enjoyed at any budget. My suggestions are focused on YOUR budget. I hope this helps

aellman Loc: Boston MA

Search on YouTube or Google. You will find what you're looking for.