Can you calibrate a laptop & attached monitor

[blackwolf]

Hi i need to know if you can use a calibration tool on a windows 7 laptop and an attached monitor i need the laptop calibrated for when i go away don't think hubby will be very happy if i tell him as well as all my photography equipment i need to take the monitor any help appreciated

 

[Craikeybaby]

Yes. Look at Spyder 4 pro/elite, but bear in mind that even a calibrated laptop screen won't be as good as a calibrated external IPS screen.

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

Probably....
Most laptops can be calibrated, but my laptop cannot; tried both Spyder and Munki.
Much head scratching and forum bashing later and the problem seems to be because I only specified the basic graphics hardware and there is an interaction (bug) between Vista and the hardware regards handing the profiles. It 'might' be fixed by upgrading to Windows 7 but I've not tried it. I've learned to live the uncalibrated screen; it's close enough and I know it well enough that I can still an acceptable post-processing job when I'm away from home.

As Lewis says - the big weakness will be the laptop screen itself; its VERY sensitive to viewing angle and the brighter colours look rubbish.
Calibrating will make it a little better, but will also highlight but how bad the screen is.

Having said that - laptop screens are getting better.
Just got a new Dell Precision monster laptop for the day job - 20" diagonal; still haven't found a laptop bag that will fit it
It's screen is significantly crisper and brighter than any other laptop I've ever used - lush and wonderful....

 

[blackwolf]

Thank you for your replies not sure if i have understood this right but was told i can't use the spyder because i only have one graphics card in the laptop

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

The majority of laptops can calibrate EITHER the laptop screen OR the external display, not BOTH at the same time.
There are free bits of software that allow you to flip profile on demand - it's how calibrated projectors get used with laptops.
When one display is calibrated, the other one usually looks pant; it is one display at a time.

But there are exceptions - some laptops will allow both to be calibrated at the same time (just like a decent desktop PC).

Post details of your laptop; I'm sure someone will be able to tell you more about your model.