I've seen so many photographers running around with uncalibrated displays it makes me sick.
If i were to offer a calibration service using either the spyder elite or the i1display pro, would i have to install the software on every pc and run it or should i look at the open source Argyll.
would these calibrators be enough or do professional calibrators have different equipment?
you'd probably have to use Argyll (and I'd recommend the i1Display) because putting the software on <N> machines and doing it as a service will almost assuredly violate the EULA of the product(s).
The i1Display Pro is an outstanding device and nothing more is needed. The ColorMunki Display is the same hardware w/ different/slower software so if you're planning on using Argyll, that is all you need and you'll save $$ on the purchase price.
If you want to offer this as an on-site service it's worth checking with Xrite to confirm the terms of their license. The agreement states:
"2. You may provide Licensed Profiles to one or more third parties in connection with Your profiling services provided Your profiling services involve personalized profile-related customer consultations and are predominantly conducted on-site at a customer location."
That could be taken to mean that your profiling service would be OK.
If you decide to use Argyll , great as it is, you might find you were spending a loooong time on each calibration.
That section was, I think, added to specifically shoot down many of the printer profiling folks like Cathy's etc where the entire business was based on remote service (mail in test targets, email back the paper profile).
so i'm allowed to give them profiles, would that include installing the software on every computer, calibrating, taking out the Profile and again uninstalling every time?
Disclaimer - I'm not a lawyer But, my reading of the license is that what you are proposing is allowed. If your service is one-to-one with the customer it's OK.
But, my reading of the license is that what you are proposing is allowed. If your service is one-to-one with the customer it's OK.