Comments on: Suitcase for Windows Released http://cdharrison.com/2007/02/suitcase-for-windows-released/ This is the personal site/blog/experiment of Chris Harrison, a web designer living, working and playing in Augusta, GA. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:05:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Chris Harrison http://cdharrison.com/2007/02/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-5352 Chris Harrison Tue, 06 Mar 2007 17:07:56 +0000 http://cdharrison.com/index.php/2007/02/22/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-5352 Very cool article... Thanks for posting that Michael. Very cool article… Thanks for posting that Michael.

]]> By: Michael Montgomery http://cdharrison.com/2007/02/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-5351 Michael Montgomery Tue, 06 Mar 2007 16:24:48 +0000 http://cdharrison.com/index.php/2007/02/22/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-5351 Hmm, some interesting programs in this article: http://www.digital-web.com/articles/better_font_management/ Hmm, some interesting programs in this article:
http://www.digital-web.com/articles/better_font_management/

]]> By: Chris Harrison http://cdharrison.com/2007/02/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-11842 Chris Harrison Tue, 06 Mar 2007 14:07:56 +0000 http://cdharrison.com/index.php/2007/02/22/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-11842 Very cool article... Thanks for posting that Michael. Very cool article… Thanks for posting that Michael.

]]> By: Chris Harrison http://cdharrison.com/2007/02/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-5283 Chris Harrison Mon, 26 Feb 2007 20:39:34 +0000 http://cdharrison.com/index.php/2007/02/22/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-5283 The main benefit of a program like Suitcase is the auto-activation. I can drop a font into it, activate it, and it's immediately available in open applications. By simply dropping fonts into the C:\WINDOWS\FONTS\ folder, you usually have to close any open apps before the new typefaces become available for use. The ability to build collections is another thing Suitcase does... And you can preview multiple fonts at once with custom text... As for whether it would be worth $20 for a Linotype app on Windows? I dunno... Considering their desire to have it act as an iTunes for Fonts... I couldn't justify spending money on it to use it. I'd feel (somewhat) obligated to buy fonts every now and then... The main benefit of a program like Suitcase is the auto-activation. I can drop a font into it, activate it, and it’s immediately available in open applications. By simply dropping fonts into the C:\WINDOWS\FONTS\ folder, you usually have to close any open apps before the new typefaces become available for use. The ability to build collections is another thing Suitcase does… And you can preview multiple fonts at once with custom text…

As for whether it would be worth $20 for a Linotype app on Windows? I dunno… Considering their desire to have it act as an iTunes for Fonts… I couldn’t justify spending money on it to use it. I’d feel (somewhat) obligated to buy fonts every now and then…

]]> By: Michael Montgomery http://cdharrison.com/2007/02/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-5282 Michael Montgomery Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:37:23 +0000 http://cdharrison.com/index.php/2007/02/22/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-5282 "Font Explorer X was announced and it still hasn’t materialized. (I don’t care if it is going to be free.)" Agreed. I'd pay $20 for Font Explorer X Win today, probably on reputation alone. “Font Explorer X was announced and it still hasn’t materialized. (I don’t care if it is going to be free.)”

Agreed. I’d pay $20 for Font Explorer X Win today, probably on reputation alone.

]]> By: Michael Montgomery http://cdharrison.com/2007/02/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-5281 Michael Montgomery Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:35:34 +0000 http://cdharrison.com/index.php/2007/02/22/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-5281 I don't know how much "management" I need, because I just install everything from Windows Explorer. With several hundred font files, I haven't noticed any problems or slow performance. Usually, I'm trying to (i) select a particular typeface for a design, or (i) select a second typeface that will complement another. (i) The Font Thing allows me to build "virtual font collections" such as "script", "titling", "Client ABC" and see a phrase in all fonts, all serifs, all sans-serifs, or just in the "Client ABC" collection. (ii) For the second task, I just throw the phrase in several fonts into an OpenOffice document. It just feels kludgy. ::sigh:: Can we sign a petition requesting Font Explorer X Win?? I don’t know how much “management” I need, because I just install everything from Windows Explorer. With several hundred font files, I haven’t noticed any problems or slow performance.

Usually, I’m trying to (i) select a particular typeface for a design, or (i) select a second typeface that will complement another.

(i) The Font Thing allows me to build “virtual font collections” such as “script”, “titling”, “Client ABC” and see a phrase in all fonts, all serifs, all sans-serifs, or just in the “Client ABC” collection.

(ii) For the second task, I just throw the phrase in several fonts into an OpenOffice document. It just feels kludgy. ::sigh::

Can we sign a petition requesting Font Explorer X Win??

]]> By: Chris Harrison http://cdharrison.com/2007/02/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-5280 Chris Harrison Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:17:59 +0000 http://cdharrison.com/index.php/2007/02/22/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-5280 I'm surprised as well, about the lack of open source alternatives for font management. Aside from the Linotype Font Explorer X app you mentioned, <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/atmlight/index.html" rel="nofollow">Adobe Type Manager Light</a> is the only "free" font manager that I know of... And it is more than a little ridiculous that it's been over a year since a Windows version of the Font Explorer X was announced and it still hasn't materialized. (I don't care if it <strong>is</strong> going to be free.) I agree that $99 for Extensis Suitcase might seem like a bit much. (I'm able to get the upgrade since I've had the full version for a while now, and the $49 is a bit easier to swallow.) But if having a reliable app to manage fonts is important enough to you, the cost is negligible. I’m surprised as well, about the lack of open source alternatives for font management. Aside from the Linotype Font Explorer X app you mentioned, Adobe Type Manager Light is the only “free” font manager that I know of… And it is more than a little ridiculous that it’s been over a year since a Windows version of the Font Explorer X was announced and it still hasn’t materialized. (I don’t care if it is going to be free.)

I agree that $99 for Extensis Suitcase might seem like a bit much. (I’m able to get the upgrade since I’ve had the full version for a while now, and the $49 is a bit easier to swallow.) But if having a reliable app to manage fonts is important enough to you, the cost is negligible.

]]> By: Michael Montgomery http://cdharrison.com/2007/02/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-5277 Michael Montgomery Mon, 26 Feb 2007 18:52:16 +0000 http://cdharrison.com/index.php/2007/02/22/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-5277 With all the awesome open source software currently available and in development, I don't understand why there are so few typeface/font management/selection utilities. Suitcase may be a wonderful program, but $100 is two or three times what I'm willing to pay for _any_ feature set in this category. So far, I've been muddling along with The Font Thing, and a typeface selection template cobbled together in OpenOffice. The Mac guys rave about Linotype's free Font Explorer X. It sounds perfect, but why is a Windows version taking so long? With all the awesome open source software currently available and in development, I don’t understand why there are so few typeface/font management/selection utilities.

Suitcase may be a wonderful program, but $100 is two or three times what I’m willing to pay for _any_ feature set in this category.

So far, I’ve been muddling along with The Font Thing, and a typeface selection template cobbled together in OpenOffice.

The Mac guys rave about Linotype’s free Font Explorer X. It sounds perfect, but why is a Windows version taking so long?

]]> By: Chris Harrison http://cdharrison.com/2007/02/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-11841 Chris Harrison Mon, 26 Feb 2007 17:39:34 +0000 http://cdharrison.com/index.php/2007/02/22/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-11841 The main benefit of a program like Suitcase is the auto-activation. I can drop a font into it, activate it, and it's immediately available in open applications. By simply dropping fonts into the C:WINDOWSFONTS folder, you usually have to close any open apps before the new typefaces become available for use. The ability to build collections is another thing Suitcase does... And you can preview multiple fonts at once with custom text...<br><br>As for whether it would be worth $20 for a Linotype app on Windows? I dunno... Considering their desire to have it act as an iTunes for Fonts... I couldn't justify spending money on it to use it. I'd feel (somewhat) obligated to buy fonts every now and then... The main benefit of a program like Suitcase is the auto-activation. I can drop a font into it, activate it, and it’s immediately available in open applications. By simply dropping fonts into the C:WINDOWSFONTS folder, you usually have to close any open apps before the new typefaces become available for use. The ability to build collections is another thing Suitcase does… And you can preview multiple fonts at once with custom text…

As for whether it would be worth $20 for a Linotype app on Windows? I dunno… Considering their desire to have it act as an iTunes for Fonts… I couldn’t justify spending money on it to use it. I’d feel (somewhat) obligated to buy fonts every now and then…

]]> By: Michael Montgomery http://cdharrison.com/2007/02/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-11840 Michael Montgomery Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:37:23 +0000 http://cdharrison.com/index.php/2007/02/22/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-11840 "Font Explorer X was announced and it still hasn’t materialized. (I don’t care if it is going to be free.)"<br><br>Agreed. I'd pay $20 for Font Explorer X Win today, probably on reputation alone. “Font Explorer X was announced and it still hasn’t materialized. (I don’t care if it is going to be free.)”

Agreed. I’d pay $20 for Font Explorer X Win today, probably on reputation alone.

]]> By: Michael Montgomery http://cdharrison.com/2007/02/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-11839 Michael Montgomery Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:35:34 +0000 http://cdharrison.com/index.php/2007/02/22/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-11839 I don't know how much "management" I need, because I just install everything from Windows Explorer. With several hundred font files, I haven't noticed any problems or slow performance.<br><br>Usually, I'm trying to (i) select a particular typeface for a design, or (i) select a second typeface that will complement another.<br><br>(i) The Font Thing allows me to build "virtual font collections" such as "script", "titling", "Client ABC" and see a phrase in all fonts, all serifs, all sans-serifs, or just in the "Client ABC" collection.<br><br>(ii) For the second task, I just throw the phrase in several fonts into an OpenOffice document. It just feels kludgy. ::sigh::<br><br>Can we sign a petition requesting Font Explorer X Win?? I don’t know how much “management” I need, because I just install everything from Windows Explorer. With several hundred font files, I haven’t noticed any problems or slow performance.

Usually, I’m trying to (i) select a particular typeface for a design, or (i) select a second typeface that will complement another.

(i) The Font Thing allows me to build “virtual font collections” such as “script”, “titling”, “Client ABC” and see a phrase in all fonts, all serifs, all sans-serifs, or just in the “Client ABC” collection.

(ii) For the second task, I just throw the phrase in several fonts into an OpenOffice document. It just feels kludgy. ::sigh::

Can we sign a petition requesting Font Explorer X Win??

]]> By: Chris Harrison http://cdharrison.com/2007/02/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-11838 Chris Harrison Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:17:59 +0000 http://cdharrison.com/index.php/2007/02/22/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-11838 <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/atmlight/index.html" rel="nofollow">Adobe Type Manager Light</a> is the only "free" font manager that I know of... And it is more than a little ridiculous that it's been over a year since a Windows version of the Font Explorer X was announced and it still hasn't materialized. (I don't care if it <strong>is</strong> going to be free.)<br><br>I agree that $99 for Extensis Suitcase might seem like a bit much. (I'm able to get the upgrade since I've had the full version for a while now, and the $49 is a bit easier to swallow.) But if having a reliable app to manage fonts is important enough to you, the cost is negligible. Adobe Type Manager Light is the only “free” font manager that I know of… And it is more than a little ridiculous that it’s been over a year since a Windows version of the Font Explorer X was announced and it still hasn’t materialized. (I don’t care if it is going to be free.)

I agree that $99 for Extensis Suitcase might seem like a bit much. (I’m able to get the upgrade since I’ve had the full version for a while now, and the $49 is a bit easier to swallow.) But if having a reliable app to manage fonts is important enough to you, the cost is negligible.

]]> By: Michael Montgomery http://cdharrison.com/2007/02/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-11837 Michael Montgomery Mon, 26 Feb 2007 15:52:16 +0000 http://cdharrison.com/index.php/2007/02/22/suitcase-for-windows-released/#comment-11837 With all the awesome open source software currently available and in development, I don't understand why there are so few typeface/font management/selection utilities.<br><br>Suitcase may be a wonderful program, but $100 is two or three times what I'm willing to pay for _any_ feature set in this category.<br><br>So far, I've been muddling along with The Font Thing, and a typeface selection template cobbled together in OpenOffice.<br><br>The Mac guys rave about Linotype's free Font Explorer X. It sounds perfect, but why is a Windows version taking so long? With all the awesome open source software currently available and in development, I don’t understand why there are so few typeface/font management/selection utilities.

Suitcase may be a wonderful program, but $100 is two or three times what I’m willing to pay for _any_ feature set in this category.

So far, I’ve been muddling along with The Font Thing, and a typeface selection template cobbled together in OpenOffice.

The Mac guys rave about Linotype’s free Font Explorer X. It sounds perfect, but why is a Windows version taking so long?

]]>